Vanilla Butter Frosting

Ingredients

  • ⅓ cup soft butter or margarine
  • 3 cups confectioners’ sugar
  • 1½ teaspoons vanilla
  • About 2 tablespoons milk

Directions

  1. Blend butter and sugar.
  2. Stir in vanilla and milk; beat until frosting is smooth and of spreading consistency.

Fills and frosts two 8- or 9-inch layers or frosts a 13x9-inch cake.

Note: To fill and frost three 8-inch layers, use ½ cup soft butter or margarine, 4½ cups confectioners’ sugar, 2 teaspoons vanilla and about 3 tablespoons milk.

Variations

  • Browned Butter Frosting: Heat butter in saucepan over medium heat until a delicate brown.
  • Cherry Butter Frosting: Stir in 2 tablespoons drained chopped maraschino cherries and 2 drops red food color.
  • Maple-Nut Butter Frosting: Substitute ½ cup maple-flavored syrup for the vanilla and milk; stir in ¼ cup finely chopped nuts.
  • Orange (or Lemon) Butter Frosting: Omit vanilla and substitute orange (or lemon) juice for the milk; stir in 2 teaspoons grated orange (or ½ teaspoon grated lemon) peel.
  • Peanut Butter Frosting: Substitute peanut butter for the butter; increase milk to ¼ to ⅓ cup.
  • Pineapple Butter Frosting: Omit vanilla and milk; stir in ⅓ cup well-drained crushed pineapple.