Buttercream Birthday Frosting

Okay, I think I found the perfect frosting for Alexander's birthday cupcakes.

Buttercream Frosting

Ingredients:

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened (do not microwave - let it sit on the counter for a couple hours)
• 3-4 cups confectioners sugar, sifted
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• up to 4 tablespoons milk or heavy cream
• your favorite extract

Directions: 

Beat butter for a few minutes with a mixer with the paddle attachment on medium speed, then switch to high. 

After, you've beaten the butter, add 3 cups of powdered sugar and turn your mixer on the lowest speed. 

Once the sugar has been incorporated with the butter, increase mixer speed to medium and the salt, and 2 tablespoons of milk/cream and beat for a few minutes. If you like your frosting more stiff , add remaining sugar. If you like your frosting thinner, add remaining milk/cream 1 tablespoon at a time. If you are only making one flavor of frosting, add 1 tbsp of the extract at this time as well. If you are going to make multiple flavors, hold off on adding the extract at this time. 

Beat for a few minutes until you reach your desired consistency.

I wanted to make 2 flavors of frosting from this batch, so I put half the frosting on a plate, and left the rest in the mixing bowl. I added 3/4 tsp of orange extract to the first half and 3/4 tsp of vanilla extract in the 2nd half. I also added a few drops of orange food coloring to the first half so I would be able to differentiate visually between the 2 flavors.

One very satisfied customer!!

Enjoy!