Chocolate Buttercream Frosting

• 1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup butter, room temperature
• 2/3 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/2-2/3 cup confectioners' sugar

Combine the chocolate and butter in a small heavy saucepan and melt over very low heat.Remove the pan from the heat, stir in the milk and vanilla, and transfer the mixture to a mixing bowl.Add the sugar gradually, beating with an electric mixer. Continue beating until the mixture is smooth--it will be runny.Refrigerate the mixture for 1 hour, beating every 15 minutes. (The icing will stiffen.).

Classic Buttercream Frosting

• 1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks or 1/2 pound), softened (but not melted!) Ideal texture should be like ice cream.
• 3-4 cups confectioners (powdered) sugar, SIFTED
• 1/4 teaspoon table salt
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• up to 4 tablespoons milk or heavy cream

Beat butter for a few minutes with a mixer with the paddle attachment on medium speed. Add 3 cups of powdered sugar and turn your mixer on the lowest speed (so the sugar doesn’t blow everywhere) until the sugar has been incorporated with the butter. Increase mixer speed to medium and add vanilla extract, salt, and 2 tablespoons of milk/cream and beat for 3 minutes. If your frosting needs a more stiff consistency, add remaining sugar. If your frosting needs to be thinned out, add remaining milk 1 tablespoons at a time.

Cream Chese Frosting

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup of butter (1 stick), room temperature
• 8 oz of Philly cream cheese (1 package), room temperature
• 2 - 3 cups of powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

Method

1 With an electric mixer, mix the butter and cream cheese together, about 3 minutes on medium speed until very smooth. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl to ensure even mixing.
2 Add the vanilla extract and mix. Slowly add the powdered sugar. Keep adding until you get to desired sweetness and thickness.
3 Either spread on with a blunt knife or spatula, or spoon into a piping bag to decorate your cake or cupcake.
Variations:

• Melted chocolate chips or mini chocolate chips.
• Adding freshly ground ginger helps spice up a carrot cake.
• Freshly grated or dried, flaked coconut mixed in makes it perfect for a coconut cake.