Buttercream Frostings

This is my favorite buttercream frosting recipe -- pure and simple!

Small Batch
1 cup butter, softened to room temperature
1 tablespoon milk or cream cheese*
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 cups powdered sugar

Big Batch
5 cubes butter (20 ounces), softened to room temperature
2 ounces milk or cream cheese*
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 pounds powdered sugar

Place all wet ingredients and about three quarters of the powdered sugar into a mixing bowl. Beat until very smooth. Add remaining powdered sugar and beat for several minutes until smooth and fluffy.

*Adding a little cream cheese helps cut the sweetness just a bit and adds extra depth of flavor.  


Coconut Buttercream Frosting
Add shredded coconut (either stirred into the frosting or added on top as a garnish)
Add LorAnn's coconut emulsion (1/4 teaspoon or less for small batch, 1/2 teaspoon for big batch)

Fresh Lemon Buttercream Frosting
Replace milk/cream cheese with fresh lemon juice
Add zest of 1 or 2 lemons

Replace vanilla extract with lemon extract

Fresh Orange Buttercream Frosting
Replace milk/cream cheese with fresh orange juice
Add zest of 1 or 2 oranges
Reduce vanilla extract to 1/2 teaspoon

Peanut Butter Buttercream Frosting 

For Small Batch:
Reduce butter to 3/4 cup

Add 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter

Add 3 additional tablespoons of milk