Perfect for a Birthday Cake or Cupcakes…Silky White Butter Frosting

I use this smooth-as-silk vanilla butter frosting, often, on cakes and cupcakes. I love to spread it inside and out of my kid's birthday cakes. When making cupcakes, I make a batch of both, the vanilla and chocolate variation and split the batch between them. Actually, when feeling playful, I'll make a double batch of vanilla frosting and divide it into 4 or more bowls. Then, I use a craft stick to stir a drop or two of a different pastel food coloring into the bowls, leaving one portion white. This recipe purposely provides a generous amount of frosting, so you'll have enough to be really generous with cupcakes or to accommodate two cake layers (after dividing each one horizontally), and also pipe on a decorative border on both, the top and bottom of the assembled cake, after frosting the outside. Although the listed meringue powder is optional, I do like the way it flavors and helps to stabilize the frosting.

For the frosting:


• 2 cups (4 sticks) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
• 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 4 cups sifted powdered sugar (sift before measuring)
• 2 rounded tablespoons meringue powder (available in baker's catalogues; optional)
• Up to 3 tablespoons milk
• Pastel food coloring, as desired (optional)
• Assorted candy decorations: See the sidebar for some fun and colorful suggestions

1) To make vanilla butter frosting: Use an electric mixer to beat the softened butter with the vanilla and salt. When the butter is light, add sifted powdered sugar in 1/3-cup increments, stopping the machine before adding more and beating well after each addition. Beat in the meringue powder, then add 2 tablespoons of milk and beat the frosting, until its very light. If not fluffy enough, beat in another tablespoon of milk. Be patient--this could take 3 to 5 minutes in a heavy-duty mixer. If planning to tint the entire frosting with a color, add two to three drops of a pretty pastel color, when adding the milk. If planning to make a variety of colored frostings for cupcakes, divide the frosting between several small bowls and stir 1 or 2 drops of an assortment of pastel food colors into each one.

2) To frost a cake: If dividing and filling the cake layers, do that first and place the stacked layers (that are centered on a cardboard cake disc) on a rotating cake stand. Use a long metal icing spatula or a table knife to apply a thin but even layer of frosting to the sides of the cake, beginning on the bottom, using an upward motion. Run the blade around the sides, to smooth them. Apply a thin but even layer of frosting to the top, smoothing it out. Allow the cake to sit, uncovered for several minutes, to allow the first layer to "set." Now, apply a more generous amount of frosting to the sides, using the same upward motion, then place a large dollop of frosting on the top of the cake and either use the tip of the spatula to make dips and swirls, so the cake is covered with lovely soft peaks, or (when making a birthday cake) smooth the frosting completely, so you can apply your decorations and written message. To get the smoothest finish on the top of a frosted cake, once the top is coated evenly, run the clean blade of your spatula over the top, just once, then clean off the blade (scrape it onto the side of the bowl containing the frosting) and smooth the top again and again, cleaning the blade after each stroke. (Try not to get obsessive, though. After all, this is a homemade cake...).

3) To pipe frosting onto the cake: Insert a star tip into a pastry bag and place the bag into a tall drinking glass. Spoon some of the remaining frosting into the bag, filling the bag only ¾ - full. Use your working hand to twist the bag at the top, and then cradle the tip end in your nonworking hand. Apply pressure at the top of the bag, while directing the tip, over the spot where you want to apply the frosting. Always keep the area being piped, directly in front of you and keep the tip ¼ inch up from the surface of the cake. Pipe a border of frosting around the top and bottom of the cake, then if desired, decorate the inside of the top and bottom border with your favorite colorful candies.

Chocolate Butter Frosting Variation: Follow the recipe for the vanilla frosting, with the following exceptions: After beating in the meringue powder, beat in 4 ounces each: chopped and melted unsweetened and bittersweet chocolate. Omit the milk and, of course, the food coloring. This frosting is a light chocolate brown (similar to mocha), preferred by adults and children who find dark chocolate frosting too rich. Yield: This will make enough to frost and fill a 9-inch 4-layer cake or 28 cupcakes.

• Either variation of the butter frosting can be made three days ahead and kept in the refrigerator, well covered. Let it come close to room temperature before rewhipping it until spread-able.