cake icing

I decided on a whim yesterday that I wanted to make cupcakes for Canada Day. I didn't have time to buy frosting before getting ready for the fireworks show, so I ended up making my own with ingredients I already had. I was shocked at how quick and easy this was! This basic vanilla buttercream frosting recipe makes enough to cover a dozen cupcakes, but feel free to double it (for cakes), triple it, add food coloring, or different flavor extracts. If you find this too sweet, you can add a dash of salt to the milk or the vanilla. Personally, I like it sweet, and I used salted butter, so I didn't find it necessary.