Buttercream Frosting

Buttercream is a staple of dessert making! Here's how I like to make it:

You will need:

• 125g of soft butter (unsalted in best)
• 3 to 4 cups of sifted icing sugar (use icing mixture if you need your buttercream to set well).
• salt to taste (I use about 5 rounds on a salt grater) 
• vanilla bean paste to taste (I use about a teaspoon)
• 4 tablespoons of thickened cream

How to make it:

1. Using electric beaters, mix the butter and icing sugar until they are well combined (the icing sugar should dissolve in the butter - similar to creaming butter and sugar).
2. Beat in the vanilla bean and salt
3. Add the cream* and continue mixing with beaters until well combined (for coloured frosting add your preferred colouring now).
4. Transfer into a piping bag and use.If the mixture is a bit too sloppy, just pop it in the fridge for a few minutes to firm up.

*For chocolate add a 1/4 cup of cocoa prior to adding the cream