Simple Buttercream Icing - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature (two sticks)
4 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup whipping cream or 1/4 cup whole milk

Preparation

In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter on medium speed until it is very light in texture - about 2 minutes.
Add the confectioner's sugar, vanilla and salt and mix on a low speed until the sugar and butter are blended, scraping down the bowl as needed.
Increase the speed to medium and add the cream in a thin stream.
Increase the speed to high and whip the buttercream about 5 minutes until very smooth, light and a good spreading consistency. Adjust with cream or confectioners sugar as needed.