Creamy Chocolate Frosting

A good all-around frosting to use on cakes, brownies, and even cookies.

Ingredients:

3 C. powdered sugar

1/3 C. butter or stick margarine, softened (do not use vegetable oil spreads)

2 tsp. vanilla

½ C. unsweetened baking cocoa powder

Milk, added until frosting is smooth

Directions:

Mix powdered sugar and butter in large mixing bowl with electric mixer (this will be crumbly).  Add vanilla and cocoa powder and blend well.  Add milk, a little at a time, until frosting reaches desired consistency.  Frosts a 9x13 cake or 8-inch and 9-inch layer cakes. 

Variations:

Mocha frosting: add 2-1/2 tsp. instant dry coffee with powdered sugar.

Chocolate buttercream: substitute 3 oz. unsweetened baking chocolate squares for the cocoa powder, melted and cooled.

Vanilla buttercream: omit chocolate.