$300 Frosting

This frosting is my favorite; I could easily eat it by the spoonful. It's light and fluffy, similar to stabilized whipped cream, and not overly sweet. Also referred to as Ermine frosting, it's quite similar to the buttercream from a well-known grocery store in the southeast. It pipes beautifully and remains soft.

Makes 3 cups

Ingredients:

• ¼ cup all-purpose flour

• 1 cup 2% or whole milk

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• Pinch of salt

• 1 cup (2 sticks) salted butter, room temperature

• 1 cup sugar

Directions:

1. In a small saucepan, combine flour and milk with a whisk until smooth. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens and has a pudding-like consistency, about 3 to 4 minutes. Pour into a bowl; mix in vanilla and salt. Place plastic wrap directly on the surface; allow to cool completely.

2. On medium speed, mix butter with sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, occasionally scraping down the bowl. This should take about 2 minutes. Add the milk mixture and keep beating until the frosting is light, fluffy, and has a whipped cream-like texture, which should take an additional 2-7 minutes. Use right away.

NOTE: Once the frosting is fluffy and white, you can whip in ¼ cup of sifted cocoa powder to turn it into chocolate.