Buttercream

• 4 oz (100 g) unsalted butter
• 6 oz (175

Put the butter in slices into a warmed bowl and cream until softened. Sift the icing sugar on to a plate. Add half the sugar to the butter and beat until light, then gradually beat in the remaining half. Add the vanilla essence and food colouring, if using it, then beat again until soft and creamy. Use to fill and frost cakes or pipe pretty decorations on to small cakes.

Spread buttercr