BUTTERCREAM ICING

125g of unsalted butter at room temp (can use ordinary butter if preferred)
1 tsp vanilla essence
1 1/2c icing sugar
2 Tbsp of milk at room temp.

Beat butter in a bowl until pale and flufy
Continue beating and gradually add vanilla essence and half the icing sugar
Gradually add the milk and the remaining icing until smooth.

If you want it chocolate flavoured I usually omit milk and dissolve 2tsp cocoa in 2TBsp of boiled hot water.