A basic icing, with variations, for drizzling atop sweet quick breads, yeast breads, muffins, cakes, bars, cookies and more.

Another delicious recipe from our Family-Favorite Recipes Collection.

Simple Vanilla Icing with Variations

2 cups sifted powdered sugar
4 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted

2 to 4 tablespoons milk or water
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1. Combine all ingredients with enough milk or water to the desired consistency, less milk for a thicker consistency, more for thinner.

Makes about 2 cups.

Cook's Notes:

• This is a very forgiving recipe, if it becomes too thin add more powdered sugar and too thick add more liquid until you're happy with it.
• Need less icing? Recipe can be successfully reduced by half.

Variations:

• Butter-Rum Icing: Omit the vanilla and add 1 teaspoon rum flavoring.
• Chocolate Icing: Stir in 6 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder and use hot water, increasing water to 5 or 6 tablespoons.
• Lemon Icing: Stir in 1/2 teaspoon grated lemon peel and replace milk or water with lemon juice.
• Orange Icing: Stir in 1/2 teaspoon grated orange peel and replace milk or water with orange juice.

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