Ingredients

• 1/4 cup flour
• 1 cup vanilla sugar
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup milk
• 1 cup butter, cubed and softened
• food coloring (optional)

Instructions

1. Whisk together the flour, sugar and salt in a saucepan until combined. Add the milk and cook over medium heat until it barely simmers (bubbles around the edge of the pan), whisking constantly. It will thicken slightly.

2. Pour mixture into the bowl of a stand mixer and mix on high until the outside of the bowl is cool to the touch (about 8-10 minutes).

3. Reduce the speed to low and add the butter (and vanilla extract if you are using it). Once the butter is incorporated, turn the mixer up to medium-high speed and whip until the frosting is light and fluffy (about another 3-5 minutes), scraping down as needed.

4. If you are tinting your frosting, add the coloring and continue to whip until the color is evenly distributed.

5. Use immediately to frost a two-layer cake, or 24 cupcakes.