Vanilla Buttercream Frosting

This is the frosting recipe I used on these Patriotic Cookies.  It tasted just like you would get from a store bought cake.  I like that kind of frosting, but personally, I like thicker frosting.  But this was delicious and worked like a dream piping it on to the cookies!  It is from Savory Sweet Life.  Enjoy!

Vanilla Buttercream Frosting
From: Savory Sweet Life
1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks or 1/2 pound), softened (but not melted!) Ideal texture should be like ice cream.
3-4 cups confectioners (powdered) sugar, SIFTED
1/4 teaspoon table salt
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
up to 4 tablespoons milk or heavy cream

Beat butter for a few minutes with a mixer with the paddle attachment on medium speed. Add 3 cups of powdered sugar and turn your mixer on the lowest speed (so the sugar doesn’t blow everywhere) until the sugar has been incorporated with the butter. Increase mixer speed to medium and add vanilla extract, salt, and 2 tablespoons of milk/cream and beat for 3 minutes. If your frosting needs a more stiff consistency, add remaining sugar. If your frosting needs to be thinned out, add remaining milk 1 tablespoons at a time.