Coffee Icing

Diva turned a whopping 13 years old on Monday.
Lawsy mercy!
We can't think of all of the implications like how old that makes me feel, or that means driving, boys, and college are around the corner...no, we can't think about that at all...

Diva's favorite cake, the one she asks for her birthday every year, is a chocolate cake with coffee icing.
It has been a revelation to some folks that share in her birthday celebration but it has been a way of life for us for years.

Here's the deal:  I don't actually make the cake from scratch.  I use a boxed chocolate cake mix (I know, I know, shame on me) and while it is baking, I make the icing.
The ever so simple yet totally delicious icing.

Coffee and chocolate...it's a beautiful thing...

Coffee Icing

2 sachets of Instant Coffee (or 2 tsp.)
1 tsp. Vanilla Extract
1 stick of butter, softened (1/2 c.)
3/4 box of Powdered Sugar (possibly more)
1 Tsp. Cream (or milk but why use milk when you can use cream)

Mix the vanilla and instant coffee together with your mixer until dissolved.
Throw the butter and powdered sugar in the mixer and blend on low to incorporate then whack the speed right up to high to whip it.
If the mixture is too stiff, add the cream a little at the time.
Taste the icing to see if it needs more powdered sugar.  Keep adjusting the sugar and cream until it tastes sweet enough for you and is spreadable.
This icing is great on cakes and cupcakes but also good in between cookies or meringues or eaten with a spoon straight from the bowl.  ;)

This is part of FPT.