Easy Creamy Chocolate Buttercream Frosting

Directions

1. 1
   Place the butter and salt in a mixing bowl. With the whisk attachment, whisk the butter until creamy, light and fluffy - about 3 to 5 minutes on medium high speed.
2. 2
   Add the cream and whisk for a further couple of minutes.Lower the speed of the mixer and add the sifted cocoa powder and let it whisk in and get fully incorporated.
3. 3
   Add the confectioner's sugar in 3 - 4 additions and mix until it's completely mixed in - this should take only a couple of minutes. Stop the mixer and scrape down the sides for any sugar and cocoa that's stuck on the bottom or the sides of the bowl.
4. 4
   Add the flavoring - 2 tsp vanilla + brandy or bourbon. Turn on the mixer to medium high speed and whisk the buttercream for a further 3 - 5 minutes, until the buttercream is light, fluffy and creamy.
5. 5
   Add more cream as needed while whisking.Optional step - since the buttercream will have a lot of air incorporated into it, you can switch over to the paddle beater and mix the butter cream on medium high speed for a couple of minutes to break some of the air bubbles in the frosting. This way your frosting will still be creamy, but with less bubbles.Use the chocolate frosting as needed. You can store it, covered, in the fridge if required, but allow the buttercream to thaw slightly and then whisk/paddle beat the frosting again until creamy and fluffy.