Homemade Icing Recipe

My mom gave me this icing recipe a couple years ago.  It is not a secret family recipe, just one she learned while taking a cake decorating class {she makes the best cakes }.  This recipe is great on cookies and cakes.

1 c. shortening
      or
1/2 cup shortening and 1/ 2 cup butter
1 tsp vanilla { clear or regular }
4 cups { 1 lb } powdered sugar
2 Tbs milk or water

*using butter will make icing slightly softer
*using regular vanilla will result in off white color

Cream butter/shortening in mixer. Add in vanilla then gradually add in sugar 1 cup at a time, mixing on medium speed.  Then add milk and mix until light and fluffy.  Makes stiff icing { for flowers}.  *Add 1 more Tbs of milk or water for medium consistency { for borders, flat flowers, and stars } or  add 2 Tbs milk or water for thin consistency { icing cake }.

For my cookies in the picture, I cut the recipe in 1/4 because I only had 1 cup of powdered sugar and a small batch of cookies, but accidentally added too much milk.  So it was more of a glaze this time.  Still delicious!!