BUTTER FROSTING

Blend until creamy 3 tablespoons soft butter or margarine, 2 cups confectioners' sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla, and a dash of salt. If too thin, add more sugar. If too thick, add water or milk by the dropful.

CHOCOLATE FROSTING

Make butter frosting and add 2 ounces melted baking chocolate or 1/4 cup baking cocoa.

CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

Beat 3 ounces cream cheese with 1 cup confectioners' sugar. Add 1/2 teaspoon vanilla.

WHIPPED CREAM FROSTING

Beat 1 1/2 pints heavy cream until thick. Add 1 teaspoon vanilla and 5 tablespoons confectioners' sugar and continue beating until peaks stand up in the whipped cream. For chocolate flavor, add some powdered chocolate drink or hot cocoa mix to taste.

ICE CREAM FROSTING

Soften ice cream in the sink until it is the right consistency to spread. Frost the cake with the ice cream quickly. (This is easiest to do if you have baked the cake in a flat pan.) Freeze it. Before serving, let the cake stand for 10 minutes. Then cut it in squares or slices, and, if you like, pour chocolate sauce over each portion.

DECORATOR'S ICING FOR WRITING ON CAKES

Beat together 3 egg whites and a pinch of cream of tartar. Slowly add 1 pound of confectioners' sugar. Beat until the icing is stiff enough to hold a line on the counter. Add drops of food coloring to get the color you desire. Spoon the icing into a small plastic bag. Snip a tiny corner off one of the lower corners. Hold the bag in your hand and squeeze the frosting through the hole to make a line. Practice on wax paper until you can control the line. Then decorate your cake.

NO TIME? 5 SOLUTIONS

1. When you take a cake or cupcakes from the oven, sprinkle with chocolate chips or small peppermint patties. These toppings will melt and make a candy sort of icing.

2. Sprinkle slightly cooled cake or cupcakes with grated chocolate, sprinkles, colored sugar, or confectioners' sugar. These will stick but not melt.

3. Let the children frost their own cupcakes during the party.

4. Don't bother with frosting. Did you ever notice that many children do not like it? It's too sweet and sticky for them. Unfrosted cake and ice cream go well together.

5. Freeze your cake before you frost it. You'll find it easier to work with and faster to frost because the cold temperature helps the icing harden.