any good recipes for icing on cakes and brownies?

Question

ones that aren't too sweet and easy to make?

Answer 1

Chocolate Frosting
1 stick butter or margarine (Blue Bonnet) softened
2/3 cup Hersheys cocoa
3 cups powdered sugar
ABOUT* 1/3 cup milk
Mix in order with mixer, * may not quite need that much, mix til consistency wanted. very good, makes a lot.

Answer 2

Cream cheese icing is great.

One 8-once package cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup butter, melted
2 tbs vanilla
One 1-lb. box confectioner's sugar

beat the cream cheese until it is light and fluffy.
Gradually add the melted butter, beating until it is completely absorbed. Add the vanilla and sugar, beating well after each addition so that the icing is smooth.
Allow to cool

Answer 3

Chocolate Buttercream Frosting

1/2 cup butter, softened
2/3 cup cocoa powder
2 teaspoon vanilla
3 cups confectioners' sugar
6-8 tablespoons water, depending upon thickness you want

With electric mixer on high, beat butter until fluffy. Beat in cocoa powder and vanilla on low. Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar, alternating with water, until desired thickness is achieved. For thinner frosting use more water. For thicker frosting, use less water.
____________________

Chocolate Frosting

24 oz semisweet chocolate chips
1½ cups heavy cream
2 Tbsp light corn syrup
½ tsp pure vanilla extract
4 Tbsp (½ stick) unsalted butter, room temp
For the frosting, place the chocolate chips and heavy cream in a bowl set over a pot of simmering water, stirring occasionally, until the chips are completely melted. Off the heat, add the corn syrup and vanilla and allow the chocolate mixture to cool to room temperature. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whisk the chocolate mixture and softened butter on medium speed for a few minutes, until it's thickened. Spread the frosting evenly on the cake.

--Ina Garten, FoodTV
________________________

Orange Buttercream Frosting

1 2/3 cups stick margarine or butter, softened
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons nonfat cream cheese, softened
2 1/2 tablespoons vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
22 1/2 cups sifted powdered sugar (about 5 1/4 pounds)
3 1/2 tablespoons skim milk

Cream margarine and cream cheese at medium speed of a heavy-duty stand mixer until light and fluffy. Add vanilla and salt; beat well. Gradually add sugar and milk, beating at low speed. Increase speed to high, and beat until well-blended and spreadable.
Note: If frosting is made ahead and chilled, add a small amount of milk, a teaspoon at a time, to soften. Beat until spreadable. Yield: 10 cups
_______________________

SNOW WHITE BUTTERCREAM ICING

This buttercream icing has an ideal consistency for frosting cakes. It has a firm quality making it good for wedding cake decorations and flat surface or flower nail flowers. Air dry decorations for 24 hours.

2/3 cup water
4 tablespoons meringue powder
12 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
1-1/4 cups shortening
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon almond flavoring
1/2 teaspoon clear vanilla flavoring
1/4 teaspoon butter flavoring

Combine water and meringue powder; whip at high speed until peaks form. Add 4 cups of sugar, one cup at a time, beating after each addition at low speed. Alternately add shortening and remainder of sugar. Add salt and flavorings; beat at low speed until smooth.

YIELD: 7 cups icing. Recipe may be doubled or cut in half; however, if cut in half, yield is only 2-1/2 cups.