Cream Cheese Icing

This is a great icing for banana nut cake, a variation on red velvet cake (page 178), or any spice cake.

1¾ cups powdered sugar

½ cup cream cheese, chilled

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

In a medium bowl beat all the ingredients with a handheld electric mixer until just blended. Topping this icing with 2 tablespoons finely chopped pecans or walnuts and/or ¼ cup grated coconut makes for a nice variation.

Makes icing for 1 loaf cake, 1 (11 x 9-inch) sheet cake, or 12 cupcakes