Easy Caramel Frosting

This is terrific on a banana, spice, applesauce or apple cake.

1 stick (8 tablespoons) butter
1 cup packed dark brown sugar
Dash of salt
1/4 cup whole milk
2 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Place butter, brown sugar and salt in a medium-size heavy saucepan over medium heat. Stir and cook until the mixture comes to a boil (about 2 minutes). Add milk, stir and bring the mixture back to a rolling boil, then remove the pan from the heat. Add the confectioners; sugar and vanilla extract and beat with a wooden spoon until the frosting is smooth.

Use immediately, while still warm, to frost the cake of your choice. It is a loose, pourable frosting when first made. If frosting hardens too much while you are frosting the cake, simply place the pan back over low heat and stir until the frosting softens up.

Makes enough to frost a 2- or 3-layer cake, or a 9 x 13-inch cake.