Happy Birthday to Haley!! (Also, a chocolate buttercream frosting)

Take a good, hard look at the face in the photo above.  

That face is 25 years old today.  

Has 25 ever looked so impossibly wonderful, cute, and sweet?!  

Happiest, most wonderful, heartfelt birthday wishes for my incredible younger sister, who has somehow scored in both the personality AND looks department.  I couldn't be more glad that you were born!

Haley (and Mom!!) came up to Atlanta last week (I cannot wait to share photos with you; there was a lot of cuteness to be had), so we celebrated the birthday a couple of days early.  How could you not want to bake a wonderful cake for that cutie pie?  Inside of that frosting is a peanut butter cake, but the real star of the dessert was a chocolate buttercream frosting from Joy the Baker.  All of us may have taken turns licking the bowl, spatula, and beaters; there is no photographic proof, though, so good luck pinning it on us.
Slather this frosting on top of any cake, celebratory or not.  Its rich, dimensional flavor and velvety smooth texture will make anything taste good.  I'm tempted to make a batch and use it as dip for apple and pear slices.
Of course, it is best when showing the people close to us that we love them.

Best Chocolate Buttercream Frosting from Joy the Baker Cookbook, 2012
3/4 c. butter, room temperature
1/2 c. unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 tsp. salt
2 1/2 c. powdered sugar
2 Tbsp. milk
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 c. heavy cream
1/3 c. Ovaltine powder

1. Cream together butter, cocoa powder and salt. Butter mixture will be very thick. Turn off the mixer, scrape down the sides of the bowl and add powdered sugar. 

2. Turn mixer on low and mix in powdered sugar while adding milk and vanilla extract. As the sugar incorporates, raise the speed of the mixer to beat the frosting. Beat until smooth. 

3. In a 2 cup measuring glass, stir together heavy cream and Ovaltine. Turn mixer speed to medium and pour cream mixture into frosting in a slow, steady stream until you’ve reached your desired consistency.  You may not need the full amount of Ovaltine and cream.  (I used it all, for whatever that's worth.)

Happy birthday, Face.  I wish I could bake you cakes every day to show you how awesome you are!