We all know it saves money to make our food at home. A few of us even manage to bake a cake or two from scratch. But when it comes to frosting, we freak. We dish out and buy the expensive stuff with the extra packaging because we don't feel up to the challenge. Grant you, some frostings require a culinary degree and the patience of Job, but not all of them. Here are four simple frosting recipes that are low on ingredients and cost, and high on flavor.

Cream Cheese.

One eight ounce package of softened cream cheese, 2 cups of confectioners' sugar, 1 stick of butter and a splash of vanilla. Mix with an electric mixture until it's creamy enough to suit you, and spread on the baked good of your choice.

Confectionary Sugar Glaze.

One cup confectioners' sugar, 3 tablespoons milk or water, 1 tsp of the flavor extract of your choice. Mix it up. It should be think enough to drizzle over a bundt cake. If the weather conditions where you are throw off the consistency of it, just add a bit more moisture until you get it gets drippy but not liquid.

Chocolate.

This is basically cocoa, powdered sugar, vanilla and butter with a little milk or water mixed in. Whip it up with a hand mixer and spread to your heart's content. Here's a link to an easy recipe.

Peanut Butter.

I suppose you could use this frosting with any number of goods, but my favorite pairing is with chocolate cake. Here's a link to a simple recipe with few ingredients.
 

These should get you started. It's not fudge or candy, folks. I promise. If you're truly hankering for a homemade treat to serve after dinner, mix up a basic cake and whip up one of these fun frosting formulas to top the whole thing off. You can do it.  For more frugal food ideas, check out this bread article, some ideas for saving money on the egg front, cheap seafood and making the most of imitation crab meat.

This article was included in the May 26th, 2009 Make it from Scratch carnival.