20 Different Types of Frosting or Icing | Crafty Baking | Formerly Baking911 | CraftyBaking | Formerly Baking911 (2024)

DESCRIPTION / CONSISTENCYHOW MADEBEST USED FOR /
COLORINGSTORAGESPECIAL
INFORMATION7- MINUTE/ BOILED ICING
Marshmallow-like texture, 100% fat free.
ex: Seven Minute Vanilla Bean Icing RecipeMade by warming egg whites, sugar, and a bit of water and beating until it's fluffy and glossy.Substituting light brown sugar for granulated sugar makes sea-foam frosting.Sets quickly.Most commonly used both between layers and to cover a devil's foodcake. /Is pure white andcan be tinted to yieldpastels.Best used immediately.Iced cake can be stored at room temperature. Keeps for about 24 hours, and then deflates. Does not freeze well.Will deflate if mixed with ingredients containing fat such as chocolate or whipped cream.AMERICAN BUTTERCREAM / CONFECTIONERS' SUGAR ICING
Several styles. Is most popular choice for frosting. Sweet, buttery flavior. Can be slightly gritty. Great for most decorating.
ex: Tami's or Perfect Buttercream Recipe or Tami's or Perfect Buttercream - Not as Sweet VersionButter(and/or shortening) and cream or milk are beaten together, and thenconfectioners' sugar added. Flavored with extracts and chocolate.Can be made thin to stiff consistency, and fluffy or smooth.

Bettercream from www.richs.com: whipped buttercream icing used to decorate cakes that store bakeries use.

Use as anfrosting and filling. Can be piped for smooth, borders, writing. Most decorations including roses, drop flowers, sweet peas and figure piping. Flowers remain soft enough to be cut with a knife. Use or serve at room temperature. / Yields all colors. Most colors deepen overnight. Some colors may fade sitting in bright light.Icing can be refrigerated in an airtight container for 2 weeks or frozen. Iced cake can be stored at cool side of room temperature for 2-3 days.Does not hold up well in warm weather, unless shortening is used. Jams and ganache are always great alternatives to buttercream fillings and hold-up well in warm weather.BUTTERCREAM - FRENCH
Is very rich.
ex: Neoclassic French Buttercream RecipeUses egg yolks (or whole eggs) and is made the same way as Italian meringue.Filling and frosting.Needs refrigerationDue to the egg yolks, this buttercream is very perishable and should be kept refrigerated.BUTTERCREAM - MERINGUEITALIAN (MOUSSELINE) AND SWISS
Fluffy and buttery. Medium to thick consistency.
exs: Italian Meringue or Mousseline Buttercream Recipe (IMBC)
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Swiss Meringue Buttercream Recipe (SMBC)
Both use only egg whites, but differences are how they are made. Italian:Hot sugar syrup isadded to already whipped egg whites. Swiss: The whites and sugar aremixed together over heat and whipped. Then,cooled before the butter and flavoring are added. This type of buttercream is the simplest.Frosting and filling on cake. Suggest making a filling dam if used as a filling otherwisemay squish from cake. / Yields pastel colors.Needs refrigeration.Italian holds up well in warm weather (75 degrees plus) and is more dependable. Swiss tends to deflate a little quicker and doesn't hold up as well in warm environments.BUTTERCREAM - ROLLED
Sweet. Similar to fondant.
ex: Rolled Buttercream RecipeMade from stiff American buttercream.
Dough-like consistency that is rolled out before applied to cake.Covering cakes and cookies/ Can be tinted; see buttercreamSame as American ButtercreamIs very soft and can be hard to work with.CANDY CLAY
Edible and sweet. Texture like Play Doh. Also makes a delicious chocolate candy.
ex: Easy Candy Clay or Chocolate Plastic from Candy Melts RecipeCan be made with a mixture of heated Candy Melts and corn syrup. Dough-like consistency that is rolled out before applied to cake.

Covering cakes, hand-molding and decorating.Mix with gumpaste for more strength / Yields all colors if using white candy melts.

After making, handles best if hardened overnight. Several weeks at room temperature in a well-sealed container.Will be very hard at the start; knead a small portion at a time until workable.CITRUS (LEMON) CURD
Aconserve or custard with a thick consistency. Tart flavor.
ex: Fresh Lemon Curd RecipeMade with lemons and butter and eggs and sugar, and cooked on the stovetop.Can be purchased ready-made.Spread on bread or cakes. Used as a filling. Fold in with whipped cream or pastry cream.Keep refrigerated.Needs refrigeration.CREAM CHEESE
Slightly tangy, but can be sweet. Thick and creamy. Thin to medium consistency. Classic pairing for American oil cakes such as carrot and spice cakes.
ex: Cream Cheese Buttercream Frosting RecipeCream cheese and butter are beaten together, liquid (milk, liqueur) is added and beaten in, then confectioners' sugar is added, with flavoring at end, such as vanilla extract.
Cream cheese frostings get really soft quickly after you take them out of the fridge. Look for Handy Pac cream cheese frosting and filling available online or in cake supply stores.

Filling and frosting cakes. / Colors to pastels.

Iced cake must be refrigerated.
Handy Pac cream cheese is shelf stable vs. using the actual cream cheese which needs to be refrigerated.To not mar the frosted cake's surface when refrigerating, let it harden first in the refrigerator, then cover with plastic wrap. When you take it from the refrigerator, immediately remove plastic wrap and let it sit to soften before serving.CUSTARD OR PUDDINGS
Different varieties. Pastry cream or Citrus curd(custards, cooked)or mousse(pudding, not cooked). Thick, smooth and creamy.
exs: Pastry Cream Tutorial
and
Fresh Lemon Curd Recipe
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White Chocolate Raspberry Mousse RecipeCustard(pastry cream)thickened with flour or cornstarch. See Citrus curd.
Fruit puree or flavored base(mousse)folded in with whipped cream or beaten egg whites.Fillings used alone. A small amount can be folded into whipped cream to flavor it.Must remain refrigerated.Highly perishable. Needs refrigeration.FONDANT - ROLLED
Used for its special look on wedding cakes. Rich, sweet flavor.Covers with a perfectly smooth,matte finish.Does not dry as hard as royal icing and stays semi-soft. Seals in freshness and moisture.
exs: Rolled Fondant Recipe
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Marshmallow Fondant Recipe (MMF)Combination of sugar and vegetable shortening that makes a thick whitedough-like substance, and then rolled out.Can be made with marshmallows. Knead in flavor and color of your choice. Can be purchased ready-made.Rolled out and used as a cake covering. Use on any firm butter, pound or fruit cake. Even on cookies. Can be cut-out and used as decorations. /Yields pastel to deep colors.But, does not have much flavor.The best choice for outdoor events. Excess can be stored 2 months in an airtight container.Can refrigerate but must take steps to rid of condensation from fondant-covered cake: place in an air-conditioned room or in front of fan after removing.Holds up well in hot weather but, will soften in warm or humid weather. Prior to applying, cake must be covered in apricot glaze, buttercream icing or marzipan so fondant will adhere. Typically rolled to about 3/8- to 1/4-inch thick.
How much Fondant do I need to cover my cake with? AnswerFONDANT - POURED
Very sweet flavor. Covers cakes with perfectly smooth, satiny iced surface. Seals in freshness.
ex: Poured Fondant for Cakes and Cookies Recipe
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Simple Fondant Glaze RecipePours and dries to a semi-hard, smooth surface.All cakes, petit fours and cookies. / Yileds pastels.Excess may be refrigerated, gently reheated and poured againWill soften or become sticky in warm, humid weather.GANACHE
Is a French term. Dark: decadent, rich, and very, very chocolatey.
White: Rich velvety taste - a little more complex flavor than a buttercream. Can be glaze, whipped or smooth.
exs: Poured and Whipped Ganache Tutorial
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Simple Chocolate Ganache Recipe, Step-by-StepThis is a rich emulsified mixture of chocolate and cream.Buttercream consistency can be made by whipping soft butter into its base, resulting in ganache beurre.Glaze. fillingand/or frosting: whipped or smooth/ Natural color is dark to medium brown or white. Can be flavored(oil-based). White can also be tinted(oil-based)Needs refrigeration after 2 to 3 days at room temperature, 2 weeks refrigerated and 6 months frozen. Keep excess with a piece of plastic wrap pushed on its surface. Gently reheat.The better the chocolate used, the better the ganache. Good for warm (not hot) weather.GLAZES
Simple and sugary. Smooth: thick or thin.
ex: Chocolate Glaze RecipeGUM PASTE
Dough-like. Thick and malleable.
ex: Gumpase or Tylose Gum Paste RecipeGum based paste with a stiffening agent. Can be purchased ready-made.Cutting molding and modeling decorations. / Deep to pastel colors.Excess can be stored 2 months in an airtight container. Best not refrigerated. Do not freeze.Decorations will survive warm days, but is susceptible to extreme heat and humidity where it will soften.JAMS AND JELLIES
ex: Italian Strawberry Tart or Crostata di Fragole Tutorial
and
Ultimate Fresh Strawberry Butter Cake Recipe (UFSBC)Can purchase ready-made: stir it to soften, or heat with small amount of liquid if it's too thick, and strain to remove the seeds.Used as a filling alone or in combination with other fillings such as buttercream or ganache.Refrigerate after opening. Is not perishable if used as a filling.Great for warm or hot weather. But, filled cakes should be stored in refrigerator for long-term storage to prevent mold.MARZIPAN
is used similarly to rolled fondant because it gives a smooth look. It has a delicious and unique almond flavor.
ex: Marzipan Recipe Marzipan is made of almond paste. Can purchase ready-made.
Dough-like consistency that is rolled out before applied to cake. Is stretchy. Stays semi-soft on cakes.Rolled out and used as a cake or cookie covering, and then, covered with a sugar icing, such as fondant or buttercream. Can be used to mold flowers and other decorations that are then placed on a cake or served alone. / Is off-white and can used in its natural color or be tinted.Keep almond paste well covered and refrigerated, since it contains almonds which can go rancid.Holds up well in warm weather.MERINGUE
Pure white fluffy beaten egg whites.
ex: How To Beating Techniques for MeringueIs made from beating egg whites with sugar. There are many types depending onthe ratio of its ingredients.Used for covering pies, cakes and Baked Alaska. Can be piped.Does not need refrigeration. Becomes sticky when refrigerated.Canweep after storage, even for a day or two. Refrigeration speeds up the weeping process.ROYAL ICING
Pure white, sticky icing that dries to a hard finish.
ex: Royal Icing Master RecipeHeavy paste of egg whites and confectioners' sugar beaten with a little vinegar or lemon juice. Can be made in different consistencies.Used for general pipingor delicate work such as elaborate "string" decorations. Decorating cookies and gingerbread houses./ Tints to pastel to dark colors.Does not need refrigeration. Air-dried decorations last for months.Will soften when placed on butter or fat based frostings.SIMPLE SUGAR SYRUPS
Simple and sugary.
ex:Basic Simple Sugar Syrup Recipe with Flavor VariationsMade from sugar and water, and then cooked. Can be flavored which should complement or match the flavors of the cake.Brushed on drier cake layers to moisten them, such as genoise. Syrup is popular in wedding cakes and other large projects that must be made in multiple stages; keeps it tasting fresh and moist longer. Syrup is not usually used alone as a filling; the layers are brushed with syrup and then another filling, such as jam or buttercream, is spread on top.Keep excess refrigerated. Cakes that are moistened with sugar syrups can mold easily.Holds up well in warm weather, but gets sticky when humid. Bowls/utensils must be grease-free. Cover icing with damp cloth while working, to prevent crusting.WHIPPED CREAM
Creamy, delicate sweetness. Perishable.
exs: Whipped Cream Tutorial
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Stabilized Whipped Cream RecipeWhipping cream beaten with sugar. Can be flavored. Stabilized for longer life with gelatin.Can be used as a filling and frosting. Can be piped to form soft decorations. /Tints in pastel colors.Must remain refrigerated.Use immediately because deflates readily. Iced cake must be refrigerated. Texture remains soft on decorated cake.