Buttercream, cream cheese, fondant–how do you know which one best fits your cake? There are a ton of decisions that go into making a cake: the flavor, the filling, the toppings, and most importantly,the frosting. Cake frosting not only aids in a cake’s appearancebut is also the first thing you taste when enjoying a slice of a cake. Whether you’re a baker or a buyer, it’s beneficial to know the cake frosting options that are out there when deciding what cake you want to make (or eat) next. We’ve highlighted the most popular types of frosting to help you get started!
Buttercream is the most popular type of frosting largely because of its few ingredients and easy application. Classic buttercream requires beating butter into icing sugar until you reach a frosting consistency. It’s not possible to over beat this type of frosting, so the longer you beat it, the fluffier it gets. Buttercreamis not as flexible as fondant, though it can be used for the same applications.
Buttercream frosting is the most popular frosting for cupcakes, though it’s important to note that not all buttercream is made the same. If you want to decorate a cake with buttercream flowers, for example, it’s best to cut your butter quantity in half and replace it with solid vegetable shortening so the frosting is firm enough to hold the shape of the flower. Meanwhile, if you ever see very white colored buttercream cake icing, that usually means that butter wasn’t used at all. To make the white buttercream frosting, you will need to use a mix of powdered sugar and vanilla blended with straight shortening to hold it together. Butter gives the frosting a yellow hue, while straight shortening may leave a greasy film in your mouth. Depending on how you want to use your buttercream, what you want it to taste like, and what you want it to look like, the different variations of making buttercream are endless.
Intermediate: cream cheese frosting
Cream cheese frosting comes in a range of consistencies from thick to thin and is often used as both a filling and an icing. This frosting is made from whisking butter, cream cheese, sugar, and flavoring, and should be refrigerated as soon as you’re done the cake icing.
An American-style buttercream cream cheese frosting is most commonly found on desserts like ourcarrotor red velvet cakes. At We Take The cake, we like to use vanilla and chocolate cream cheese frosting, too!
PICTURED:Red Velvet Bundtwith cream cheese frosting
Intermediate: cooked frostings
Cooked frosting, also known as seven-minute frosting, is made from egg whites, sugar, and flavorings on top of a double boiler while beating with a mixer. As the mixture heats, a meringue will form. Because of this heating process, the frosting is extremely delicate and should be eaten the first day or risk the frosting being absorbed into the cake.
Expert baker: fondant
There are two main types of fondant: rolled and pourable. Rolled fondant is the most widely used when it comes to cake decorating. Made of sugar, water, gelatin, and food-grade glycerine, this dough-like texture makes it easy for a baker to mold the fondant into shapes to add some décor to your cake. Fondant can be used for decorationsor to cover the entire cake.
Poured fondant, which has a glossy finish and is, unsurprisingly, of pourable consistency. This consistency makes it easy to coat a cake or cupcake.
PICTURED:Custom Cakepartially covered with fondant
Expert baker: royal icing
Royal icing is one of the best icings for decorating cakes. Mixing together powdered sugar, egg whites, and meringue powder or liquid provides a consistency relative to pancake batter. This makes it easy to pour into pastry bags to fulfill your decorating dreams.
Royal icing sets almost instantly so that the design holds (which makes it one of the best cake icings), sobe careful ofmistakes. The way royal cake icing hardens is especially useful for making flowers.
Leaving the decisions up to the professionals
The types of frosting listed are just the tip of the icing. There are alsoganache, glazes, syrups, and paste frostings to consider topping your cake with! It’s easy to get overwhelmed, but taking it one step at a time will ensure you can create a cake you are proud of.
In the case that you’d prefer to eat your cake and not make it too, we are here to help! At We Take The Cake, we take pride in creating beautifully packaged, frosted, and crafted cakes in all shapes and sizes. We go the extra mile to make sure we exceed your expectations by delivering an experience, not just a cake. Contact ustodayto learn about how we can help you with your next event!
FAQs
But did you know there are seven main types of icing? Buttercream, flat, foam, fondant, fudge, royal, glazes, and cream cheese are the eight basic types of frosting. To learn more about these unique frosting options that you may or may not have tasted, keep on reading!
What are the 8 basic types of icing? ›
- American Buttercream Frosting. ...
- Swiss Meringue Buttercream. ...
- Italian Meringue Buttercream. ...
- Ermine Buttercream. ...
- Cream Cheese Frosting. ...
- Whipped Cream Frosting. ...
- Seven-Minute Frosting. ...
- Ganache.
Swiss meringue buttercream is a favorite among many cake decorators because of its smooth finish on the outside cakes and its ability to hold piping detail.
What is the most popular frosting for cake? ›
Buttercream is the most popular type of frosting largely because of its few ingredients and easy application. Classic buttercream requires beating butter into icing sugar until you reach a frosting consistency.
What icing holds its shape best? ›
Modelling paste is suitable when you do not want an icing that sets too hard but one that will hold its shape better than sugar paste alone. As well as being used for modelling it also works well in moulds and when creating frills, ruffles, bows and swags.
Which frosting is best for beginners? ›
In terms of ease, buttercream is the best frosting to use as it's easy to make and relatively easy to spread.
What kind of frosting is there besides buttercream? ›
CREAM CHEESE FROSTING
Cream cheese frosting has a rich, sweet and slightly tangy flavor, with a thick and creamy texture. Simple ingredients like butter, cream cheese and powdered sugar are combined to make this decadent frosting that is perfect for adding to red velvet cake, cinnamon rolls or carrot cake.
Which frosting is the least sweet? ›
Not only is the technique to make ermine icing different, but it also uses far less sugar (and butter) than other types of frosting, so it's less rich and sweet. In other words, if you're a person who typically scrapes off frosting in favor of the cake underneath, ermine icing may be the one for you.
What is the hard cake icing called? ›
Royal icing is the most traditional of all icings. It is a pure white icing that dries into a smooth, hard shell with a matte finish. Its sturdy and stable property makes it great for piping and flooding. You can also smooth this type of icing over cakes to use as a base for your decorations.
What's the difference between frosting and icing? ›
Frosting is the thickest of these confections and is ideal for spreading or piping on cakes, cupcakes and cookies. Icing is a little thinner than frosting and is often poured or piped over coffee cakes, pound cakes, doughnuts and cookies—and it usually hardens when it dries.
- Butter Cream. Buttercream is softer and more spreadable than most icing and is the preferred choice for taste and flexibility. ...
- Whipped Cream. If lighter frosting is what you need then whipped cream is the answer. ...
- Royal Icing. ...
- Cream Cheese Frosting. ...
- Meringue. ...
- Fondant.
Walmart has grown to become one of America's largest superstores. This has led them to become a popular choice for bakery items, as many people love their sweet buttercream. Fortunately, you can make the Walmart buttercream frosting recipe at home.
What kind of icing do grocery stores use? ›
Grocery Store Bakery Frosting
The buttercreme (fake buttercream) icing that grocery store chains use is basically the same mix of ingredients as the tub o' frosting but with more air whipped into it, which actually seems to improve it.
What frosting is used for vintage cakes? ›
What kind of frosting do you use for vintage cakes? Vintage cakes are made with buttercream frosting using traditional piping techniques. Think buttercream swirls, lace, basketweave, and frills. Mix it all together in a variety of colors, patterns, and shapes and you get this delightful on-trend current style.
What is the best frosting that isn't buttercream? ›
Marshmallow Frosting – This is perhaps your best bet. It is still sugary, but it's lighter and it can still be piped. Cream Cheese Icing – Another classic frosting. Whipped Cream with Cream Cheese – For a rich but lighter-tasting topping, you can bulk up whipped cream with cream cheese to help it hold its form.
What are the types of icing and each basic ingredient? ›
5 Types of Cake Icing
- Royal icing. Royal icing is the most traditional of all icings. ...
- Glace icing. Glace icing is made with only two main ingredients: icing sugar and water (or other liquid like juice). ...
- Fondant. Fondant is a type of icing that, unlike others, is much thicker in texture. ...
- Buttercream. ...
- Frosting.
