You can use your favorite cream cheese frosting. The high amount of sugar stablizes it and makes it non perishable for a few days. There's a thread on that somewhere here on CC.
Forget adding all that black coloring!! I buy the cheap store brand darkest chocolate frosting in a tub (like Betty Crocker) from the grocery store and add just a bit of black. It'll be easier to mix if you microwave it for 15 seconds....
I use DH all exclusivley with no problems at all. Try putting a flower nail in the center. This will help because the nail heats up and helps to cook the cake from the center out. I do this for any cake 12" or larger and it works every...
Since Parchment is not as clear as wax paper, I copy the image in black & white, then use a black market with a sharp point and outline the copy. When you put it under the parchment, you can see the outline from the marker. It works...
