I have to make a chocolate icing cake, and I love the taste of the regular stuff you get in your baking aisle and I was wondering will it frost as nicely and do simple borders as nice as buttercream does?

I am not wanting flowers or anything crazy just a nice pretty cake with finished borders...

Thanks a bunch

Jennifer

I think there may be some old posts on this topic somewhere if you do a search. If I remember correctly, I don't think that it will pipe very well because it is so soft but I'm not sure of what I read!

It will work, although not as nicely as a regular buttercream. Try it--if it's too mushy, you can add some powdered sugar to stiffen it a bit for a nicer result. I think it depends too on the the brand and the consistancy. Good luck!

I have tried in the past to pipe stars with reg frosting and can tell you it was horrible..they'll pipe but start oozing and I would have to put it into the fridge constantly to firm up. That was before I learned about bc and different consistencies.
I am wondering if reg frosting will crust to smooth like buttercream will? My kids hate the taste of buttercream so would love to be able to get the creamy yummy taste of reg frosting but have the consistency of buttercream

I have tried to use it in the past and it does not work and does not crust.

The chocolate buttercream recipe on the wilton site is fantastic...very rich and creamy.

I also made the italian meringue butter cream for the first time the other day and it is incredible too...very different from regular butter cream. it is creamier and richer and not as sweet.

I use store bought fudge icing as the base for my black and it works for me. It stays pretty shiny though.

I have to say I used the Hershey's special dark cocoa this weekend in a recipe for choc buttercream I got out of a Baker's Chocolate recipe book and it was phenomenal! Try it! I promise you won't be disappointed. Even after adding quite a bit of cream to get a more mousse-like frosting it was wonderfully chocolate.

You also might try looking on baking911.com They have some great recipes for icing on there. I found a bc from there that is really good. You might see something your kiddes would like.
MontiBellesBakery-I am dying to try IMBC but I just haven't had time!! Everyone keeps saying how wonderful it is. Does it pipe/decorate as well as BC?

(Confession time)

I love the taste of Duncan Hines canned frosting...that was what I grew up with on all of our special occasion cakes (even though my mom was a Wilton instructor back in the 70's!!).

Since I have found no way to tweak it (and trust me, I have tried) so that it is firm enough to be piped and hold its shape, I sometimes use it for filling the cakes between layers.

~ Sherri

does anyone know exactly what it is that makes icing crust? is it the meringue powder? If so would adding some to can frosting help it crust a bit? Can you tell I'm grasping at straws here? LOL I have a bc icing that tastes better than the wilton but I want the best of both worlds I guess LOL

I think what makes an icing crust has something to do with the fat-to-solid ratio (??not sure if I'm calling it the right thing). I made the crusting cream cheese icing once without adding the full amount of powdered sugar. It tasted great but just wouldn't crust. Since then I've added more powdered sugar, and now it crusts wonderfully! I've heard adding meringue powder will help icing to crust too. So, I guess you could try that or powdered sugar...but I'm not sure how that would affect the taste. Just my thoughts. Maybe someone else could be of more help. Good luck!

In the place of meringue powder, use cornstarch. It's cheaper and helps bind the liquids to the fat, just as meringue powder does. It also helps form a crust.

~ Sherri

I have a homemade recipe that is just a tad bit stiffer (better for piping) yet tates very similar to the canned stuff. I've never had good results trying to pipe with the canned frosting...I think due to my hot hands

Thank you for all the responses..I think I'm just going to have to experiment with all different recipes until I find some the kids like..I just can't see wasting money on ingredients to experiment and have to pray it works...If anything I'll hope for a happy little accident to discover the trick LOL

miss_Jacqueline4694, what's your recipe? I'd love to have it.

I agree with all of you!

I hate the canned frosting for decorating, but I agree, it does taste good (kids love it) I have used it for filling, especailly for filling cupcakes. (its nice and soft and gooey) and one time, I was in a big hurry and used a couple of cans for underneith a fondant....