AHi! Im a newbie baker,.and in need of some direction. I have a customer requesting "hard icing"! Im not sure what they mean...Is it crusted butter cream they want or should i just make some royal icing ? Is it acceptable to use royal icing on cupcakes????... Please help a confused newbie!! Thanks in advance!

You need to ask the customer this question.  WE can't possibly tell you what they want.

AI agree you need to ask the customer if they want crusting bc or royal icing and tell them the differance between the two

Ayes baking Irene. Im aware that there is no way to know what the customer wants!!!! THATS OBVIOUS!!!!!!:smile::-( in this situation MY CUSTOMER IS NOT SURE AND HAS NO CLUE!!!!!!!!! Which is why Im asking for help!!! To all others Thanks for your help and POSITIVE FEED BACK!!!! I will just make a butter cream icing that crusts, and go from there!!!

A[quote name="remnant3333" url="/t/751779/help-icing-questions#post_7339902"]Butter cream icing is usually the normal icing for cakes. People will normally just do flowers with royal icing on top of a butter cream cake.  But like the others said you need to ask them.  Other people do flowers with butter cream and cover cake with butter cream. I, personally love butter cream as flowers and on the cake. To each their own!!

Thanks for your help! My customer is unsure of what type of icing it is. All she keeps saying is you know.....the hard icing...But you have given me a starting point. In my mind I thought royal icing was specific to cookies. I never (to date) heard anyone mentioning using it on cupcakes. Thanks again! :)

she probably means fondant (or gumpaste if she's talking flowers).  Since she doesn't know what it is could she show you an example by pointing out a picture? Many of my clients call fondant "hard" icing.   Good Luck

AThe customer is asking for poured, not rolled fondant. I've had that request in the past. It is an unbelievable PITA.

As others have suggested there are several options so yes, it is best to further ? the customer. 

Hard icing can mean royal, fondant or crusted b'cream :(  I don't believe it would refere to poured fondant as my experience with that has not been a 'hard' finish.