AHello all, I'm a hobby baker and haven't been on the forums in a while. I'm still just baking for family special occasions and still love it.

I am making my boyfriends mother a cake for her 60th. I wanted to do something "fancy" but she requested vanilla cake with chocolate icing. Simple!! Yet I hardly ever cover a cake in chocolate icing... I use sugarshacks recipe 98% of the time. (can I turn that into chocolate bc?)

Anyway, I need a yummy chocolate icing recipe. I will be decorating it doing the rose technique. She's a very sweet, classy lady so nothing crazy. Anyway, I've looked online and on the recipe section and I'm just getting overwhelmed.

Thanks!!

the chocolate icing recipe on the back of hershey cocoa can simply rocks--i still make it the old way of creaming the butter and adding the powdered sugar cocoa combination then the liquid--but you can't go wrong with it--no matter how you make it--

http://www.hersheys.com/pure-recipes/details.aspx?id=5750&name=Perfectly+Chocolate+Chocolate+Frosting

plus i usually add some coffee--either instant coffee dissolved in the cream or substitute a tablespoon of brewed coffee for a tablespoon of the cream

Hi!!!!!

I use my buttercream based on Sugar shack's recipe, just like you.  I add cocoa to it and some cream to make if spreadable.  It is awesome!  Make a small dab and try it out!

You may have to add a little extra liquid, so you can pipe the roses.  The cocoa makes it real thick.  Adding melted chocolate is another option, but I like cocoa mixed with and my buttercream and it taste like fudge!  Hang in there!!!!

the cake bible's milk choc buttercream is simple and delish

http://urbancomfort.typepad.com/urban_nest/2011/01/milk-chocolate-buttercream.html

but i was terminally overwhelmed by one cake once (that i can remember)--it was for a family wedding and i survived but i am actually still overwhelmed by it-- hahaha not funny  

do you think 'the overwhelm' is from the icing recipe or the circumstances surrounding the cake -- the people who will attend the party or the honoree or something?  rhetorical question--no need to answer but to yourself--

i'm just saying--it's not always the chocolate!

AThanks ladies.. I am debating on whether or not to do rasberry filling now. And I def think the stress is from making the cake for his mom. I want it to be perfect!

try to give yourself a break--but i've certainly been there --i hope you do great!

how about a raspberry sorbet to plate with the cake?