Buttercream icing is the best, so easy, just butter milk and icing mixture. I just add a bit of each until I get the correct consistency. I’m sure there are probably recipes out there – taste.com.au is a good site.

If you had flavouring to your butter icing it will take away the ‘lump of butter’ taste. Lol. I think the same. I spit delicious looking cupcakes in shops and think yum, but there’s way too much icing :/

I like the icing they put on the Coles cupcakes (the ones that has red velvet and sticky date and cookies and cream varieties) – but I have no idea how they make it!

Okay I like the idea of the royal icing in the comments, that is great that you can buy packets at the supermarket or even the Betty Crocker pre mix and add some pure icing sugar. Thanks

lol everyone is thinking great here! buttercream

I use a butter icing but always beat it until it is very light and fluffy

I only use a little bit of margarine with icing sugar and water.

Actually that’s so true Jodie… I whipped it in my mix master for ages and it tasted better than just hand mixing. Also I softened the butter to room temperature rather than completely melting it and I think that helped.

I just use butter and icing sugar but the secret is to whip it in your mixer for a long time. I’m talking 10-15 minutes and it doesn’t taste like butter I promise you

Thanks for the link NAOMI – I love butter icing too.

This was my cake and I used a recipe similar to this
http://blog.mycakedecorating.co.uk/how-to-make-the-perfect-buttercream-frosting/
Can’t remember the exact one but they’re all similar. Some add vanilla essence.

I recently pipped with a butter cream recipe (icing sugar, butter, milk). It was so easy to pipe! Tasted good but it’s not the most amazing ‘wow’ tasting icing. I love lemon so next time may substitute some butter for lemon.

I use pure icing sugar, marg & passionfruit pulp on cupcakes & they are always a hit for young & old!

I love butter icing on a freshly baked cupcake!

butter cream is good i don’t use a recipe for it but i’m sure you could search 1 it has icing sugar, butter and milk. I’m not normally a fan of icing but love this one.

royal icing is great, you can buy packets at the supermarket or even the Betty Crocker pre mix and add some pure icing sugar

Butter icing. Half cup of pure icing sugar. 3 table spoons of butter softened. Mix together until all lumps and a nice paste. Add a drop of water until icing is of desired consistency. Hint. Make sure cake is cooled or butter will melt.

I am interested in this too.
It is hard to make a nice tasting icing.

I never made butter icing. I also make it with icing sugar, trying to leave it quite thick.

I learnt in a cooking class the other day that there is actually a difference between the pure icing sugar and icing mixture. They are made of different component/compounds and can effect your results. Definitely use the pure icing sugar. I dislike the butter icings but maybe trying your cocoa and using milk instead of butter? I also have made icings with orange juice!