Would love to get some of your ideas or recipes on a not so sickeningly sweet buttercream or icing for decorating cakes and cupcakes. Have had no luck so far. Thanks so much for your help.

Have you tried one of the European buttercreams? Italian Meringue Buttercream and Swiss Meringue Buttercream are both made with whipped egg whites, granulated sugar, and unsalted butter. They are very creamy and buttery and just the right amount of sweet.

Just what prterrell said, the meringue butter creams are generally not considered overly sweet.

Or you could blend your favorite American b/c and meringue b/c together for a less sweet icing:

http://cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-28824.html

HTH

There is a recipe for Charlotte's Whipped Cream Buttercream in this thread. I thought it was quite nice...not too sweet and not too buttery.

http://cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-674551.html

That recipe is also in the CC recipes section:

http://cakecentral.com/recipes/2019/whipped-cream-buttercream-frosting

HTH

Thanks so much to you all for your tips and recipes. Will have to take the step up to the European Buttercreams now that you have advised me, wishs me luck, lol. Hugs Sharlene