I am finishing up my Nantucket Basket Purse cake for my Mother who is 90 this weekend.  I have been practising the basket weave design.  I am wondering what recipe for buttercream works best for this type of cake design.  I will have to pipe the entire cake including the top and sides with the basketweave design.  What is recommended for the icing?  I practised with a already made icing and noticed that as it sat, it melted together so that the lines of the design were less succinct.  I am hoping that my home made butter cream has more reliability!  Any suggestions?

AI always use American buttercream but I imagine you could use any version with equally positive results.

Thanks!  

http://www.cakecentral.com/a/2-icing

This is a great one - especially if you use only 2 cup Crisco and 1/2 C butter. 

AAdd corn starch if it's too loose and test the icing before you pipe make sure it's ok