Hi all,  

I'm new to baking.  I know this site has lots of knowledgeable bakers and I'm hoping for help!!

i would like to know if it is ok to use IMBC to fill a cake and then use crusting buttercream to ice it.

it probably sounds like a silly question, but I'm not sure if the combo of those two buttercreams tastes good.  I'd like to ice the cake with crusting buttercream because I want to make it as smooth as possible underneath the fondant.  TIA!!

You could do it but when meringue buttercreams are so beautifully silky it would seem a pity to ruin it (IMO) with a crusting American Buttercream style icing.

Personally I fill my cakes with SMBC and ice with Ganache, both have such a lovely texture that they compliment one another perfectly.

thank you!!  Do you have a good and easy ganache recipe for beginners that i can use as icing under fondant?

Just any standard ganache recipe (not a pouring ganache). I use a ratio of

1 part cream to 3 parts white chocolate,

1 part cream to 2 1/2 parts milk chocolate or

I combine milk and dark chocolate together and use a ratio of 1 part cream to 2 parts milk/dark chocolate.

I have never made dark chocolate ganache as I don't like dark chocolate very much  but you use that at a 1:2 ratio.

Just look up a few tutorials on how to use/make it and with a bit of practice you will fall in love with it :-) 

Just any standard ganache recipe (not a pouring ganache). I use a ratio of

1 part cream to 3 parts white chocolate,

1 part cream to 2 1/2 parts milk chocolate or

I combine milk and dark chocolate together and use a ratio of 1 part cream to 2 parts milk/dark chocolate.

I have never made dark chocolate ganache as I don't like dark chocolate very much  but you use that at a 1:2 ratio.

Just look up a few tutorials on how to use/make it and with a bit of practice you will fall in love with it :-) 

Thank you bubs1stbirthday!  I really appreciate it!!

I use meringues on the inside for fillings and the crusting buttercreams on the outside on almost all of my cakes. Most people around here like either one or the other, so that way they don't have to argue about it. And the sweetness of the crusting buttercream kind of tempers the richness of the meringue buttercream and vice-versa.