I was asked today what the difference between icing and frosting and embarrassingly enough I could not give an answer. Please help )

..fuuny thing! this topic came up before and I believe it was decided that it just depends on where you are from. Me? I call it icing!

I use both terms like, "I iced the cake with chocolate frosting." So, I chekced websters. Frosting is another word for icing which is "a creamy mixture."

is it the difference between royal icing and buttercream frosting? where icing hardens up and frosting crusts but doesn't dry rock solid?

Found at http://www.thefreedictionary.com/frosting

ic·ing (sng)
n.
1. A sweet glaze made of sugar, butter, water, and egg whites or milk, often flavored and cooked and used to cover or decorate baked goods, such as cakes or cookies. (See Regional Note at frosting.)

2. icing - a flavored sugar topping used to coat and decorate cakes


frost·ing (frôstng, frstng)
n.
1. Icing, as on a cake.

Regional Note: Although both frosting and icing are widespread, people in New England, the Upper Midwest, and the Western U.S. tend to put frosting on cake. In Pennsylvania, New Jersey, the Lower Midwest, and all of the South, the preferred term is icing. There is some overlap, especially in upstate New York, Michigan, and California, but the regions in which the two words predominate are surprisingly distinct. A few people in the South call it by a third name, filling, even when it goes on top.

2. frosting - a flavored sugar topping used to coat and decorate cakes

It's the same thing...just depends on what part of the country you're from as what you say and use..

Here's my definition of frosting vs. icing:

Frosting comes from a can. It is full of chemicals and tastes somewhat mediciney.

Icing is made from scratch. It takes time and is made with thought and love for what is being made.

Anyone can buy frosting, but only special folk can make icing!

Debbi