hi, i have done a few cakes...but all have been covered with fondant...what the heck is the paper towel method?? i know u use buttercream...but what recipe, i make buttercream to stick fondant to cakes and its just butter and icing sugar...and its always yellow. can someone explain what it is!! and bearing in mind im in england and i havnt got a clue about american products...i dont know what viva towels are...its all so confusing!! id love to try a buttercream frosting but just dont know where to start!

Here's the technique tutorial, which includes a link to the buttercream recipe as well:

http://www.cakecentral.com/article10-How-To-Create-Faux-Fondant-The-Paper-Towel-Method----Viva.html

The recipe I use for buttercream icing is 1/2 stick real butter, 1/2 cup crisco, mix together well, add 1 tsp flavor, I use vanilla, mix it in well, and then add 4c powdered sugar, sifted, one cup at a time, once it's all blended well, add 1-2 tablespoons of milk, mix until fluffy on med or high speed. After you ice your cake, let it sit about 10-15 min, and your icing will crust, it will get kinda hard, to where it won't stick to your fingers when touched. you then take a papertowel, most people use the VIVA brand because it doesn't have a design in it, and they lay it ontop of the icing and lightly press it and it smoothes it out for you. You can even use this method to round your edges and it kinda looks like fondant. You can use any other paper towel with a design and it will imprint a cool looking affect in your cake. It makes a nice background. Hope this helps!