Help! I am complete newbie to decorating. What tastes better on a mud cake - royal icing or fondant and what is easier?

If you cover in fondant to you have to do a layer of marzipan first?

I did a white chocolate mudcake this week. I used melted white chocolate as the crumb coat , put it in the fridge to set up, then brushed with boiled apricot preserves and covered with fondant - worked very well!

Marzipan is option many enjoy and many hate.... its a really personal taste thing, so ask the person who it is for...

In regards to covering the cake, you have a couple of traditional options....

1. ganache
2. fondant (WITH OR WITHOUT MARZIPAN)
3. Buttercream

I would not recommend COVERING the cake with Royal Icing..... it sets like concrete.... maybe a bit to crunchy I would think...

Let us know how you get on