i always use the crisco and powder sugar icing, but have a request for an icing thats not too sweet, kind of like cool whip icing they use at the stores. any advice or recipes?
thanks a bunch!
melody

Well, there is a recipe listed called extra special buttercream which uses whipping cream posted here somewhere. Adding salt and playing with the flavors can change the sweet taste.

Becareful thought, depending on what your going to do with the icing. A fluffier icing might not hold up for some decorations.

Rose

I make this icing alot, of course, I don't do fancy decorating like y'all do, so i'm not sure if this would work for you, but it's very easy and good and gets lots of compliments.

Lou's frosting;

1 cup milk
3 TBSP flour
1 cup (2 sticks) butter
1 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp vanilla

Mix flour and milk in pan, cook until mixture thickens, set aside to cool completely. Cream butter and sugar, add flour mixture, beat for 7 minutes with electric mixer, add vanilla.

I just made Martha Stewart's Italian Meringue Buttercream this past weekend for the first time. It is made with a cooked granulated sugar syrup, egg whites and lots of butter. It isn't as sweet as powdered sugar buttercream and has a light, creamy feel. Some people think it is too buttery, but my family loved it. That cake went very quickly. I liked it too. It was sweet enough, but not so sweet that it competed with the flavor of the cake like regular buttercream sometimes does.

The icing gets quite firm in the fridge and very soft in high heat and humidity. It tastes and looks best when served at an air-conditioned room temp.

Here's a link for the recipe:



http://www.marthastewart.com/page.jhtml?type=content&id=recipe1980&contentGroup=MSL&site=living

Good luck!

thanks guys!
melody