I'm very new to cake decorating, and I have a problem. My husband wants a sugary icing (that he remembers from when he was a kid) for his birthday cake. He says that it had almot a gritty texture from the sugar. I prefer a whipped-like frosting. What is the "buttercream" icing? And if it's not the kind he remembers, any ideas? Thanks!
Any icing that is crisco-based with powdered sugar will work.
Theresa 
If you make a cooked flour frosting that uses granulated sugar, and don't mix for as long as recommended - you'll get a gritty frosting (as the sugar crystals won't dissolve).
Also make sure the flour mixture is not at all warm, and the butter is not really soft.
Here's a recipe:
(The title is misleading; this b/c is sweet, but not as sweet as a recipe using lbs. of powdered sugar.)
http://www.cooks.com/rec/doc/0,196,152185-253196,00.html
HTH
Thanks for the feedback, I'll have to give it a try.
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