I'm really new to the whole cake decorating thing, but like doing it for my family.....my question is, which buttercream icing recipe is the best for icing a cake and then decorating on? On this cake I'm not using fondant, just wanted to use the buttercream.

I use all decorators icing (frosting)....I LOVE IT!!

Here it is!

http://www.cakecentral.com/cake_recipe-7603-179-Crisco-based-Decorator-Frosting.html

I use IMBC (Italian Meringue Buttercream) for icing and decorating. Here's my recipe:
http://www.cakecentral.com/cake_recipe-3483-5-Promises-Meringue-Buttercream.html

You can't beat Indydebi's BC. The recipe is here on CC. Here's the link:

http://www.cakecentral.com/cake_recipe-6992-0-Indydebis-Crisco-Based-Buttercream-Icing.html

Thanks so much for the replies!! Kandy4283 we tried your icing for my hubby's b-day cake and my family loved it! I will have to try the other two icings as well. Thanks again guys!!!

Crisco is a U.S. brand of solid white vegetable shortening.

Where to find shortening in AU:

http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-290523.html

HTH

Oh Copha - I feel stupid now, hahaha... Yeah we only use Butter in our icing. Copha is what my Grandmother Deep fries Chips in... lol

Ewh, wouldnt put that in my buttercream icing, I did read all the Threads and we are completely different, atleast with the US Recieps I have, I can susbitute...

Thank you JanH