Fluffy <a href="/recipes/buttercream-icing">basic buttercream </a>(or frosting) really is the icing on any cake. Simple to whip up, satisfying to gobble up. Master a buttercream recipe and experiment with flavours, or add cocoa for the best <a href="/recipes/salted-chocolate-buttercream">chocolate buttercream</a>. 
 
From rainbow buttercream, roses or ruffles, we have the piping tips and techniques to grow your decorating skills. More of an icing traditionalist?

Try one of our many icing & buttercream recipes and make something delicious today Learn how to make the perfect icing or buttercream filling for your cake.

Icing & Buttercream Recipes | Simple & Easy Sweet Toppings

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This easy glace icing recipe creates smooth, glossy glace icing that's rich and spreadable, making it the very best topping for <a data-item-id="690f5b77-5fcc-59f6-95c6-f8cebf7ff34a" href="">biscuits</a>, <a href="https://www.bakingmad.com/recipes/categories/cookies-and-biscuits/cookies">cookies</a>, <a data-item-id="871653dc-08b9-5901-bc1e-575c64eccc2b" href="">sponge cakes</a> and <a data-item-id="be5e00be-896a-5754-8ecb-67cdad7c88a0" href="">finger buns</a>.
This quick and easy icing for <a data-item-id="3bb99ae0-0582-534c-901d-78a4b8473bf4" href="">biscuits and cookies</a> also sets with a subtle, smooth sheen, making it an ideal edible ‘glue’ for decorating your baking creations.
We love using Silver Spoon Icing Sugar for a glossy, lump-free glace icing recipe that works every time. Using just water and icing sugar, this simple cupcake icing recipe is perfect for drizzling on cupcakes or dolloping on sprinkle sponge cake.
<h3>Which bakes can I decorate with glace icing?</h3>
Glace icing is a simple way to add decoration to your bakes - it’s usually drizzled over cakes, cookies, and pastries to add a sweet, shiny coating. It also works beautifully on cinnamon rolls, scones, fruit tarts, and even doughnuts. Glace icing can also be used to decorate gingerbread houses or to create intricate designs on sugar cookies.
<h3>What can I use icing sugar for apart from icing?</h3>
Icing sugar, also known as powdered sugar or confectioner's sugar, is a versatile ingredient used for sweetening and decorating bakes. However, it has several other uses:
<ul>
 <li>Sweetening: Sift icing sugar over cakes, cookies, and doughnuts for a sweet dusting and a professional-looking finish.</li>
 <li>Decorating: Use icing sugar to make royal icing for decorating cookies, cakes, and gingerbread houses. Mix it with egg whites and flavourings for a smooth, pipeable icing that hardens when dry.</li>
 <li>Thickening: Use icing sugar to thicken fruit fillings for pies and tarts. You can also sprinkle freshly-cut fruits, such as berries, with icing sugar to soak up any moisture.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Reasons to make our glace icing:</h3>
⭐Ready in minutes
⭐Can be made ahead of time and stored in the fridge
⭐Only uses two ingredients

Glace Icing

This simple icing gives a lovely crunchy topping when poured over a warm cake straight out of the oven, whether it's ontop of your lovely <a href="https://www.bakingmad.com/recipes/blueberry-and-lemon-loaf">Blueberry &amp; Lemon Loaf</a>, or topping your warm <a href="https://www.bakingmad.com/recipes/lemon-and-raisin-pancakes">Lemon &amp; Raisin Pancakes </a>&nbsp;- this drizzle is so easy to whisk up and brings all the zing to your lemony bakes.

Lemon Drizzle Icing

For all those that love coffee this coffee buttercream is the perfect topping for a coffee and walnut cake.

Coffee Buttercream

Just because you are avoiding dairy doesn't mean you have to miss out on delicious chocolate buttercream. A perfect&nbsp;topping for dairy free chocolate cupcakes.&nbsp;

Dairy Free Vegan Chocolate Buttercream

Level up your standard buttercream by giving it a citrus twist. We show you how to work in juice from oranges, lemons or limes. A Citrus Buttercream makes a really good topping for loaf cakes, cupcakes and even as a filling for a sponge cake. If you want some handy tips on creating proper buttercream have a look at our classic video below.

Citrus Buttercream

Ever wondered how to make fondant icing from scratch? It couldn't be easier! All you need is some Silver Spoon icing sugar and a little bit of water.

Fondant Icing

We have the best simple buttercream recipe that will give your cakes and cupcakes a delicious twist with the subtle inclusion of maple syrup. Perfect for autumnal Halloween or Bonfire Night party treats.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Maple Buttercream

A swiss buttercream holds really well, especially if you want to pipe it. The difference between Swiss meringue buttercream and regular buttercream is that you need to make meringue from the egg whites and then work in the other ingredients. This makes Swiss meringue buttercream lighter and less sweet than regular buttercream. Fun fact, did you know that Swiss buttercream was the buttercream of choice for Harry and Meghan's Royal Wedding Cake? Write that down and keep it in your pocket ready for your next pub quiz.&nbsp;

Swiss Meringue Buttercream

Buttercream icing - also known as buttercream frosting - is the ideal way to turn a simple cake into something a little bit special, and this recipe takes just 5 minutes to make!
Deliciously smooth and creamy, this vanilla buttercream icing is perfect for <a href="https://www.bakingmad.com/recipes/simple-fairy-cakes">fairy cakes</a>, <a href="https://www.bakingmad.com/recipes/categories/cupcakes-and-muffins/cupcakes">cupcakes</a> and <a href="https://www.bakingmad.com/recipes/quick-and-easy-victoria-sponge">Victoria sponges</a>. This recipe will create enough buttercream to cover an 8-inch circular cake.
Once you've mastered how to make buttercream, why not try <a href="https://www.bakingmad.com/recipes/salted-chocolate-buttercream">salted chocolate buttercream</a> or <a href="https://www.bakingmad.com/recipes/coffee-buttercream">coffee buttercream</a>?
<h3>What’s the difference between buttercream icing and buttercream frosting?</h3>
The best way to distinguish frosting from buttercream is through the ingredients each recipe uses.
While both contain powdered sugar, a fat-rich binding ingredient, flavouring and sometimes milk or water, frosting does not contain any butter. Instead, frosting recipes normally use shortening or cream cheese.
<h3>Does buttercream icing need to be kept in the fridge?</h3>
Buttercream icing doesn’t have to be refrigerated, as the icing’s high fat content keeps it fresh, and your icing will last for up to a week with no refrigeration.
However, to prevent the icing from drying out, keeping your iced cake in a cool, airtight container is best.

Buttercream Icing Recipe

Chocolate frosting, chocolate buttercream or chocolate icing - whatever you call it, this quick chocolate buttercream recipe is the best way to make rich, velvety chocolate icing for chocolate flavoured cupcakes, <a href="https://www.bakingmad.com/recipes/categories/cakes/celebration-cakes">celebration cakes</a> or any bake you want to add an extra layer of indulgence to.
This chocolate buttercream is a perfect home-made alternative to supermarket chocolate fudge icing, and thanks to Silver Spoon Icing Sugar, it’s fluffy, sweet and silky - smother onto your traybakes or cupcakes in less than five minutes.
The cocoa powder and rich dark chocolate are key to getting the fudgy, rich flavour we all love from a good chocolate cake recipe.
We love this chocolate buttercream on top of a chocolate cake for the ultimate chocolate hit, or liberally dolloped on top of our <a href="https://www.bakingmad.com/recipes/mary-berry-chocolate-cupcakes">Mary Berry Chocolate Cupcakes</a>.

Chocolate Buttercream

Ever wondered how to make buttercream icing from scratch? Look no further...Not only can we show you how to make buttercream, this smooth buttercream recipe is going to up raise your icing game to a whole new level.&nbsp;
With the addition of Billington's Golden Icing Sugar you will achieve a fluffy buttercream frosting tinted with a hint of beautiful caramel colour and flavour. Guaranteed to transform your cupcakes from ordinary to extraordinary.&nbsp;

Buttercream

Brighten up your cakes and bakes with this delicious and refreshing passion fruit icing. Not only does this icing give a naturally vibrant yellow colouring but also a tangy tropical taste.

Passion Fruit Icing

This delicious cream cheese icing recipe is ideal for topping cakes and cupcakes. What's more - you only need three ingredients! It's so simple to make and it's guaranteed to get people asking for seconds. 
 
The top 3 recipes for Cream Cheese Icing are: 
1. <a data-item-id="e1042adc-b574-5901-9ea5-3394b8b28c5d" href="">Carrot Cake</a>&nbsp; 
2. <a data-item-id="5f378b5e-af68-56f8-9723-d0fcc4fa2251" href="">Carrot Cupcakes</a>&nbsp; 
3. <a data-item-id="c0df4aca-c96b-5f2d-90d6-4f434097654e" href="">Marble Muffins</a>

Cream Cheese Icing

What better way to top a chocolate cupcake than with an indulgent creamy salted chocolate buttercream? This buttercream will really lift your cupcake to showstopper level and it is really simple to make. One serving of the buttercream will be sufficient to cover an 8" cake or a batch of cupcakes.

Salted chocolate buttercream

We've created a special buttercream recipe especially for Easter. Inspired by the classic hot cross bun, this buttercream contains orange rind and all spice to give it that extra tasty punch. Use it for cupcakes, cakes or sandwich between cookies- the sky is the limit.&nbsp;

Hot Cross Bun Buttercream

Celebration and Christmas cakes look truly wonderful finished and decorated with traditional royal icing and it is so simple to make too. 
 
Your leftover icing won't get wasted either as it can be used to make decorations to go on your cake. This recipe will create enough icing to cover an 8" cake.

Royal Icing

This creamy cream cheese frosting is simple, delicious and the perfect way to top any cupcake or cake. The combination of the cream cheese and the Nielsen Massey vanilla really takes this cream cheese icing to a new level.&nbsp;This will be enough for one large cake or 24 cupcakes.

Vanilla Cream Cheese Icing

Looking for a low sugar cream cheese frosting, that’s packed with flavour? Then this recipe is perfect for you. Our light and fluffy cream cheese frosting is made with low fat cream cheese and <a href="https://www.sainsburys.co.uk/gol-ui/SearchResults/truvia">Truvia for Baking - Icing</a>. 
 
Truvia For Baking Icing measures and sweetens like icing sugar and is super easy to swap into your favourite bakes. From frosting to cheesecake, it’s the perfect powdered sugar substitute giving you all the sweetness with none of the sugar.

Low Sugar Cream Cheese Frosting

Christmas Pudding would not be the same without a traditional sauce or custard. The most popular pairings for a Christmas Pudding are Brandy or Rum Sauces, Custards or this Brandy Butter recipe! This is the quickest to make and far and away the most popular in the UK.