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Your Cake, Your Way: What Frosting Should You Choose?

As a cake decorator with years of hands-on experience creating bespoke cakes for all kind of celebration, one question I often get asked is:

“What frosting do you use?” The answer? It depends! Not just on the flavour you want, but on the design, the weather, who is eating the cake, and even how long it needs to sit out.

Today, let’s dive into three of the most popular frostings used in modern cake design: American Buttercream, Swiss Meringue Buttercream, and Chocolate Ganache—each with its own strengths, quirks, and ideal uses.




1. American Buttercream (ABC)

How It’s Made: This classic is made by creaming butter (or a butter–vegetable fat blend) with icing sugar and adding a touch of milk or cream and vanilla extract.

Taste: Sweet and rich with a strong buttery note. Because of its sugar content, it has that “traditional cake” flavour that kids adore.

Firmness: Firm and crusting. ABC holds its shape well, especially when piped, and forms a slight crust which is great for durability.

Best Use: Ideal for frosting cupcakes and celebration cakes especially kid’s birthday cakes. It pipes beautifully and can be used for flowers and other decorations.

Cake Stability: Excellent. The sugar content and firmness make it very stable, especially in warm conditions.

Temperature Suitability: Performs well in warmer climates. It can handle a party table in the summer better than softer frostings.

Crowd Suitability: A hit with everyone and those with a sweet tooth.


2. Swiss Meringue Buttercream (SMBC)

How It’s Made: SMBC is made by gently heating egg whites and sugar over a double boiler, then whipping them into a glossy meringue before slowly beating in butter until silky and smooth.

Taste: Light, smooth, and less sweet than ABC with a subtle buttery flavour. It’s elegant and sophisticated.

Firmness: Softer than ABC, but it firms up in the fridge. At room temperature, it is smooth and creamy but can be tricky to work with in heat.

Best Use: Ideal for wedding cakes, luxury cakes, and desserts where a refined finish is desired. Also excellent for smooth finishes and subtle flavours like fruit or espresso.

Cake Stability: Moderately stable. Can struggle in hot weather or direct sun. Needs refrigeration in warm settings.

Temperature Suitability: Best in cool or indoor events. It melts easily in the heat, so avoid outdoor parties unless kept cool.

Crowd Suitability: Perfect for more discerning palates; for those who prefer lighter, less sugary flavours.


3. Chocolate Ganache

How It’s Made: A simple blend of chocolate and cream. The ratio changes based on desired consistency—more chocolate for a firmer finish, more cream for a glaze or drip.

Taste: Rich, deep chocolate flavour. It can be sweet or bitter depending on the chocolate used (milk, dark, or white).

Firmness: When set, ganache is very firm. It forms a smooth, sharp finish, ideal under fondant.

Best Use: Perfect for filling, frosting, drip cakes, and as a base for fondant-covered cakes. Also great for sculpted cakes that need support.

Cake Stability: Very high stability, especially dark chocolate ganache. Holds well in most conditions and creates a firm shell.

Temperature Suitability: Performs best in cool to moderate temperatures. White chocolate ganache is softer and less heat-stable than dark.

Crowd Suitability: Great for chocolate lovers. Adults tend to enjoy it more, especially dark or semi-sweet chocolate.


Final Thoughts: Choosing the Right Frosting

Here’s a quick summary to help you choose the right frosting:

Frosting

Taste

Stability

Best For

Crowd

American Buttercream

Sweet

Very stable

Piping, cakes

Kids, sweet lovers

Swiss Meringue Buttercream

Light, buttery

Medium

Weddings, elegant cakes

Adults, refined palates

Chocolate Ganache

Rich chocolate

Very stable

Fondant base, drips, sculpted cakes

Chocolate lovers

Bonus Tips:

  • Layer wisely: Use SMBC or ganache for filling + ABC for outer piping, balancing taste and structure.

  • Flavour boost: Add freeze-dried fruit powders, espresso, or citrus zest to SMBC for gourmet twists.

  • Client education: If you're a cake maker, be sure to guide your customers based on the event type, weather, and audience.


Whether you are baking for a birthday, wedding, or simply for the love of cake, knowing your frostings makes all the difference. The right finish can elevate not just the look, but the experience of your cake. And trust me—after 10 years in the cake world, a good frosting can turn a great cake into an unforgettable one.


 

 
 
 

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