Buttercream vs white icing

I love buttercream, but I know nothing about baking cakes. As a guest I would probably skip the cake if it was fondant. I just don't like the taste.

I also prefer buttercream, and that's what we'll go with I'm sure, but then again, we're not doing a smooth cake I would go with flavor over look personally. Good luck, I love your cake!

I agree Sarah, do not like fondant at all. I am torn between going with a smooth white icing or a less perfect looking buttercream frosting that taste so dang good.

Thanks FutureMrs.Bahrman!

We're having Buttercream. It was non-negotiable for FH and I. Lol

What is white icing? Is it just shortening? And what is in her buttercream? I'm so confused because as a baker I've never frosting describe like that.

I think buttercream tastes best. And I'm not an expert but I feel like some of what she described can be from how the cake is made and iced and transported... As far as the sacrifice, I think it's worth it.

Buttercream, hands down. Have you thought about something done like this instead of a smooth surface? Different techniques can be used to hide the flaws she's talking about.

Buttercream! A good baker will be able to make it not do that.

I've seen multiple cakes made with buttercream that held up great and did not have any cracking. They also looked smooth, as the baker spent the time to make it look that way. Also, buttercream tastes about 1 million times better than fondant!

Buttercream hands down, that's what we went with. As for texture I would sacrifice it for taste.

When I think of cakes at weddings I've been to, I don't remember what most of them looked like, but I do remember the taste, if it was dry, if I had to peel back fondant, etc. I'd go with buttercream, hands down. I also think that if you have that large flower, people will be looking at that, not whether the icing is perfectly smooth.

My one rule for my cake is that is needs to taste really darn good ;-). In my opinion, taste far outweighs small imperfections. If you are worried, ask your photographer to get a pic early on so it looks perfect for the pictures. Personally, I would rather have a cake that looks really yummy than like a work of art. I bet none of your guests will notice!

Another option is to do fondant on top of the buttercream.

Will the cake be outside? Otherwise, buttercream should not have any issues.

Buttercream over white icing. I've worked with both and never had issues with buttercream not looking right - aside from when the heating broke so it was bitterly cold, it was a nightmare to work with.

Definitely taste before aesthetic.

I'd still go with the buttercream. I'd rather have a non "perfect" cake than icing that I'm not fond of.

Thanks for the advice ladies! The bakery we are using is one of the best in the area. They do amazing cakes. The buttercream cakes are smooth, they are just not as perfect as the white icing or fondant cakes as the base is butter, therefore it is more playable.

I agree, I am going to go with taste. I love buttercream! We are having a vintage style wedding, so I suppose a little imperfection will be perfect. We had originally agreed on buttercream, but I was having second thoughts, freakin' out a little bit.

The only time I would vote anything but buttercream would be if your cake will be served outside. Otherwise buttercream all the way.

Buttercream!!

Buttercream. I'm not a huge fan of fondant. Sometimes it tastes like plastic.