Full proof chocolate icing please

[sadsong]

I've tried very hard to get hold of a local cake maker, but no one has got back to me...so In Desperation I'm going to make dhs cake. It's his 40th. Family of 20 popping around Sunday eve for dinner and cake.

I'm an ok cake maker, but need something better than buttercream I've tried Grenache but it was far too bitter. It needs to set like cement as its a 2 poss 3 tier cake. Ok ok 2!!!

Does it have to be chocolate? You could sugarpaste it (fondant) but it wouldn't be chocolate. I know you can get modelling chocolate but I've never eaten it so I don't know if it's suitable for covering a cake. Worth looking into though.

You can make ganache with milk chocolate or white chocolate- then it won't be bitter and will set well.

Dh has requested chocolate, and I can do a good sponge. I will google milk/white choc Grenache now instead. I did plain before tbh it looked good but tasted revolting.

Chocolate fudge frosting from Annie Rigg's Birthday Cakes for Kids. Somewhere between buttercream and ganache. Very easy and yummy. Have made it loads of times and no problems. Recipe available online if you search (sorry can 't do links).

Heat a mixture of a tin of condensed milk and a large bar of chopped up chocolate over a gentle heat until it's all melted and gloopy. Pour over cake and leave to set. It's kind of chocolate fudge icing but a bit more resilient.

Brilliant I needed a few ideas, as will do a dry run, well hopefully a set run

If you do ganache with milk chocolate, make sure you up the chocolate component, and put in less cream, or it won't set.
I like scootergrrrl's idea.

Wow, really want to try making white choc ganache now. I never thought of doing it.

Chocolate ganache is a lovely icing. Not sure what made yours bitter. You melt choc (I use half milk half plain) and take off the heat then add fresh cream and mix till the consistency you want and is glossy. Add the cream a little at a time, you can always add more, but you can't take it away! If it's going to be mainly adults maybe all plain choc would be best. Good luck! I'm sure it will be lovely.

If you google it's ganache not granache!!

200ml cream 600g white choc

Ok I'm getting carried away now! Maybe I shall have 3 tiers after all and try all your your lovely suggestions as a contrast! This is my 3rd bday within a week

What about this cake? You could make two so there is plenty for all your guests. It really is superb.
www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/3092/ultimate-chocolate-cake

That cake does look lovely - but what is buttermilk? AND how do you do those clever links - or maybe you should pass on that as I am very limited where IT is concerned!

this one caught my eye

You can just paste the web address if you want, but to get really posh put address (space) witty describing comment - better explanation below if your on a computer.

DOH, need round my stuff in blue above....

Mary Berry Sunday Best chocolate fudge cake. Every time.

175g dark choc (70%)
250g butter
275g icing sugar (sifted)
1tbspn vanilla extract

Cream butter and sugar. Melt choc in a bowl over simmering water. Add when cooled slightly and add in vanilla.

Eat cake, lick bowl, lick beaters, lick knife youve spread it over cake with, lick work surface in case you have dropped any there. Watch small children collect mirror so they can try and lick the icing mess off their faces.

Sigh a happy sigh.

Thanks Nigella!

Chocolate and butter in the proportions of 150g plain choc and 65g butter. Melt together and allow to cool. Then beat with a balloon whisk until the mixture becomes the colour of milk chocolate. Trowel/pipe with broad nozzle on to the cake. It ends up like a frosting.

If it's not whipped, it can be just cooled a little and then poured over the cake.

Today's the day of the party, I'm catering for 21. Im feeling really ill today. I'm 8 wks post surgery, thought I was mainly in the mend but the last few days have been too much and I'm on my 3rd birthday, this being the largest within 10 days. I may throw the cake out the window shortly! Guests arriving at. 4pm.

What looks best on a 10"? A 6" or an 8" round?

Hope I'm not too late!
This suggests 2-3" difference.

So, 10", 8"?
You going for 2 layers?

What about 8,6,4?

Hope all goes well, and you recover after all this is over. What frosting you doing after extensive testing?

Happy Birthday Mr Sadsong. Hope you realise what your lovely wife is doing for youl

The cakes are baked! Hooray! Attempting 10, 8, 6, but although there's a lot of us it's only family, so if it goes wrong it's not the end of the world! I had a small nervous breakdown at dh at 9.30 when he was still in bed, however I think he does appreciate it. He has said we can cancel but I'd never forgive myself, so on with the show.

I think it's failed

I made this Chocolate cake for a friend's wedding. It was using Mary Berry's chocolate tray bake and her chocolate fudge icing.

Fudge icing

• 60g butter
• 30g cocoa powder
• 3 tbsp milk
• 250g icing sugar, sifted

Melt butter. Add cocoa. Keep on heat and stir for a minute (but don't burn!) then remove from the heat and beat in the milk and the icing sugar.

You have to put it on while it's still warm before it sets. But it's easy to work with and looks lovely.

Hope it went OK sadsong!