choc bday cake icing recipe plz

[noonar]

dd is 2 on sunday, i'm gonna use a jamie oliver 'party cake ' recipe for the sponge, but the plain choc topping looks a bit intense.

has anyone got a choc icing recipe that's not too rich, preferably one that could be used for a filling too. TIA

anyone?

Well you could do the whole butter/icing sugar cocoa thing (takes ages) or you could cheat like I do (although admittedly this is for cake sales rather than birthday cakes) and buy ready-made. Tastes OK, but presumably has loads of preservatives etc in. There are a couple of Cadburys ones. (sorry to lower the tone!)

this is a gorgeous cake. i made it for DD's 4th birthday.

How's about a soft cream cheese one?
1 x tub of cream cheese
3 teaspoons of vanilla extract
3-3.5 cups (USA size, so about 3 normal ones, works for me!) of sifted icing sugar, replace one cup of coco/bit more to taste if you want chocolate icing)

Beat cheese n vanilla for 1 min until fluffy
(in a large bowl)

at low speed beat in icing sugar half a cup at time, (don't worry if it goes a bit runny, as coco thickens this up nicely) you then need to increase speed until it goes light and fluffy!, decorate cake, yummy

thanks to all! they sound fab! lilac, with all that cream in the topping does it set fairly firm or stay v.soft, also, i guess you need to keep it in the fridge?