Idiot-proof icing an idiot-proof cake?

[AnelaSunshine]

Please help domestic deities of MN!
Looking for a way of icing a sponge. I think.
Want to make something to impress my very pernickety granny
TIA

just some icing sugar and use lime or lemon juice to make the consistency you want, quite a thin layer over the sponge hmmmmm

Hi
I'd coat with buttercream then apply a covering of fondant rolled out to the thickness of a £1 coin. Run a ribbon around the base to hide the edge.
Or chocolate ganache.
Frankie

agree with frankie, you could even buy fondant icing ready rolled out in white or cream ! Use a thin layer of buttercream or warmed jam over the cake underneath to stick it.

You can put butter icing on the top and around the sides. You can take a flat spatula dipped in hot water, spread it backwards and forwards over the cake to give an even lined effect or swirl it up with a fork, then press toasted flaked almonds onto the sides of the cake using the palm of your hand

Butter icing (you might need 2x if you're covering the side of the cake too)

75 g softened butter
225g icing sugar
1 tsp vanilla essence
3 tsp milk

Put 1 tsp milk with the other ingredients in a bowl. Beat with a wooden spoon, adding as much of the remaining milk as you need to give a light smooth and fluffy consistency.

You write you need icing for a sponge, you think. Does that mean you might not be making a sponge?

Or simply melt some chocolate (in the microwave) and pour in a dollop of oil. Pour over cake. Leave to set. Yum!

Or just mix melted chocolate into icing sugar. Another yum!

I make this chocolate cake quite often and I like it. No flour, just almonds and the icing is easy too - just melted chocolate with butter

CHocolate cake
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175 g butter softened
115g caster sugar
250g plain chocolate
200g ground almonds
4 medium eggs, separated

Preheat a 180oC / 350OF oven. Grease and line a 21 cm springform cake tin, line base and sides with greaseproff paper and grease the paper.

Place 115g of the butter and all the sugar in a bowl and beat till fluffy
Melt 2/3 of the chocolate (166g), add to the mixture
Add almonds and egg yolks and beat till blended

Whisk the egg whites in another clan dry bowl until stiff and fold into the chocolate mixture, transfer to the tin and smooth the surface. Bake for 50-55 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean (Mine is done after 40 minutes). Leave the cake in the tin for 5 mins then turn out on a wire rack, peel off the paper and leave to cool completely.

Icing
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Place the remaining 60g of butter and the remaining chocolate (83g) in a small saucepan. Heat very gently, stirring constantly, until melted together. Pour over the cake allowing the topping to coat the sides of the cake too. Leave to set for at least an hour.

You can buy edible little flowers and petals and things to decorate cakes with too if you don't want to go overboard doing it all yourself.