very smooth chocolate icing

[racingheart]

Hi

Does anyone have a recipe for that kind of smooth and slightly shiny chocolate coating . My boys want a chocolate cake for their birthday but want specific fiddly decorations on it and I won't be able to add them with my usual choc recipes of either butter icing or melted choc and condensed milk.

Icing sugar + cocoa powder + cold water
you will need to experiment to get the right amount of icing sugar for the size of cake. About a tbsp cocoa should do. Add water in tiny amounts and stir until you get a thick pourable consistency. Tip over cake. It will probably spill over the edges but you can use a knife to spread on the sides so it is totally covered. When dry, will be shiny and smooth!

Also make sure you sieve the icing sugar and cocoa which will ensure you have lump free icing!

Good idea. Old fashioned simple icing - that sets to a shine doesn't it? Why didn't I think of that? [daft emoticon]

Getting on here as making a birthday cake tonight and I need to stick the face and whiskers on with something.

I also bought the chocolate cake covering from Asda in case the icing doesn't work.

The best is proper ganache - half and half melted dark (or milk if you want) choc and double cream. Heat the cream till almost boiling, take off heat, add the broken-up choc, leave 5 mins to melt, then beat well with a spoon, it comes up very thick and shiny - pour over and it sets very smooth (and is YUM). It will dribble down the sides so I lay paper around the cake, wait till it's set then remove paper along with surplus dribbles.

Do you have amounts Marine to cover 2 cakes please?

Chocolate ganache.

You can put it in the fridge for an hour before you use it so it's not quite so runny.

100g + 100g chocolate and 200ml double cream covered a 7" deep cake with a fair amount left over when I made one the other day.

Which shall I do - icing or ganache?

Ganache tastes much nicer but that is to an adult taste - if your boys have v sweet tooth they might prefer icing.

Make a tiny bit of ganache and try it, it's v. easy.

They don't get a lot of sweet things but as it is a dc's cake I will go with icing. Thanks.

My children like ganache. You can always put more milk chocolate in than dark if you're worried.

I just want the one that is idiot proof to make and use tbh.

Substitute the water for orange juice. Is vay good.

Ganache is what I was looking for - but I couldn't remember the word. Thanks for that Marine and Mrs Wobble.