[bohh]

Hi,


Was wandering if some one who is in school just learning or has been thru culinary school could help explain this question? I have been trying to figure out what is the best way to understand between frosting and icing,when the words are interchangeable with each other. Yes i understand its regional and also under stand that icing is thin and hard and frosting is thick and soft basically,the problem is when they say use butter cream icing or butter cream frosting you would think icing here is the hard one and frosting is the other,hence of the word following butter cream. But its not they both refer to as frosting. But if some one is just starting off in baking how do know what it is if they refer to both as the same? Like if some one following a recipe for icing cookies do they want a icing or frosting for the cookie seeing that both these words are interch. How does one who is not knowing much about baking know what to use by these words. Another thing you dont see royal icing called royal frosting , but based on the words you would think they are frosting,but its not. I know to many of you,you probably dont think this is a question to give much thought on, but being knew in baking to some it is. So if any one has any thought or help on this,trying to figure out if they are talking about just icing or frosting the regular way or meaning the two as frosting would really appr. it. Thanks in advance. Also would like to note seen icing meaning the professional way and frosting as the homemaker way,but that still doesnt answer what a recipe wants by the words icing or frosting.


Bohh

[AtlTournant]

You answered your own question.

[AndyG]

Also, "wandering" vs "wondering"

[bohh]

Sorry I hit the wrong button in WONDERING! I see I cant get any help here except for spelling errors.

Bohh

[AndyG]

bohh, sorry I'm no help

I'm a pretty good cook but never went to school for it.

Andy

[tessa]

ie icing on the cake, and icing the cake rather than frosting often if somebody is talking about frosting its normally about the fridge ie the fridge is frosting (freezing) up

Originally Posted by bohh

Hi,


Was wandering if some one who is in school just learning or has been thru culinary school could help explain this question? I have been trying to figure out what is the best way to understand between frosting and icing,when the words are interchangeable with each other. Yes i understand its regional and also under stand that icing is thin and hard and frosting is thick and soft basically,the problem is when they say use butter cream icing or butter cream frosting you would think icing here is the hard one and frosting is the other,hence of the word following butter cream. But its not they both refer to as frosting. But if some one is just starting off in baking how do know what it is if they refer to both as the same? Like if some one following a recipe for icing cookies do they want a icing or frosting for the cookie seeing that both these words are interch. How does one who is not knowing much about baking know what to use by these words. Another thing you dont see royal icing called royal frosting , but based on the words you would think they are frosting,but its not. I know to many of you,you probably dont think this is a question to give much thought on, but being knew in baking to some it is. So if any one has any thought or help on this,trying to figure out if they are talking about just icing or frosting the regular way or meaning the two as frosting would really appr. it. Thanks in advance. Also would like to note seen icing meaning the professional way and frosting as the homemaker way,but that still doesnt answer what a recipe wants by the words icing or frosting.


Bohh

[AndyG]

It's great to have interpreters here such as tessa.

She's cleared up more than a couple of things

[bohh]

Thanks tessa,but the question is if i were say making cookies and when I decided to decorate the cookies,or cake if I was making that, how would I determine in a cookbook that the recipe I am looking for is frosting or icing if the words are interchangeable? How do you know if you are making a hard icing for say cookies or a soft icing (frosting) for cakes if these two words are the same?

Bohh

[m brown]

for icing a cookie, you do not want fat in the recipe.

[tessa]

but i would say look at the fat content and liquids in the icing/frosting, if its a high fat content compared to sugar and more than say a couple of tsps liquid then its probably going to be a soft icing,if its a higher sugar content to fat ratio with only minimum liquid its going to set firmer.

For Example
buttercream might have 1/3 cup butter, to 4 cups powdered sugar plus maybe 2 tbsps liquid its going to make a firm icing where as if your using cream cheese and you have 2 cups cream cheese, and 1/4 cup powdered sugar with 1/4 cup liquid its going to be more smooth and rich , which would be more ideal for a cake than a cookie.
alot of cookies tend to using icings that, tend to be light in fat, so that it sets quicker, maybe things like royal icing , glazes, ganaches, so that they set hard and dont destract from the crispness of the cookie

les

Originally Posted by bohh

Thanks tessa,but the question is if i were say making cookies and when I decided to decorate the cookies,or cake if I was making that, how would I determine in a cook book that the recipe I am looking for is frosting or icing if the words are interchangeable? How do you know if you are making a hard icing for say cookies or a soft icing (frosting) for cakes if these two words are the same?

Bohh

[bohh]

tessa,

Thank you for your help.One thing I am not understanding is why do they call what you put on say nut roll a icing when it never gets hard? My thinking is icing on pastry would get hard.

Bohh

[Montelago]

My head hurts.

[tessa]

maybe its a contrast thing, the crispy buttery flaky pastry with something soft and smooth and creamy ??

Originally Posted by bohh

tessa,

Thank you for your help.One thing I am not understanding is why do they call what you put on say nut roll a icing when it never gets hard? My thinking is icing on pastry would get hard.

Bohh

[bohh]

Thanks,tessa for your help it was very much appr.. By the way Montelago did you try taking some aspirin it might help.


Bohh

[girdhar]

Hi ,
though I am not pretty good cook but as far as my knowledge goes about cooking I don't see any great difference in it .
sorry but this was the only thing that I conclude.