ButterCream

Buttercream is a smooth, creamy icing that stays soft so it's easy to cut. It can be colored or flavored and used to create piping, swags and other borders, as well as decorative flowers. It can also be used as filling. Because it's base is butter, it may melt in high heat or humidity.

Ganache

Ganache is a sweet, rich chocolate, denser than mousse but less dense than fudge, which can be used as icing or filling. It is made of chocolate and heavy cream, and will soften in very humid weather. It is often poured or drizzled over cake.

Gum Paste

Gum Paste is an icing sugar and gum based paste, also referred to as Pastillage or roll-out icing. It is used for covering cakes and for modeling three-dimensional decorations, especially flowers. Flowers made from Gum Paste usually look the most lifelike. It dries very hard and breaks easily if not handled gingerly. Gum Paste is susceptible to heat and humidity. If properly stored, Gum Paste decorations will last for years as keepsakes.

Marzipan

Marzipan is made of almond paste and has been used for centuries all over the world. It can be rolled to cover cakes with, used in recipes, and made into colorful and flavorful decorations.

Rolled Fondant

Rolled Fondant is an elastic icing made of sugar, corn syrup and gelatin that's literally rolled out with a rolling pin and draped over a cake, where it is pressed into place and trimmed. It's a smooth, firm base for Gum Paste flowers, decorative details and architectural designs, and has a porcelain finish. It dries fairly hard. Flowers made with fondant are generally not as delicate as Gum Paste flowers. A fondant covered cake should not be refrigerated unless it contains perishable items. Do not expect rolled fondant to taste as flavorful as buttercream icing.

Royal Icing

Royal Icing is a soft paste piped from a pastry bag to create latticework, beading, bows and flowers. It dries very hard and decorations will last forever if properly stored. Royal Icing is usually made with egg whites and confectioner's sugar and can be tinted in any color. Flowers made from royal icing are usually not as expensive as hand-modeled ones, such as Gum paste, because it takes less time to make them, but they're also less lifelike. When dry, its texture is hard and brittle and keeps virtually indefinitely. Do not refrigerate.

Whipped Cream

Whipped Cream Icing is a very flavorful frosting made of heavy cream and sugar and usually has some type of stabilizer to prevent it from breaking down. It must be kept refrigerated and is not recommended for outdoor weddings. Due to its texture, it doesn't decorate as nicely as buttercream.