Best Icing For Cupcakes Ever

If you love cupcakes then you already know that 50 percent of the cupcakes appeal is it's icing; the frosting you choose can either make or break your homemade cupcakes. When it comes to these delicious hand-held cakes, some icings work better than others. Here are our picks for the best ways to frost your cupcakes:

Buttercream Frosting
This versatile frosting is perfect for cupcakes; it can be adapted to any color or flavor and it holds it's shape well making it the perfect choice if you need to transport your cupcakes.

Cream Cheese Frosting
Easier to make than buttercream, this delicious frosting can also be made into other flavors like chocolate or berry. It is slightly softer than buttercream though, making it a better choice for cupcakes that don't have to travel.

Chocolate Ganache
A chocolate lovers dream come true — why not frost your cupcakes with rich and decadent chocolate truffle filling? Chocolate ganache can be made with as few as two ingredients and can be quite solid at room temperature (depending upon the ratio of chocolate to cream). Best of all, it's incredibly creamy and intensely chocolaty.

Meringue
A great choice when you want to give cupcakes a rustic, homemade, or old-fashioned spin, meringue is easy to spread on top of any cupcake. Once you top the cupcakes, use a kitchen blowtorch to toast the meringue for the perfect finishing touch.

Kristie Collado is The Daily Meal's Cook Editor. Follow her on Twitter @KColladoCook.