No sugar icing

Is there a way to make a healthy icing that tastes good? So little to no sugar or butter?

Sub agave nectar for sugar. Whip it with cream then add lime zest.

Good idea although was looking for something simpler. It's got to be cheap as chips too. I was thinking maybe adding something to mashed banana?? Dunno.

Stevia or similar?

Mashed banana oxidises and goes brown. It's also slimy. I don't think it would make a good icing.
Bare cakes can be lovely when they are done well (look for naked cakes on Pintrest).
Or something like this which is just edible flowers piled on maybe with a bit of jam to stick to.
A swiss meringue icing would have less fat but just as much sugar.
Why does it need to be sugar free? TBH I figure that if you're eating cake you may as well eat cake.

Does it have to be a cake? What about a fruit torte?

Well it's for a cooking experience with children and needs to be within a nutrition policy as well as cheap and easy. Maybe there isn't a suitable. substitution. :-(

Could you toast some coconut and sprinkle it on top?

What type of cake are you making?

Little cup cakes / muffins baked in ice-cream cones.

For kids I'd go the fruit tort.
You can pre-bake the shell if you want. And pre-make the custard.
In fact, now that I think of it you could bake mini shells so each child or pair could assemble their own....

Lamingtons are great for kids to make - just a simple dark chocolate (less sugar) ganache and coconut and they can roll it around in the bowls themselves.

ETA -
I didn't see your post.
For mini-cupcakes/cones I'd probably go with a lamington style icing - they can dip into the ganache/chocolate then dip into coconut.

What about scooping passion fruit over the top? Or topping with fresh raspberries and cream?

I like the dipping thing, dunno if choc ganache would be healthy enough. I was thinking the whipped cream and fruit too. Thanks for your ideas.

There's nothing unhealthy about butter. Sugar in moderation isn't unhealthy either. Fruit is full of sugar, just not heavily refined sugar.

I realise that is not helpful when you're dealing with rules. I just couldn't resist adding my 2c.

Haha thanks for that lionsandbears!! :-)

I often use cream cheese plus a little bit of sugar, and flavourings as icing.

What's the nutrition guide you have to stick to or be within?

I made mashed banana/cocoa icing once and it was hideous and slimy. And I love banana. Can you do melted dark choc, with a little honey? Or, if its a muffin, try a sugar/cinnamon topping before you bake. You'd need less than half a teaspoon per muffin.

If you wanted to decorate after, I'd go with a cream cheese type thing and then dip in coconut, dried fruit etc

Hard isn't it?

Oh, and I just thought....can you make the muffins sugar free so you can use the extra sugar rations in the icing??!! ;)

I was also going to suggest a cream cheese-style frosting. Whipping it with some lemon/orange juice, you might not need any sugar at all.

Thanks, I will suggest the cream cheese idea I think! :-)

Whipped coconut cream or pop a tin in the fridge for a few hours then scoop out the cream

A friend of mine use to do melted chocolate and cream cheese whipped together. Always tasted great.

I guess as long as sugar is the only issue and not fat content ;)