Canned Frosting: 18 Ways To Upgrade It

If you love baking but don't always have the time to prepare everything from scratch, then you know what a time-saver canned frosting can be. It is so convenient to grab a can of frosting off the shelf at the store and use it to frost a homemade (or even boxed) cake. However, while there is no denying the convenience of canned frosting, it is also not comparable to a homemade recipe or what you would get from a bakery.

No one wants to make a mistake when baking a cake that will negatively impact the finished product. Fortunately, you don't have to sacrifice taste, texture, or convenience. You can still use canned frosting when making your cake — you'll just want to do a few things to upgrade it. By mixing in different ingredients, making the texture more enticing, or adjusting overly thick, thin, or dense frostings, you can easily transform a can of store-bought icing into something that rivals a homemade recipe.

One of the simplest ways to upgrade canned frosting requires no additional ingredients. All you'll need is a mixing bowl and an electric mixer — both a handheld or a stand model will work just fine. Empty the container of frosting into the bowl and beat it using the mixer.

As the beaters work through the frosting, they'll incorporate more air into it. This will transform denser frostings into something much lighter and airier. Plus, beyond the fluffier topping it will add to your favorite cakes and cupcakes, you'll also notice that the quantity of frosting is increased, helping you get more bang for the buck. This is also because the added air to the icing, making it take up more space.

Is there anything more disappointing than runny frosting? It doesn't stay in place, drips all down the sides of your cake, and just makes the whole thing look sloppy. Thin frosting also doesn't work well for piping or decorating. Any decorations you try to make are going to turn into odd-looking blobs.

Fortunately, you can easily thicken the frosting and save the day — just make sure you thicken it before trying to frost the cake. Scoop the frosting from the can into a mixing bowl and add in about 1 tablespoon of powdered sugar. Beat the two ingredients together, and check the consistency. Continue adding powdered sugar (only a little at a time to avoid making the frosting too thick) until its consistency is just what you're looking for.

Buttercream frosting is rich and decadent, perfectly complimenting many different bakes. However, making it can be a bit involved — definitely more involved than picking up a can of frosting from the grocery store.

Fortunately, by adding a little bit of butter to store-bought frosting, you can make a delicious mock buttercream in minutes. For this hack to work, make sure you're starting with softened butter that will cream up nicely. Measure out a few tablespoons and add them to your mixing bowl. Use your electric beaters to cream the butter before scooping in the canned frosting. Assess the texture. If needed, add a splash of milk or powdered sugar before spreading it on your cake, cupcakes, or even cookies.

If you love the taste of coffee or espresso, don't limit yourself to only sipping it from a mug. Instead, try adding some espresso powder to your can of frosting from the grocery store for an instant transformation. The espresso powder will dissolve and spread its delicious flavor throughout the canned frosting. Because it is so finely ground, you won't have to worry about anyone getting a chunk of coffee grounds in their mouth.

While espresso powder is the best way to infuse coffee flavor into your frosting, you could also use leftover coffee in a pinch. Just note that you may need to make a few additional adjustments for texture since you'll be adding liquid. Have a little powdered sugar on hand to thicken the frosting if it turns out too runny.

Peanut butter frosting. Doesn't that sound simply dreamy? Well, if you're getting a craving just thinking about it, you won't have to jump through hoops to make it. You'll need a can of your favorite frosting and a few tablespoons of peanut butter (smooth of chunky).

Empty the can of frosting into your mixing bowl. Then add 3 to 4 tablespoons of peanut butter — or a little more for some extra peanut buttery goodness — and stir to combine the two ingredients. Because peanut butter has a thinner consistency, be sure to have some powdered sugar ready to add to the mix to thicken the frosting.

You can add peanut butter to chocolate or vanilla frosting, depending on what you're in the mood for. Creamy peanut butter will deliver a smooth frosting, while chunky peanut butter could add extra crunch and an interesting texture. 

You can give your canned frosting an entirely new flavor with one simple addition. All you'll need is a can of vanilla frosting and a splash or two of extract. Vanilla extract may be the first thing that comes to your mind, but there are several different types of extract, each of which can help you create flavorful and unique frostings for your favorite cake recipes.

For example, consider adding peppermint extract to vanilla frosting to pair with a chocolate cake for a winter event. Enhancing your vanilla frosting with lemon extract to frost a strawberry cake mix could make the perfect treat for summer parties. As you can see, there are so many different ways to experiment.

If you enjoy red velvet cake, you know that it is often paired with delicious cream cheese frosting. The next time you pick up a box of red velvet cake from the grocery store, pick up a tub of vanilla frosting and a brick of cream cheese too.

Leave the cream cheese out to soften while you bake the red velvet cake — or any cake — and give it time to cool. Then, beat the cream cheese with your electric mixer before adding in the can of frosting. You can also soften cream cheese quickly in the microwave if you forgot to leave it out. To mimic the taste of a true cream cheese frosting, you may also want to add a splash of vanilla extract and some powdered sugar to the mix.

Whipped cream is another secret ingredient that will have a transformational effect on your frosting. It will change the consistency by making it less dense. Moreover, you can use whipped cream to reduce the sweetness of canned frosting if it's a bit too much for your taste buds.

There is one very important thing to note here, however. You must make your own whipped cream because the canned version you'd buy from a store isn't firm enough and will cause the frosting to be runny. Start by whipping the heavy cream until stiff peaks form. Then, fold it into the frosting, using about equal quantities of each ingredient.

What's better than the combination of cake and frosting? Well, cake, frosting, and cookies, of course. If you want to give your frosting an extra crunch while adding the delicious flavor of your favorite cookies, you can't go wrong by crushing them up and adding them to the mix.

The beauty of this hack is that there are so many different (and tasty) combinations to try when you think about all the types of cookies and frosting flavors available. You could stick with a classic and crush some Oreos to add to a can of vanilla frosting, or you could try something more original and crush almond cookies to mix in with some strawberry frosting. You're only limited by your imagination.

Marshmallow cream is sweet, fluffy, and the perfect ingredient to upgrade a plain ol' can of frosting. Simply use an electric mixer to combine a jar of marshmallow fluff with your can of frosting and get ready for a tasty treat.

With some marshmallow cream, you could even make a s'mores-inspired cake or cupcake. Consider crushing up some graham crackers to add to the mix of marshmallow cream and vanilla icing, then use it to frost a chocolate cake. Just be prepared — the frosting will be a bit stickier to work with.

While you can buy some fruit-flavored canned frostings, they don't compare to the taste of those made with fresh fruit. However, instead of starting completely from scratch, you can prepare a fresh fruit syrup and add it to a can of frosting.

Berry syrups are easy to make but will take some time. Wash your berries (and slice them if you're using larger berries), and add them to a saucepot with about 2 tablespoons of sugar. Cook over medium heat until the berries soften and form a thick syrup. You may also want to squeeze a little lemon juice into the pan to reduce the bitterness of the berries.

Stir the ingredients together and press down on the berries until they have softened and are fully integrated with the sauce. Cook for a few additional minutes to allow the sauce to thicken. For best results, strain the syrup to remove any seeds and then whip it into a can of vanilla frosting. Yum!

If you're hosting an adults-only party, you could make some eggnog Jell-O shots or consider spiking a can of frosting to make a decadent and boozy dessert. The ideal amount of liquor to add will depend on your tastes. But start by adding about 1.5 or 2 tablespoons to the frosting before giving it a quick taste test to decide if you want to add a little more. Remember, alcohol is a liquid and may make your can of frosting runny. Sprinkle in a bit of powdered sugar to compensate for this.

Choose your favorite tipple to add or choose one based on the overall flavor you want the finished dessert to have. A few options include Kahlúa, Bailey's, amaretto, vodka, or rum.

When you want to jazz up a boring can of frosting, adding some crushed candy will enhance the flavor and give the frosting a crunchy texture. You can choose just how finely — or coarsely — you crush the candy based on how smooth or crunchy you want the frosting to be.

This is another hack that opens up a world of possibilities with all the different candy and frosting combinations that are available. Some of the many combinations to consider include crushed candy canes in vanilla frosting, chopped peanut butter cups with chocolate frosting, or even chopped candy corn with caramel frosting.

While cakes and cupcakes are sweet treats, that doesn't you can't pair them with savory ingredients. In fact, the combination of sweet and savory or sweet and salty is quite enjoyable (and something you'll find in many fancy cupcake shops), so adding pretzels, salted nuts, or potato chips will upgrade your frosting in a jiffy.

Just choose your favorite salty snack, crush it up, and mix it into the frosting for a quick and simple transformation. In addition to adding the saltiness factor, the crushed chips or pretzels will also add a crunch for a more exciting texture depending how big or little the chunks are.

Did you know that Jell-O powder can be used for more than just making a bowl of jiggly goodness? If you've ever made Jell-O yourself, then you know that the powder is colorful and has a very sweet smell.

Because of these characteristics, adding some Jell-O powder to a can of store-bought frosting will do two things. First, it will impart the Jell-O flavor to the frosting, giving it a new taste. Secondly, Jell-O powder imparts bright colors to white or cream-colored frostings, such as canned vanilla, cream cheese, or buttercream.

Adding some raspberry or strawberry Jell-O powder will give your frosting a pink tint, lime Jell-O powder will tint it green, and lemon Jell-O powder will tint it yellow. You could even make rainbow frosting by using several powders and combining small amounts of each with half a cup or so of the canned frosting.

Do you consider yourself a chocoholic? If so, store-bought chocolate frosting may not be quite rich enough for your taste. Fortunately, there is a quick fix: You can achieve a deeper chocolate flavor by mixing in some cocoa powder.

Cocoa powder is strong, so it won't take much to achieve a richer chocolate flavor. Mix in about 1 tablespoon to start, then taste the frosting to determine whether you want it to be a bit richer. If so, try adding another tablespoon or so. Remember that cocoa powder is usually unsweetened so, while enhancing the flavor, it may introduce some bitterness. It will also likely thicken the frosting (like powdered sugar) which is another reason to add a little at a time. 

Freeze-drying is a process that removes all the water from fruits and other foods. Once dried, freeze-dried strawberries, blueberries, and other fruits can be ground into a fine powder. The powder retains the taste of the original fruits, making it a flavorful addition to a can of frosting.

Moreover, freeze-dried fruit powder offers a natural, dye-free way to tint frosting. If you are trying to avoid using food coloring, adding some to a can of vanilla frosting may be the perfect solution. You can curate your frosting color by the kind of freeze-dried fruit you use. For example if you want a light yellow use mango, banana, or pineapple, or for a magenta hue try using dragon fruit powder. 

When the calendar changes from summer to fall, are you ready for all things pumpkin spice? If so, you don't have to go out and buy expensive treats from local coffee shops. You can make pumpkin spice cakes, cupcakes, and frosting right at home.

Simply add about ½ a teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice to a can of vanilla frosting. If you prefer a strong pumpkin spice flavor, consider increasing the amount you add to about 1 teaspoon. Stir until fully combined and use the new icing to frost cakes or cupcakes. You could also experiment with different flavor combinations using something other than vanilla frosting. You could try a pumpkin pie spice mixed with caramel frosting sounds like the perfect combination for a tasty fall treat.