5 Easy Ways to Make Store-Bought Frosting Better

Store-bought frosting, well, let’s be honest, tastes pretty generic. If you’re trying to “wow” your guests with store-bought frosting, you need to know how to add some pizazz. Simple things like salt, cream cheese, and whipping can make all the difference.

Hey, my name’s Michelle and I love frosting. I used to eat it right out of the can. Is that something I should admit out loud? As I grew older, my love for store-bought frosting ceased, and now I enjoy homemade frosting. But let’s be honest – time crunches = store-bought. 

Now, I know how to add some oomph to store-bought frosting and make it taste amazing. And you can, too! By following my simple how-to guide below, you can trick your friends into thinking they’re eating homemade, delightful frosting. 

It will be our little secret, bakers. Let’s get into it.

How to Make Store-Bought Frosting Better

There are so many ways to canned frosting better, for example, mixing cool whip with frosting. That said, you have no excuse not to use one of these easy methods. Are you ready to make store-bought frosting taste like it was sent directly from the frosting angels? (Those are real, right?!)

1. Add Salt or Cream Cheese

Okay, let’s be honest. Take a bite of store-bought canned frosting. Do your teeth hurt? They might. And that’s all because the store-bought frosting is almost always overly, overly sweet. So much so that it makes it unenjoyable. 

How do you combat a sweet disaster? Add salt. A pinch will do. Don’t overdo it. Just as too much sweetness is a major no-no, so is a devastating amount of salt. (Salty cake, anyone?)

You can also control an overly sweet store-bought frosting by adding a bit of softened cream cheese. Cream cheese will help with the intense sweetness while also adding some desirable, soft texture to the mix.

2. Accelerate the Flavor Profile

Store-bought frosting can be kinda boring. If you want to kick up the flavor profile, add some flavoring on your own. For example, adding vanilla extract to plain vanilla frosting can do wonders. Adding a bit of coffee to chocolate frosting is a hit.

The goal is to match the original flavor. So, if you’re using a flavored frosting, use a complementing flavor. Pumpkin frosting, for example, can be enhanced using pumpkin spice, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.

You also have the option of using your favorite syrups, such as raspberry or hazelnut. I always have these on hand for baking and coffee purposes. So, I can take them out whenever I need them – which includes amping up a store-bought frosting.

3. Whip It

No, I’m not talking about the infamous Devo song (although I absolutely love that song). I’m talking about whipping your store-bought frosting into perfection.

One of the major drawbacks of using store-bought frosting is that it is so overly heavy and dense. This makes it a challenge to spread onto cakes and cupcakes. Not only that, but the texture isn’t very satisfying when you take a bite. What can you do?

Just whip it, baker. Use your whisk attachment and beat that frosting until it’s as light and fluffy as a cloud. (My mouth is drooling just thinking about it).

4. Add Texture

The plain ole store-bought frosting is not what succulent cakes and cupcakes are all about. Seriously, store-bought frosting is lacking in almost every department. But not anymore. 

One easy way to enhance your store-bought frosting is to simply toss in some texture! Textures will provide a crunch that’s satisfying while also increasing the flavor. Why not put some walnuts in your chocolate frosting? Some coconut in your vanilla frosting?

The possibilities are endless. Just match the flavor of the textured item to your baked goods.

5. Ditch Density

When I think of store-bought frosting, I think of a super-dense frosting with too much sweetness. Is that what comes to mind for you, too? Probably. Well, we know how to take down the sweetness – salt, cream cheese, and flavorings. But what about the density?

While whipping your store-bought frosting is always a grand idea, it’s not the only solution. For those that don’t have handy machines for whipping, you can also opt to add a bit of milk to your frosting. Just a bit will do. Mix the milk into the frosting, and the consistency will thin out.

FAQs

Now we know how to completely alter the flavor and texture of store-bought frosting and make it better. Now what? If you still have questions, then keep reading – these are for you.

Does whipping canned frosting make it better?

Yes, yes, and more yes. Whipping canned frosting will help immensely with the texture, creating that fluffy and desirable texture that melts in your mouth. Yum!

Can you mix Betty Crocker frosting with Cool Whip?

Sure! Mixing Cool Whip (or any type of whipped cream) with store-bought frosting will help with the texture greatly. Just be careful that it doesn’t create a too-sweet finish. If so, a little dash of salt can help offset all those sweet flavors!

What is the best store-bought frosting?

I’m sure everyone has their own answer to this question, but a lot of people will say Betty Crocker has the best store-bought frosting. I agree! But even so, I always recommend using one of the methods above to make it better.

What can I add to canned frosting?

You can add anything you want. Salt, cream cheese, whipped cream, almonds, lemon extract, and pecan syrup. There is basically nothing you can’t add to canned frosting. Go ahead and get creative with it!

Final Thoughts

As much as I encourage you to try your hand at homemade frosting, sometimes that simply can’t be done. If you’re in a pinch for frosting, store-bought frosting is fine; just rev it up with the above-mentioned tips. Remember that you can be as creative as you want, so don’t hold back!

Do you use store-bought frosting? What do you do to make it better? Share tips and tricks with us below!

About Michelle
I have been a lover of sweets since day one. This led me on a self-taught baking journey starting at the age of 13. It's been over 10 years since the start of my baking adventures, and I’ve learned a lot along the way. Now, people rave about my delectable treats, whether it’s a chocolate cake or a strawberry crepe.

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  • Dell Williams

    Hello; this info is great but you still haven’t answered my problem…. i like the idea of adding cool whip but how much?? 1 tub (8 oz) to a can of store bought, 1/2 tub (4 oz) ?? how much?

    Reply
    • Michelle

      Hi Dell,
      It’s typically best to go half and half. So, if you have an 8-ounce can of frosting, you will use 4 ounces of frosting and 4 ounces of cool whip.
      Happy baking,
      Michelle

      Reply