Vanilla Frosting Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret ingredient that will improve your frosting? ›

By mixing in some vinegar, it will give another layer of flavor and also help hold the icing together better. (In general, you'll need a quarter of a teaspoon of vinegar for every three egg whites you use.)

Powdered Sugar Magic: One of the most common ways to thicken frosting is by adding more powdered sugar. Start by incorporating small amounts until you achieve the perfect consistency. This method works well with cream cheese frosting, buttercream frosting, and other basic recipes.

Creamy ingredients like Nutella, cream cheese, marshmallow creme, peanut butter or another nut butter will give the store-bought frosting tons of flavor with some additional smoothness. Mix in 1 cup of cream cheese or 1/2 cup of marshmallow creme or nut butter per can of frosting for a creamy delight.

Whip the frosting with half a block of cream cheese and an extra cup of powdered sugar and a few drops of the appropriate flavoring extract. If you're using chocolate, add cocoa powder. If you want a richer buttery flavor add a few tablespoons of butter as well.

For a (16-ounce) tub of frosting, anywhere from ½ cup to 1 cup of crunchy additions will do the trick. Toasted nuts, coconut flakes, chocolate chips or chunks, halvah, and toffee will all add a fun new dimension of flavor. Stir in chopped up canned pineapple or fresh berries for an extra fruity kick.

For thinner vanilla icing: Use milk instead of heavy cream. Add more cream/milk or less confectioners' sugar. For thicker vanilla icing: Use heavy cream instead of milk. Add more confectioners' sugar or less cream/milk.

1. Add powdered sugar. To thicken your royal icing, add more sifted powdered sugar—a couple of tablespoons at a time—until the icing reaches your desired consistency.

Consider mixing in a dash of heavy cream.

For frostings that can stand to be beaten and chilled, heavy cream is another way you can thicken the consistency without making the taste too sweet. Add about 1/4 cup (60 ml) heavy cream to the frosting and beat it well to combine your ingredients.

Empty the canned frosting into a large mixing bowl. Whip the frosting using an electric mixer (either hand mixer or stand mixer) for 2 to 3 minutes until fluffy and doubled in size. It's ready! Decorate twice as many cupcakes, cakes, and cookies with ease thanks to this canned frosting hack.

Does whipping canned frosting make it better? ›

Remove the frosting from the container and place it in a mixing bowl. Whip using either a stand mixer with the whisk attachment or a handheld mixer. The whipping action traps air inside the frosting, and this extra air will change it from compact to delightfully light and fluffy.

If you need to thicken your frosting but are worried about it becoming too sweet, you can add cream cheese to balance the runnyness and achieve the perfect consistency. This method is most helpful is you are already making a cream cheese frosting, but can also be used to add tanginess to other types of frostings.

Liquid substitute: Water can be used as the liquid ingredient, although the fat from milk and heavy cream make for creamier, more flavorful buttercream.

"Mixing in cream cheese, whipped cream, lemon zest, or even Nutella can make such a difference." From making frosting creamier or fluffier to changing its flavor, these easy changes will certainly impress anyone you're planning to share your dessert with.

Sugar is the most important ingredient in all types of frostings, providing sweetness, flavor, bulk and structure.

Add white vinegar.

Although many do so to avoid cracks and to achieve a smooth appearance, I find just the tiniest bit — about 1/2 to 3/4 teaspoon — also curbs the sweetness, allowing the wonderfully creamy mouth-feel of the icing to truly shine.