Frosting from a can is great when you're in a pinch or just need to satisfy a cake craving. But there are plenty of easy ways to make canned frosting even better. These are low-effort and simple ways you can turn ordinary frosting from a can into a delicious, yet still convenient, addition to your cake.
Flavor Canned Frosting With Fresh Fruit
Is that strawberry frosting not tasting quite like real strawberries? It's time for an actual fruit infusion. Add some real fruit flavor to make your canned frosting taste homemade.
- Add 2 tablespoons of fruit jam or preserves to one can.
- For one can of frosting, ¼ cup of fresh fruit puree plus two tablespoons of powdered sugar should give you a flavorful and fluffy result.
- Finely chopped fresh fruit can be added in any amount to your frosting. It's all about preference here.
Whenever you're jazzing up canned frosting, it's best to empty the can into a mixing bowl so you have plenty of room to work with. Most canned frosting additions also work best when added in a stand mixer or with the help of a hand mixer.
Whip In a Little Cream Cheese
Cream cheese frosting is in a class all its own. It's creamy, sweet, and slightly tart; it's practically a spreadable version of cheesecake. Transforming your standard buttercream or shortening-based icing into cream cheese frosting is easier than it sounds.
- Add 4 ounces of softened cream cheese to the bowl of a stand mixer and fit the mixer with a paddle attachment.
- Whip the cream cheese on medium speed for three to four minutes.
- Add in one can of frosting, 3 tablespoons of powdered sugar, and a pinch of salt.
- Continue whipping until everything is combined and your frosting is fluffy.
Everyone has their own preference when it comes to frosting. Add more salt, sugar, or cream cheese as needed to get your preferred texture and flavor profile. For a citrus burst, add in some finely grated orange zest.
Add Your Favorite Melted Ice Cream
Can you call it an ice cream cake if there's just a little ice cream in the frosting? If you'd like to incorporate your favorite ice cream flavor into a standard cake, making an ice cream frosting with canned icing is surprisingly easy.
- Add one can of frosting to a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment.
- Melt ½ cup of your favorite ice cream in the microwave for 15-second intervals until it's a mostly liquid.
- Slowly drizzle the melted ice cream into your frosting with the mixer on low.
- Continue whipping until the frosting is fluffy and all of the liquid ice cream is absorbed.
Mix In a Nut Butter
Was there ever a better match for chocolate cake than fluffy and decadent peanut butter frosting? Nut butters add creamy texture and tasty flavor to your canned buttercream. Add ¼ cup of any nut butter along with two tablespoons of powdered sugar to a can of frosting to give it that nutty taste you love so much.
Pour In Your Favorite Coffee Creamer
Your favorite coffee creamer makes your morning cup of joe taste better, and it can do the same for the average can of frosting. Pour in a few tablespoons while your frosting whips in a mixer to add flavor and an extra-smooth texture to the canned spread.
Turn It Into a Glaze
Transforming a standard frosting into a cake glaze requires nothing more than a liquid. A bit of milk, or even that yummy coffee creamer we mentioned before, can turn a thick canned frosting into a semi-homemade glaze for all your elegant cakes.
You can use a bowl and spatula or your stand mixer to slowly whip liquid into your frosting. Add as little or as much as you need until the consistency allows the icing to slowly slide off of a spoon. Once it's perfectly glaze-like, you can add the sweet stuff to a bundt, pound cake, cinnamon rolls, donuts, or a coffee cake.
Add a Little Crunch
What do nuts, chocolate chips, and pieces of your favorite candy bar all have in common? They add fun flavor and interesting texture to your canned frosting. A bit of crunch in your icing can work if you're not planning to pipe with the finished product. Add as many coconut flakes, cookie crumbles, and chocolate candies as you want to your canned frosting and enjoy a treat that's truly made with you in mind.
Mix In Melted Chocolate
If you want a seriously rich and smooth frosting, all you need is a little melted chocolate. Whether it's a favorite chocolate bar, a handful of chocolate chips, or chocolate candy melts, you can amp up the decadent quality of canned frosting.
- Melt 4 ounces of chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl for thirty seconds.
- Continue microwaving the chocolate in 15-second intervals, stirring between, until it's fully melted.
- Add one can of frosting to a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment.
- Begin whipping the frosting on low, slowly pouring in the melted chocolate.
- Add milk or powdered sugar in tablespoons as needed to achieve your desired consistency.
- Finish with a pinch of salt.
Melted chocolate isn't the only silky smooth thing you can add to canned frosting. Caramel, chocolate syrup, and marshmallow sauce also give your frosting an irresistible taste and texture.
Quick Tips for Using Canned Frosting
Making standard canned frosting taste like a homemade treat is a lot easier than it sounds, and it takes very little time. These simple frosting hacks add such great flavor and texture that no one will know it only took you a few extra minutes to achieve.
- Give canned frosting a long whip in your mixer to make it fluffy.
- Add a pinch of salt to enhance the flavor.
- Mix in whipped cream for an extra fluffy and mild frosting.
- Let refrigerated frosting come to room temp before attempting to frost a cake to get the best texture.
- Use a spatula to whip any air bubbles out of your canned frosting before you add it to a cake.
- Create more robust flavors by adding fresh spices, cocoa powder, or extracts.
Make Any Frosting Taste Homemade
You don't have to tell anyone that your signature cake is made with ordinary canned frosting. If you use one of these baking hacks, no one will ever guess you had help from Duncan Hines or Betty Crocker.
