How To Make Frosting More Fluffy (Store-Bought Edition)

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Last Updated on January 14, 2023

Are you in a time crunch to frost a cake? Want to improve your canned icing? If so, you will want to know how to make frosting more fluffy.

Though store-bought icing can be great on its own, by making it fluffy you can improve the texture and taste. This simple hack is easy to do and creates a bakery-like frosting that your friends and family will love.

Whether you are short on time or looking for a simple solution, whipping canned icing is a great alternative to making your own. The fluffy texture is superior to straight out of the jar and you’ll be surprised by just how easy it is to make.

What Is Canned Frosting Typically Made Of?

In a nutshell, canned frosting, also known as ready-made frosting or store-bought frosting, is a convenience product that is designed to be easy to use and have a long shelf life. It is typically made from a combination of sugar, and vegetable shortening, as well as different, mostly artificial flavors and colors. The sugar sweetens the frosting, while the vegetable shortening on the other hand gives it a characteristic smooth, creamy texture and consistency.

When it comes to artificial flavors and colors, their primary purpose is to give the frosting a distinct taste and appearance. Vanilla frosting, for example, may contain vanilla flavoring and yellow color, white chocolate frosting, on the other hand, may contain chocolate flavoring as well as a characteristic brown hue.

We mustn’t forget to mention that some ready-made frostings may also contain some common additives such as corn syrup, salt, and preservatives, the purpose of which is to assist to extend the product’s shelf life and improve its texture. In addition, they may also contain milk or other dairy products, but the good thing is that some brands may provide a non-dairy option for individuals who, for whatever reason, must avoid products of animal origin or have particular sensitivities.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Making Fluffy Frosting

Overbeating: As you might already guess, beating the frosting can cause it to become too thick and difficult to spread, as well as cause it to lose its smooth almost silky texture. Not to mention that it might make the frosting overly light and flavorless.

Too low temperature: Using cold ingredients when working with canned frosting can cause the ingredients to not fully incorporate and this in most cases results in a lumpy and uneven texture. In addition, people notice that using components that have not been allowed to come to room temperature often causes the frosting to be overly thick and difficult to spread, making it difficult to achieve a smooth and consistent finish. Is there anything more annoying than that?

Not sifting the powdered sugar: Sifting powdered sugar is something you definitely don’t want to skip, as it helps to remove any lumps that may be present in the sugar. In addition, this method will aerate the sugar, making it lighter and fluffier.

Wrong choice of sugar: The use of granulated sugar can affect the texture and overall appearance of the finished product. It can make the frosting grainy and less smooth, as well as modify the flavor and sweetness. Accordingly, to get the intended outcome, it is crucial to follow the directions and use the exact type of sugar specified in the recipe.

Now that you have met the main actor of this story, let’s find out how to make the frosting more fluffy.

What You Will Need to Make Store-Bought Icing Fluffy

To make store-bought icing fluffy, you will need:

• One jar of your favorite store-bought icing
• A stand or hand mixer with whisk attachments
• A mixing bowl
• Whipped topping or homemade whipped cream

Dash Smart Store Compact Hand Mixer Electric for Whipping

Step By Step Instructions on How To Make Frosting More Fluffy

Step 1: Gather Ingredients

Gather a 16-ounce can of your favorite store-bought icing and 16 ounces of whipped topping or homemade whipped cream. If you want to make more, simply keep the recipe equal-parts canned frosting and whipped topping.

Allow the two ingredients to reach room temperature. This will make it easier to work with and allow them to combine better. If the ingredients are too cold, they may begin to curdle when mixed.

Step 2: Mix Ingredients

Place the icing and whipped topping into a large mixing bowl. Use a hand mixer or stand mixer with whisk attachments and beat until the mix is thoroughly combined. Beat at medium-high speed for approximately 30-45 seconds long.

The mix should appear light and fluffy in texture. Be sure not to overbeat the frosting mix, as this will cause it to lose its fluffy texture. If you don’t have whipped topping, you can leave it out altogether and just beat the canned frosting.

Step 3: Decorate and Store

Use your frosting mix to decorate cakes, cupcakes, brownies, cookies, or whatever dessert you want. Frosted desserts should be stored in the fridge for up to three days when not served. 

Now that you know how to make the frosting more fluffy, let’s go through some more details that can be useful to you.

How Do You Store Leftover Canned Frosting?

Canned frosting should be stored in a cool, dry place, such as a pantry or cupboard. To guarantee freshness, you should first transfer it to an airtight container, but do your best to remove as much air as possible from the container before sealing it.

Although you might think otherwise at first, properly stored, opened canned frosting can last for up to 2 to 3 weeks in the refrigerator. When ready to use, all you have to do is take it out of the fridge and allow it to come to room temperature, and then you simply take a spatula or butter knife and stir it well. In just a few moves, it will be ready to be used on all of your cakes or cupcakes.

Tips and Tricks to Make Store-Bought Frosting Better

For this hack, you can use any flavor or type of store-bought icing you want. Buttercream, chocolate, cream cheese, or vanilla will work great.

Adding whipped topping or homemade whipped cream to the canned icing cuts back on the sweetness and gives it a fluffy texture. However, if you don’t have any whipped topping on hand or don’t mind the sweetness, you can leave it out. Simply beat the store-bought frosting by itself for about 30 seconds at medium-high speed.

You will still be able to achieve a fluffy texture without adding the whipped topping, but it won’t have the lighter, creamer flavor. If you only beat the icing, you can store it covered in the fridge for up to two weeks, as it will last longer than the whipped topping mixed icing. You may need to re-whip the icing if it has been in the fridge for a few days.

You can frost your baked goods using a spatula or a piping bag. If the icing is too thin to pipe with, add a tablespoon of powdered sugar. If it still appears too thin, add powdered sugar until it reaches your desired consistency.

To give your icing a flavor boost, add one teaspoon of vanilla extract. You can also add a teaspoon of peppermint extract, almond extract, or orange extract. For a more fall flavor, you can add 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice.

You probably haven’t considered it, but adding a sprinkle of salt to store-bought frosting might significantly improve its flavor. The thing is that salt can bring out the sweetness in the frosting, making it taste less one-dimensional. In addition, it helps to balance the frosting’s richness and make it taste more well-rounded.

Adding texture to canned frosting can make it look and taste more homemade and unique, and here’s how to do it:

• To give a crunchy texture to the frosting, fold in chopped nuts or dried fruits such as pecans, walnuts, cranberries, or raisins.
• For a light, fluffy texture and a slight coconut flavor, add some shredded coconut.
• You can also use a spatula to create peaks on the frosting and give it the desired rustic, homemade look.

Finally, we don’t want to skip the important part, which is that a pinch of salt can go a long way in masking any metallic or chemical-like flavors that are too often found in store-bought frosting. This might give the icing a more handmade and natural flavor.

Snowy Swirls: Creating Whiter Frosting

There is nothing better than perfectly white frosting, right? But what to do when, no matter how hard you try, the yellow shade just won’t go away? We have the right solution for you!

Three popular approaches may be of great help to you:

Add white food coloring

To turn yellow canned frosting white, add a tiny amount of white food coloring to the frosting and thoroughly mix it until you get the desired shade. It is extremely important to add a drop at a time since it’s easy to overdo it and wind up with too-white frosting.

Add powdered food coloring

It is difficult to determine by eye how many teaspoons of powder color you will need but do it gradually, little by little until the color is consistent.

Add powdered sugar or meringue powder

Any of these two will undoubtedly assist to make the frosting more white and solid. The only requirement is that you thoroughly mix the frosting after each addition until you obtain the desired hue.

A Simple Way to Elevate Store-Bought Icing

By beating your canned icing using a mixer with, or without, the addition of whipped topping will create a fluffy texture. Beating the icing with your mixer incorporates air into it, allowing it to expand in size and create a pleasant texture. You can use whatever type of icing you want and even add your choice of extract to enhance the flavor.

If you are under a time constraint or looking for an easier solution than making your icing, this is a great hack. It is simple and takes very little time, however, you will notice a change in the consistency of the frosting. This hack will transform regular store-bought icing into a wonderful bakery-quality treat that your friends and family will enjoy.

Do you enjoy this tutorial on how to make the frosting more fluffy? If so, please share this article and comment with your opinion down below.

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