How To Thin Store Bought Frosting & Make It More Flavorful

Last Updated on December 29, 2022

Desserts like cakes and cupcakes are not the same without frosting. That is why it is best to know how to thin store-bought frosting. Store-bought buttercream is a thick frosting that remains soft after frosting it. It is also made from a base of cream, powdered sugar, and butter. Also, it is commonly utilized for cakes and occasionally cookies. However, store-bought buttercream frosting can be too thick if you make it in cold weather or beat it excessively. Because of that, you can thin the store-bought buttercream frosting by whipping extra cream or milk a teaspoon at a time till the frosting reached the proper consistency. 

Tips on How to Thin Store-Bought Frosting

1. Use Hot Water

Knowing how to thin the store-bought frosting, especially cream cheese frosting, is essential. Start by pouring a little amount of hot water into the bottom of a mixing bowl. Keep in mind to choose a bowl that is a bit larger than the bowl in which the frosting is placed. With that, make sure to gently lower the frosting bowl into the bowl with hot water. 

Moreover, ensure that the hot water does not overflow into the frosting. Likewise, stir the frosting constantly while pressing it to the mixing bowl’s sides till the ingredients thin the frosting. As a result, the decadent store-bought cream cheese frosting can come out thin if the cream cheese is completely softened before combining it with the recipe. 

U-Taste Measuring Cups and Spoons Set (10 Pieces)

2. Add Whole Milk

Usually, you can gradually add more of the recipe’s liquid to make the frosting thinner. However, when thinning a store-bought frosting, you need to whisk whole milk and then add a teaspoon at a time till you attain the correct consistency of the frosting. You can also use coconut, almond, soy, or any other milk type as a dietary alternative if needed.

Try out these easy frosting recipes:

• Sensational Dark Chocolate Frosting
• Fast And Easy Sweetened Condensed Milk Frostings

Tips to Make Store-Bought Frosting Better and More Flavorful

Add Cream Cheese

Put cream cheese into your store-bought frosting. Doing this will give it a creamy and more decadent flavor. Add approximately eight ounces of cream cheese and a teaspoon of vanilla extract. Remember, if the frosting has cream cheese, you need to refrigerate it.

Additionally, you can add about two tablespoons of flavored coffee syrups and one-fourth cup of espresso or strong coffee to the store-bought frosting to make it even tastier. Also, you can put a teaspoon of vanilla extract, which will add volume. Likewise, it works with any store-bought frosting flavor.

You can also put almond, lemon, peppermint, orange, or any other extract that suits the recipe you are using for your cake or cupcake. In addition to that, if you are using store-bought white frosting, you can add dry Jell-O powder. 

Mix-Ins For Consistency

The easiest way to create cake frosting is by using store-bought frosting. For this reason, start by scraping the frosting in a mixing bowl and stir it till it is creamy and smooth. Then, you can add the mix-ins bit by bit and adjust the flavor. With that, stir in half a cup of sprinkles, toffee bits, chopped nuts, sweetened flaked coconut, or chocolate chips as mix-ins for texture.

However, keep in mind that these flavorful mix-ins may be chunky or too thick to spread for the cake. That is why it is best to beat the store-bought frosting with a stand or hand mixer till it becomes fluffy and light. Afterward, fold in smooth additions using a spatula. 

Adding Smooth Additions

Beat in a half cup of cookie butter, peanut butter or nut butter, Nutella, lemon curd, marmalade, or jam as smooth addition for a more flavorful frosting.

• Butter – Beat in two tablespoons at room temperature butter. In addition to that, add a pinch of salt if you are using unsalted butter.
• Whipped cream – Combine equal amounts of freshly whipped cream. As an alternative, you can use thawed whipped topping. On the other hand, use unsweetened whipped cream to tone down the sweetness of the store-bought frosting.  

To Correct Consistency

You can add a tablespoon of confectioner’s sugar until you achieve the frosting’s correct consistency. Do this if the thickness of the frosting becomes too runny for you. Likewise, if the store-bought frosting is too sweet or fatty for you, you can add an equal quantity of whipped cream and store-bought frosting for a lighter cupcake or cake frosting.

How to Make Store-Bought Chocolate Frosting Taste Like Homemade?

It’s super easy to make any store-bought chocolate frosting taste homemade, but in particular, chocolate frosting. There are a few ways to do this, and a few ingredients you may like to add. Let’s take a look at my top tips.

• you are whipping the frosting. This adds more air to the frosting, making it lighter and the texture much better. There’s something about whipped frosting that seems more homemade. The perk of this is that the frosting expands when hit, so you’ll end up with more frosting than when you started!
• adding textures. Whether that be adding chocolate chips, sprinkles, or freeze-dried cherries (these go amazingly in chocolate frosting), they’ll make your frosting taste one-of-a-kind and not as if you’ve just grabbed it from the shelf!
• add flavoring. Flavorings such as vanilla extract or almond extract elevate frosting and make yours stand out from the rest – just a few drops will do!
• add cream cheese or whipped cream. For an extra creamy chocolate frosting, add whipped cream. And for a lighter, tangier flavor, why not try some cream cheese? Both are great additions.

How Do You Make Strawberry Frosting With Store Bought Frosting?

If you’d like to make your store-bought frosting strawberry flavored, the only ingredient you’ll need is strawberries! Add your frosting to a bowl and whip before you add the strawberries. Puree your strawberries and add around 1/4 cup of the puree to your frosting. You may need to add a small amount of powdered sugar if it needs thickening. Mix well and taste; you may want to add additional puree, depending on the level of flavor you’re looking for.

What is the Best Store Bought Buttercream Frosting?

There are three brands that I don’t think you can go wrong with. They’re all trusted brands, that are easily accessible in most grocery stores and reasonably priced. I always opt for either Betty Crocker, Duncan Hines, or Pillsbury. If you’re looking for specific flavors, I enjoy using Betty Crocker Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Frosting, Pillsbury Funfetti Vanilla Frosting, and Duncan Hines Creamy Buttercream Frosting. All of these tubs of frosting retail for around $1.50.

How to Turn Store-Bought Frosting Into Ganache?

It’s very difficult to turn store-bought frosting into ganache as the two are very different. Ganache is much heavier than frosting. You could try melting the frosting in 20-second intervals in the microwave and then adding a small amount of whipping cream. Leave to cool and thicken and you’ll be left with more of a glaze, than a ganache – but it will definitely be delicious!

How Do I Add Alcohol to Store Bought Frosting?

When it comes to adding alcohol to frosting, the main part you want to avoid is the alcohol completely overwhelming the flavor. The general rule of thumb is that for every cup of frosting, you’ll need around a tablespoon of alcohol. If this doesn’t taste quite strong enough, you can always add more! Just be sure that the alcohol has been evenly mixed before adding more. You may need to add a small amount of powdered sugar to your store-bought frosting too, depending on how thin the alcohol makes your frosting.

Can You Add Cocoa to Store Bought Cream Cheese Frosting?

Absolutely! If you want to make your cream cheese frosting into chocolate-flavored cream cheese frosting – just add cocoa. It’s always best to start with a very small amount of cocoa and then add more if needed. However, try not to add too much cocoa powder as this can make the frosting quite chalky and alter the texture too much, as well as the flavor. Cocoa powder can be quite bitter and you don’t want that to be the overwhelming flavor of your light cream cheese frosting.

Tips to Make Store-Bought Frosting Better

Remember, use a hand or stand mixer when combining the store-bought frosting for approximately three minutes. With that, ensure that the mixture is mixed correctly. Also, put the dye above the mix if you use it on the store-bought frosting. Essentially, let your cake cool before putting the store-bought frosting. Doing this will make it easier to decorate.