Can I use flour to thicken cream cheese frosting?

Nothing beats the decadence of a wonderful slice of cake, particularly when topped with handmade buttercream icing. However, thick and creamy frosting might be difficult to find at times.

Slowly incorporating powdered sugar is the finest and simplest technique to thicken frosting. However, there are other additional options to attempt, such as adding butter, shortening, cream cheese, whipped cream, flour, cornstarch, and other ingredients.

Continue reading for 10 frosting thickening ideas that can help you reach the ideal consistency every time. Good luck with your baking!

How To Thicken Homemade Frosting: 10 Ways

Option 1: Add Powdered Sugar

Adding powdered sugar is the quickest and simplest technique to thicken frosting. To avoid lumps in your frosting, make sure the confectioners’ sugar is sifted.

Then, while stirring or beating the frosting, gradually add the sugar. Begin with 1/2 spoonful and gradually increase until the desired thickness is reached.

If your frosting becomes excessively sugary, a sprinkle of salt might help balance it out.

If you use too much powdered sugar, the frosting will become excessively thick. Simply add a little quantity of milk or cream to thin it down.

Option 2: Add Butter or Shortening

The icing on the cake is another classic: softening. Soft, but not liquefied, butter will readily mix into your frosting.

Use a stand mixer or an electric hand mixer. This allows the butter to spread evenly, resulting in a rich and fluffy frosting. Add 1-2 teaspoons at a time until the desired consistency is reached.

Option 3: Add Whipping Cream

To thicken icing for chilled sweets, use this procedure. To produce a thick and creamy frosting, beat in up to 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream, a splash at a time.

Option 4: Add Cream Cheese

Adding cream cheese, like adding butter, helps to thicken frosting without dramatically sweetening it. Rich cream cheese, on the other hand, adds a delightful acidic flavor.

Use softened full fat cream cheese for the simplest mixing and the greatest flavor. Whip in 1 tablespoon of cream cheese at a time until the frosting is thick enough for you.

Option 5: Add Meringue Powder

Meringue powder is a tried-and-true method for making frosting thick and fluffy. For every 8 ounces of frosting, add 1 tablespoon of meringue powder. If the frosting needs extra sweetness, add a sprinkle of powdered sugar.

Option 6: Add Flour

To thicken frosting without adding taste or sweetness, mix in one spoonful of flour at a time. To avoid clumps in the frosting, I suggest sifting the flour before adding it.

Option 7: Add Cornstarch

Cornstarch is another flavorless thickener. 1/4 cup cornstarch, sifted, should be added to the frosting.

Sift together 1/4 cup cornstarch and a tablespoon or two of powdered sugar. This will result in a thick, creamy frosting with a deep sweetness.

Option 8: Add Gelatin

To activate gelatin, blend it with water; the result is a thick and pleasantly gooey frosting.

Combine 1 tablespoon gelatin and 1 tablespoon cold water, then add into the frosting. Allow the frosting to rest in the refrigerator for approximately 30 minutes before using it to thicken.

Option 10: Add Marshmallow Fluff

To make a fluffy and lighter icing, mix equal amounts marshmallow fluff and frosting.

If that ratio seems excessive, a 1/4 cup or two of creme can thicken the frosting and offer a delicious marshmallow taste. A pinch of salt might also help to balance out the sweetness.

What do I do if my frosting is too runny?

To thicken runny frosting, just add powdered sugar, cornstarch, cocoa powder, or any of the other excellent alternatives mentioned above!

What do you thicken frosting without powdered sugar?

There are various simple techniques to thicken frosting without adding sugar or additional sweetness. Unsweet thickeners include flour, cornstarch, meringue powder, gelatin, and cocoa powder.

How do you stiffen store bought icing?

A. Place canned frosting in a large mixing bowl and whisk in your choice thickening agent with a hand mixer. Place the bowl in the fridge for a few minutes to help stiffen the frosting even more. Learn how to improve the flavor of canned frosting.

There are several methods for preparing thick and fluffy cream cheese frosting, buttercream frosting, or chocolate icing. We explored 10 simple methods to thicken homemade frosting in this post, so use these suggestions to make the ideal topping for your next dessert!

Prep Time 5 minutes

Total Time 5 minutes

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter, room temperature
3 cups powdered sugar, sifted
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract or vanilla paste
1-2 tablespoons milk or heavy cream

Instructions

Add the softened butter to a large mixing bowl. Mix on medium speed using an electric mixer. The butter will be paler in color and creamier.
Add the powdered sugar gradually, mixing after each addition. Scrape down the edges of the bowl as required with a spatula to properly incorporate the powdered sugar.
The mixture will be thick after the butter and powdered sugar have been combined.
Add the vanilla extract and 1 tablespoon of heavy whipping cream or milk at a time until the appropriate consistency is obtained.
If the frosting is overly sweet, add a sprinkle of salt and mix thoroughly.

Notes

Add 2 drops of food coloring and mix thoroughly to get colorful frosting. Add more drops as required until you reach the desired hue.

This frosting may be flavored with other extracts and flavorings, such as mint, almond, lemon, or orange. Begin with a little quantity of extract and gradually increase the amount until you reach the taste you want.

Amp up the flaveflavo

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving:
224 calories10g total fat7g Saturated Fat0g trans fat3g Saturated Fat28mg cholesterolSodium content: 76mg33g carbohydrate0g fiber33g of sugar0g protein