Homemade frosting has a flavor unlike any packaged product. With a few simple changes, you can come up with different colors and flavors. When you make homemade icing, you can also alter the texture to fit your needs. Do you want a thicker frosting that coasts the entire cake in only a few swoops? Do you want a thinner frosting that spreads a bit more easily? How about just a flavored glaze for that shimmery effect?
Once you master the basic ratio of creating frosting, which is traditionally powdered sugar, unsalted butter, and milk, you can start to really lay it on thick with these homemade frosting recipes. These easy, quick icing recipes elevate your cakes for any occasion.
1. Chai Spiced Frosting
Make your own chai spice mix with cardamon, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and ginger and use it to enhance buttercream for go-to frosting to elevate cakes, cupcakes, donuts and muffins. Mix it with whipped cream and you've got yourself the best spiced whip cream ever.
This is the perfect frosting for anyone who loves a good spice blend. Perfect for a layer cake with cinnamon and nutmeg cakes, this would even make a great birthday cake for someone who loves warmer flavors. Get the recipe here.
2. Lavender Frosting
Just one whiff of this floral frosting will have your guests shoving their faces in their plate. Your cake will look like it was delivered by a Pinterest professional when covered in this light lilac frosting.
Get the recipe here.
3. Espresso Buttercream Frosting
If you love coffee, this frosting is for you. Imagine your favorite latte turned into a cake topping. While the recipe doesn't call for unsweetened cocoa powder, I like to add 1/2 teaspoon to it. It won't overpower and make guests think they're eating chocolate buttercream frosting, but it opens up the espresso flavor.
Switch things up and try it on red velvet cake. Get the great recipe here.
4. Rainbow Chip Icing
Betty Crocker used to sell a commercial rainbow chip icing to go with their rainbow chip cake. The frosting was discontinued, but you can easily create your own sweet white frosting bursting with small, colorful chips.
If you want to brighten up this cake for a special occasion, you can always add a drop or two of food coloring in to get the desired tint you want. Similar to a vanilla buttercream frosting, this easy recipe tastes best with homemade vanilla extract if you have it on hand. Get the recipe here.
5. Marshmallow Buttercream Frosting
Recreate your favorite campfire treat, or make any cupcake better, with this decadent marshmallow vanilla frosting. A small amount goes a long way, which means you ultimately use less of this delicious buttercream recipe.
Maybe your carrot cake needs a marshmallow fluffy frosting. Get the recipe here.
6. Peanut Butter Frosting
You don't even need a cake to enjoy this peanut butter frosting. It's good enough to eat by the spoon (or bowl) full.
Get the easy frosting recipe here.
7. Strawberries 'N' Cream Frosting
This is a pretty-in-pink icing that is perfect for fruit lovers. One of the easier frosting recipes, this comes together in the time it'll take your cake to cool.
Get the recipe here.
8. Chocolate Chip Frosting
Everything's better with chocolate chips, especially frosting. Your favorite cookie just went rogue.
Get the recipe here.
9. Rice Krispie Treat Frosting
Make your cake snap, crackle and pop with this cereal-based frosting. Great for a birthday party full of cupcakes, this buttercream frosting recipe is a real treat.
Get the recipe here.
10. Avocado Frosting
Avocado makes for a unique and creamy addition to desserts and can take your chocolate cake to new levels. Yes, avocado and chocolate love each other.
A stand mixer or hand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment is best for combining the frosting, especially if you don't want to mash the avocado by hand. Get the recipe here.
11. Chocolate Nutella Buttercream
An icing made with Nutella doesn't even need a cake to be enjoyed. Simply grab your electric mixer, blend on medium speed, and eat by the spoonful! Or you can always add it to a cake if you must.
Get the recipe here.
12. Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting
A little spice goes a long way to create a uniquely flavored frosting perfect for spiced and vanilla cakes.
Get the recipe here.
13. Caramel Frosting
Apples aren't the only ones that can be dressed in candy. This caramel frosting is perfect for any flavor cake.
Get the recipe here.
14. Coconut Chantilly
This coconut chantilly frosting uses coconut cream, which is different from coconut milk. The cream is richer and makes for a more luscious and flavorful frosting.
Get the recipe here.
15. Mascarpone Frosting
Italian mascarpone is lighter and sweeter than its American cream cheese counterpart. It makes for a subtly sweet frosting that works on any cake.
Get the recipe here.
16. Mocha Icing
Espresso powder adds additional depth and flavor to regular chocolate frosting.
Get the recipe here.
17. Pumpkin Pie Frosting
This isn't a buttercream with pumpkin mixed in. No, this is an actual pumpkin pie whipped into a frothing frenzy.
Get the recipe here.
18. Candy Cloud Frosting
This is a sweeter version of a meringue icing that uses cotton candy sugar for color and flavor.
Get the recipe here.
19. Kool Aid Frosting
The fun in this frosting is that you can make it any flavor and color you want by swapping out different packets of Kool Aid.
Get the recipe here.
20. Raspberry Buttercream Frosting
Rich raspberry flavor bursts through in this easy-to-make, four-ingredient frosting.
Get the recipe here.
21. Honey Buttercream
The secret to this honey buttercream frosting is sour cream. It helps to thickens the frosting without adding extra sweetness to compete with the honey.
Get the recipe here.
22. Baileys Irish Buttercream
A cream cheese frosting base is bumped up with the addition of Baileys.
Get the recipe here.
23. Maple Glaze
Melted butter, maple syrup and powdered sugar is all you need to create this sweet and sticky glaze that is a great topping for donuts, cake and cupcakes.
Get the recipe here.
24. Mint Frosting
Chocolate and mint are a classic combo for a unique frosting that is reminiscent of an Andes Candy.
Get the recipe here.
25. Butter Rum Frosting
Real rum or rum extract makes for a buttery and spiced frosting that would accent any carrot, vanilla or butternut squash perfectly.
Get the recipe here.
This post was originally published on May 4, 2018.
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