How To Thicken Frosting Quickly (2024)

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by Sam Adleron Mar 23, 2023 (updated Jul 26, 2023) 3 comments

Are you looking for the perfect way to make your cakes, cupcakes, and other desserts look even more delicious? Thick frosting is the perfect topping to add that extra bit of sweetness and flavor – but how do you get it just right? Learn How To Thicken Frosting for your favorite desserts!

As a trained pastry chef, frosting is my specialty! I didn’t name my site Frosting and Fettucine for no reason! I love the versatility of all types of frosting recipes and how they can add so much flavor to a dessert.

Whether you’re making classic vanilla frosting, cream cheese frosting, brownie frosting, or even a simple lemon glaze, there is one factor that is truly important! The thickness of frosting is key to making a great dessert, as it needs to be thick enough to hold its shape! This helps the dessert last longer, and it also allows it to hold up to any decorations or garnishes you put on top!

If you’re ready to learn the best secrets on how to thicken frosting, let’s get started!

How To Thicken Frosting

The simplest way to thicken frosting or to make frosting stiffer is to add more powdered sugar. This finely milled ingredient adds more sweetness and texture.

1. Sift 1/4 cup of powdered sugar.
2. Add it to the batch of frosting.
3. Whip it up at high speed until the desired consistency is formed.
4. Add more slowly if needed!

How To Thicken Cream Cheese Frosting

Thickening cream cheese frosting is a bit different as cream cheese has a unique tangy flavor and texture that could get masked by too much sweetness. If you don’t want your frosting to be any more sweet, use cornstarch instead!

1. Sift 1/4 cup powdered sugar OR 1/4 cup cornstarch.
2. Add it to the cream cheese frosting.
3. Whip it up at high speed until the desired consistency is formed.
4. Place the frosting in the fridge for 20 minutes before frosting your dessert to allow it to harden properly.

How To Thicken A Glaze Or Cookie Icing

Icing is a bit different from buttercream frosting in that it’s more of a glaze that has a thin texture.

If the texture is too thin, it may not harden properly or it can sink into a cake and disappear!

You want to make sure it’s thick enough to see and taste. The key to the perfect texture of glaze or icing starts right at the beginning!

1. Add all of the frosting ingredients to a bowl EXCEPT for the powdered sugar.
2. One tablespoon at a time, add in the powdered sugar, and mix.
3. Keep adding powdered sugar until the glaze is thick and starts to hold its shape.
4. Adjust with a small amount of water or milk if necessary until desired consistency is reached.

How To Thin Frosting If It’s Too Thick

Sometimes when we attempt to thicken frosting, we may thicken it too much! A frosting that is too thick will be difficult to spread, but luckily there is a simple fix!

1. To the bowl with the thick frosting, add 1-2 tablespoons of milk or water. Using milk will add a bit of creaminess to the frosting, but water will make it a bit more translucent.
2. Mix together until desired consistency is reached.
3. Add more liquid a teaspoon at a time if needed!

Troubleshooting and FAQ’s

How do you make frosting stiffer? To make frosting stiffer add powdered sugar a little but at a time to bulk in up.

How do you thicken frosting without powdered sugar? You can add 1/4 cup- 1/2 cup cornstarch to thicken frosting without using powdered sugar.

Why is my frosting so runny? Your frosting is runny because it has too much liquid in it. Add some powdered sugar to thicken it up.

There you have it!

Basically all you have to do is to either add more powdered sugar to thicken a frosting, or add more liquid to thin it out. It’s fool proof!

With these tips, you’ll be able to easily thicken frosting for your favorite desserts and make them look more delicious than ever. Don’t forget to adjust the thickness if necessary – it’s all about experimentation until you get the perfect texture.

Sweet success is just around the corner!

by Sam Adler on Mar 23, 2023 (updated Jul 26, 2023)

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