Betty Crocker Whipped Frosting: Everything You Need to Know
Betty Crocker has become a staple in the world of ready-made confectionery. From cakes and pancakes to cookies and muffins, they produce frostings of all sorts to pair with their desserts. But are these frostings any good?
Having in mind their ingredients, not so much. Betty Crocker has 8 official variations of whipped frostings made from water, corn syrup, palm oil, corn starch, and artificial coloring. They use artificial flavorings for their frosting.
Today, we will look at all of Betty Crocker’s frostings in closer detail. We will discuss their production, ingredients, use, and how to preserve them. We will even explore tricks and tips to take these boxed frostings to another level.
How to Use Betty Crocker Whipped Frosting?
To get a smooth and even coating of frosting, you only need 2 tools – an offset spatula and a cake stand. The stand will make it very easy to spread the cream. Alternatively, you can put the cake on a plate with a smooth bottom and place it on a smooth surface. This way, you can easily spin the cake around.
Before you can start decorating your cake, you need to let the cake cool completely. You can leave it at room temperature, or you can cool it in the refrigerator to fasten the process.
Now, scoop a large amount of frosting and dump it on top of the cake. Using the offset spatula, spread the frost as evenly as you can. You can scrape any excess cream and apply it to another place. This process is doable with a spoon, but the result will be much less tidy.
A tip you can follow here – dip the spatula in hot water for a few seconds to get it warm. This way, the frosting will melt a bit as it touches the spatula, which will make it easier for you to spread. Scrape the excess off to get a smooth and clean finish when you are done.
You will likely have leftover frostings. Place them in the tub and store them in the fridge for future use.
Can You Use Betty Crocker Whipped Frosting to Decorate Cake?
You can use Betty Crocker whipped frosting to decorate all types of cakes, cupcakes, cookies, pies, etc. In short, you can use whipped frosting for everything you would use regular frosting for.
You can accomplish this in a couple of ways. You can place it in a piping bag and pipe it over the dessert. This way, you can create any design you want. This is also how you can get the classical swirl on top of a cupcake.
Alternatively, you can coat the cake with frosting like a fondant. You can add the frosting between two layers of the cake as filling and leave it as it is for a naked cake design. Or you can cover the entire cake in cream.
While choosing the whipped frosting, you must consider the type of dessert and flavor pairing. If the dessert is already plenty sweet, try to tone down the sweetness of the frosting.
How to Make Betty Crocker Whipped Frosting Better?
While a Betty Crocker ready-made frosting offers a quick and simple solution to dry and naked cakes, they are not as good compared to homemade frostings. But that is where you can apply some easy tricks to improve both the taste and texture of the frostings.
Give it Some New Flavors
Though Betty Crocker has some variation in their flavors, you can easily improve them with a few simple ingredients.
Add 1-2 teaspoons of vanilla extracts per tub of frosting, increasing the flavor and giving a sweet fragrance. Similarly, you can add 1-2 teaspoons of almond extract for a nuttier, sweeter frosting.
Alternatively, you can add Nutella or chocolate syrup if you crave that cocoa taste. Or, if you already picked the chocolate-flavored frosting, try adding some caramel syrup. This will take the frosting to a whole new level of flavor.
Dairy It Up
This may not be compatible with everyone’s diet. But a simple way of making the frosting taste richer and creamier is by adding dairy products such as butter, heavy cream, or condensed milk. These products are high in fat, which will make the frosting that much creamier.
A good buttercream frosting is ideal for carrot cakes and cheesecakes. But Betty Crocker’s whipped frosting does not use any, even though their names may suggest it. So, to replicate that classic taste, add a few tablespoons of melted or softened butter and give the whole mixture a good whip.
Sprinkle a Touch of Salt
Store-bought frostings tend to be cloyingly sweet, which may be desirable in some cases but not all. So, to counter this sweetness, you can add a pinch of salt and whip the mixture vigorously. This way, the salt will dissolve uniformly through the mixture and make for a balanced flavor profile.
Try to add a little bit of salt and check for the sweetness. If it is still too sweet, add a bit more.
Give It Some Crunch
Most think of frosting as a smooth and soft topping that can elevate any normal dessert. But it does not always have to be the case. You can make the frosting crunchier and chewier to vary the texture.
Add some chopped and roasted peanuts or pecans to the frosting. You can also add toasted coconut flakes, which will make the frosting sweeter and chewier. For every tub of frosting, mix in ½ to 1 cup of your crunchy element of choice.
Make It Fruitier
What is a better way of making a seasonal dessert than to add seasonal fruit flavors to your dessert? Like vanilla or almond, you can find extracts for strawberry, blueberry, etc. Add a dash of these extracts to the frosting to make it tastier and more aromatic.
Similarly, you can add dried fruit powder into the frosting. This can be a fun way of giving the product a new color and introducing a new flavor. Remember to add it a bit at a time not to overpower the frosting with the fruit flavor.
How to Make Betty Crocker Whipped Frosting Fluffier
Although their label says what you are buying is pre-whipped frosting, it can hardly compare to the fluffiness of homemade frosting. Fortunately, there is a pretty easy solution to a light and fluffy frosting – whip it some more!
It would be very handy if you happen to have an electric mixer in your kitchen. If not, prepare your actual hands for a good whipping session. Dunk the frosting in a large enough bowl and start whipping vigorously.
You do not need to add any more stuff. Simply by whipping the frosting, you will infuse plenty of air in the mix, which will lead to light, soft, and fluffy frostings.
How to Thicken Betty Crocker Whipped Frosting?
If you bought a tub of Betty Crocker frosting and find that the consistency is too thin, worry not. There are a couple of ways to make it thicker so that the spread is to your desired consistency.
The easiest method is to add powdered sugar or confectioner’s sugar (yes, the same thing you use to make icing). Sugar has a great property of absorbing moisture. So, by adjusting the sugar levels in your recipe, you can control the moisture in your baked goods.
Take your required amount of frosting in a large bowl. Add 1 to 2 tablespoons of powdered sugar and give it a nice mix. Check to see if the consistency has thickened to your liking. Suppose it has not; continue adding 1 tablespoon of sugar at a time.
Another way of doing this would be with cornstarch. Like sugar, cornstarch also attracts the water molecule in a dish. Plus, it has a neutral taste, so it will not tamper with the overall flavor. So, add a tablespoon of cornstarch to the frosting and check the consistency until it has become desirable.
How to Make Betty Crocker Whipped Frosting Thinner?
A glaze has a thinner and lighter consistency than frosting. And if that is what you are looking for, you need to manually thin out the whipped frosting.
The best way to do this would be by adding milk. Milk will add creaminess to the frosting while also making it thinner. But if you want to avoid any dairy option, try adding water or a neutral flavor vegetable oil.
As always, add the ingredient in a small amount at a time. Stir the mixture and check to see if the consistency is loose enough. If not, add more liquid to the frosting.
Can You Add Coloring to Betty Crocker Whipped Frosting?
To make your dessert more visually striking, you can add food coloring to Betty Crocker’s whipped frostings. Thanks to its pinkish color, most of their whipped variations have either a white or chocolaty hue, with strawberry being the exception. So, adding some different colors can make for a very fun experience.
Take the amount of frosting you plan on using in a bowl to do this. Now, add 1-2 teaspoons of food-grade colors into the bowl at a time and stir well. If the complexion is not up to the mark, add more color.
How Many Cupcakes Can You Frost with a Can of Betty Crocker Whipped Frosting?
Every variation of Betty Crocker’s whipped frosting comes in a 12 oz can, which is about 1 and ½ cups of frosting. On average, you can cover 16-20 standard-sized cupcakes with this amount of frosting. Similarly, you can cover a 9-inch round cake with 2 cans of whipped frostings.
Realistically, how much frosting you require will depend on how thick the coat you apply. So, depending on the amount you give to each cupcake, your mileage will vary.
Does Betty Crocker Whipped Frosting Need to be Refrigerated?
If you have not opened the tub yet, you do not have to refrigerate the product just yet. You can keep it at room temperature until the time of use. This will help keep the frosting soft so that it spreads easier.
Once you open it, then the frosting becomes vulnerable. After you are done using it, keep the leftover cream in the fridge until future use. If you keep it properly refrigerated, you will be able to use the frosting multiple times in the next few weeks. Otherwise, the frosting will start to spoil, which will ruin its taste and texture.
So, keep the leftover frosting in a sealed container. Preferably you keep it inside the original tub that you bought. Then place it in the fridge. This will preserve both the taste and quality of the frosting for a couple of weeks minimum.
How Long is Betty Crocker Whipped Frosting Good After Opening?
Once you open the can, the frosting starts to live down a timer. And the best way to extend its shelf life is to put it in the fridge. Once opened, your can of Betty Crocker whipped frosting will stay usable for up to 2 weeks, according to their official website.
Now, you may be late at refrigerating the product, which will undoubtedly decrease its lifespan. But if you keep it in a sealed container and at a proper temperature, the frosting should remain edible for up to 3-4 weeks.
How Long Can You Use Betty Crocker Whipped Frosting After Expiration Date?
Every can of Betty Crocker frosting comes with an expiration date. But this date is not a timer for when the product will become spoiled. Rather it is the manufacturer’s estimation as to how long that product will remain at peak condition.
So, you can still use the frosting even after its expiration date, provided that the box is intact, unopened, and properly stored. If the can is in good condition, then you can use the frosting 1-2 weeks past its best before date.
However, if you are using a can past its expiration point, check for signs that will indicate whether the product is used or not. For example, if there is discoloration of the product or a sour stench coming from it, you should not use it.
Ingredients in Betty Crocker Whipped Frosting?
Betty Crocker’s whipped frostings are a concoction of water, corn syrup, sugar, palm oil, hydrogenated palm oil, monoglyceride, artificial flavorings, and color. These ingredients are mixed and pre-whipped to give their whipped frosting a lighter and thinner consistency than their regular frostings.
Potassium sorbet is added to all of their whipped frostings as a preservative. Cellulose gum and cellulose gel are used to improve the frosting texture.
Every Betty Crocker’s whipped frosting is gluten-free. They also do not have any nuts. But they might contain some milk or milk-based products.
Is Betty Crocker Whipped Frosting Vegan?
According to their official website, any whipped frostings may contain milk or milk ingredients. Some variants, such as cream cheese, definitely utilize dairy products in their production. As such, it is better to avoid their whipped frostings if you happen to be on a vegan diet.
To conclude, a cake without frosting is simply not complete. And Betty Crocker’s whipped frostings offer a quick and convenient solution to that problem. So, the next time you are short on time, pick one up from the store to elevate your dessert of choice.
