This Mixer Hack Will Transform Your Store-Bought Icing

When it comes to baking, homemade is generally more favorable than store-bought. While it's a lot more convenient to use a boxed mix, most people would much rather eat baked goods made from scratch. The same goes for store-bought frosting, which is often gluey, overly sweet, and doesn't look quite as presentable when spread.

If you don't have time to whip up a fresh batch of icing but still want homemade results, you're in luck. According to Taste of Home, a little bit of whipping action goes a long way in improving the texture and taste of store-bought frosting.

The hack is as simple as it gets. Just empty a can of icing into a mixing bowl, mix using either an electric or stand mixer with a whisk attachment, and let it work its magic. You'll see your store-bought frosting transform before your eyes. It will become light and fluffy, closely resembling the homemade kind.

It might seem too good to be true for canned icing to turn into perfection after only a few minutes in the mixing bowl. But after putting the hack to the test, Better Homes & Gardens confirmed its effectiveness. The reason it works, the publication explained, is because whipping incorporates more air into the mixture. As a result, the frosting becomes much lighter, fluffier, and easier to spread with more air trapped inside.

Whipping also doubles the amount of frosting. If you try to frost a multi-layer cake with a single can, you'll have difficulty trying to stretch the icing. But by whipping it, you'll end up with a lot more frosting to work with without having to reach for a second can. And since the icing doubles in size, the usual sickeningly sweet taste of store-bought frosting balances out. Overall, if you're planning to use store-bought frosting for your next recipe, take the extra step and run it through the mixture. It's definitely worth the effort.