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!
A thick frosting in a bowl with the paddle attachment pulled out.
Add 1/4 cup more powdered sugar to your buttercream frosting to make it thick and pipeable.

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.
Thicken cream cheese frosting in a bowl on a blue surface.
To thicken cream cheese frosting, add either corn starch or powdered sugar.

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.
A bundt cake drizzled with thick white frosting on a pink plate.
See how the glaze is visible but still pourable? This is the perfect glaze consistency.

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!
A glaze icing in a glass bowl with a mini spatula inside of it.
To make a frosting thinner, add a small amount of water or cream to thin it out.

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!

A piping bag with frosting next to un-frosted cupcakes on a pink tiled surface.
5 stars (2 ratings)

How to Thicken Frosting Quickly- Vanilla Frosting Recipe

Prep: 5 minutes
Total: 5 minutes
Servings: 12 cupcakes
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 with this Vanilla frosting recipe for your favorite desserts!
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Ingredients

  • 1 cup (227 g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 3 cups (360 g) powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon (1 teaspoon) vanilla extract
  • 2 teaspoons (2 teaspoons) cream, or milk

Instructions
 

  • In the bowl of a hand or stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment add the 1 cup butter and 3 cups powdered sugar. Turn the dial to the lowest mixing setting so powdered sugar doesn't blow up all over the place.
  • Butter and powdered sugar creamed together in a mixing bowl.
    Move to a medium speed when the sugar is more incorporated. Mix for 2 minutes.
  • Stop the mixer and add in the 1 tsp vanilla extract and 2 tsp cream. Mix on medium-high speed for 1 minute-2 minutes.
  • The icing should have stiff peaks, and hold its shape, not runny at all.

How To Thicken Frosting

  • A thick frosting in a bowl with the paddle attachment pulled out.
    Sift 1/4 cup of powdered sugar and add it to the buttercream frosting. Whip it up at high speed until the desired consistency is formed. Add more slowly if needed!

How To Thicken Cream Cheese Frosting

  • Thicken cream cheese frosting in a bowl on a blue surface.
    Sift 1/4 cup powdered sugar OR 1/4 cup cornstarch and ass to the cream cheese frosting. Whip it up at high speed until the desired consistency is formed. 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

  • A bundt cake drizzled with thick white frosting on a pink plate.
    Add all of the frosting ingredients to a bowl EXCEPT for the powdered sugar.One tablespoon at a time, add in the powdered sugar, and mix. Keep adding powdered sugar until the glaze is thick and starts to hold its shape. 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

  • A glaze icing in a glass bowl with a mini spatula inside of it.
    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. Mix together until desired consistency is reached. Add more liquid a teaspoon at a time if needed!

Notes

Really all you need to know is that to thicken frosting you will add a small amount of powdered sugar until you reach the right consistency.
To think out frosting, its the opposite. Just add more liquid until desired consistency. 
Serving: 1serving, Calories: 256kcal, Carbohydrates: 30g, Protein: 0.2g, Fat: 16g, Saturated Fat: 10g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 4g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 42mg, Sodium: 3mg, Potassium: 6mg, Sugar: 29g, Vitamin A: 485IU, Vitamin C: 0.01mg, Calcium: 5mg, Iron: 0.02mg
Course: Dessert, Frosting
Author: Sam Adler
Cuisine: American
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