How to Fix Frosting That Is Too Thick

If you make frosting and it is so thick that you cannot spread it on the cake, it might seem like a big problem. Luckily, it’s one of the easier problems to fix.

To fix frosting that is too thick, add a little more of the liquid that it was made with, which is usually milk. Add a small amount at a time, 1 or 2 tablespoons, and stir it until it is completely incorporated into the frosting.

Just be sure not to add too much at one time, then you risk making the frosting runny, which would cause you to have to fix that problem as well.

Fixing Frosting That Is Too Thick

If you are making any of the different buttercream frostings, cream cheese frosting, or whipped cream frosting, which are all made by using powdered sugar, some type of fat, and a liquid to bind them together, this is one of the easier problems to fix.

Simply add a little more of the liquid you used in making the frosting to the thick batch of frosting and stir it until it reaches the consistency that you need to spread it on your cake. Here are a couple of tips concerns of adding more liquid:

1. Add a small amount of liquid at the time, not more than 1 or 2 tablespoons.
2. Stir in each addition of liquid until it is completely incorporated into the frosting.

These steps are very important because they will reduce the risk of adding too much liquid.

If you do accidentally add too much liquid, just add more powdered sugar to fix the problem.

However, if you have to keep adding wet and dry ingredients, at some point, the balance of those ingredients with the fat and flavorings will be off, making the frosting taste bland.

Related 12 Easy Ways to Fix Runny Frosting.

What Causes Frosting That Is Too Thick

Frosting that is too thick is caused by one of two main problems.

1. Not enough liquid was added
2. Too much powdered sugar was used.

This commonly happens when all the ingredients are added at once.

How To Avoid Too-Thick Frosting

The solution to avoiding thick frosting is to add the wet and dry ingredients alternately and stir to incorporate them completely. This will greatly reduce the chance of having problems with the texture.

When making any of the buttercream frostings, cream cheese frosting, or whipped cream frosting, follow these steps:

1. Place the softened butter, the softened cream cheese, or whipped cream into a mixing bowl.
2. Add 1 cup of powdered sugar and stir to combine.
3. Add a small amount of liquid, whether it is milk, whipped cream, or any other liquid, and stir to combine.
4. Repeat these steps until almost all the powdered sugar is added and the frosting reaches a spreadable consistency. It may not take all the liquid, or it may take a little more of whatever liquid you are using to make the frosting spreadable.
5. Add any flavorings such as vanilla extract, lemon juice, coffee, or other types of flavorings just before adding the last of the powdered sugar and the liquid because most of the flavorings are liquid and may make the frosting too runny if you add them last. This way, if you need to leave out some of the liquid, you can.

I hope this article has been helpful.

Thanks for stoppin’ by!

Jelly Grandma

For more, don’t miss How to Fix Undercooked Cake (That Is Too Moist).