Why are cakes from the grocery store so delicious? It’s in the frosting. This easy, homemade grocery store frosting recipe delivers the same sweet, smooth flavor of a store-bought cake.
I love butter. I grew up with butter. Real butter and only butter.
Butter is all I use in my favorite buttercream frosting recipe. (Bear with me, I’m getting to the point soon.)
For every one of my kids’ birthdays, I make cakes or cupcakes with said buttercream frosting. And then one year, my daughter wanted a cake from the grocery store bakery.
Makes it easier for me, so sure. One bite and I remembered how delicious grocery store bakery cakes are.
Why?! Why are they so delicious? It’s that grocery store bakery frosting recipe.
I won’t ever fully betray my only-butter buttercream frosting recipe, but every now and then, I’m just going to have to make this homemade grocery store frosting.
The key ingredient in the frosting is the vegetable shortening. Grocery stores use shortening because it’s cheaper, more stable, and has a longer shelf life.
It’s also less sensitive to heat, so the consistency is more reliable. Speaking of consistency, it helps frosting achieve just that — the perfect consistency.
I find this particular recipe even easier to pipe than traditional buttercream frosting, and it holds its shape beautifully. It’s why I add just a little bit of shortening to my royal icing recipe, too.
So, if you’re using this frosting to pipe flowers or decorate a cake? It’s divine.
That said, I can’t forgo my beloved butter entirely, so here I use a combination of shortening and butter for a perfect blend, much as I use the same combination in my favorite chocolate chip cookie.
You get the smooth consistency of shortening with the can’t-be-beat butter taste.
Want to decorate the cupcakes with the frosting as shown here? If you’d like to tint the frosting, mix a few drops of food coloring into the frosting very well.
Prepare a decorating bag with a star tip, size 1M (my favorite tool for topping cupcakes!), fill the bag with some of the frosting, and close with a rubber band.
Start at the center of the cupcake and pipe the frosting, moving to the outside of the cupcake and piping a spiral. Add sprinkles, if you like.
Homemade Grocery Store Frosting Ingredients
You’ll need these ingredients to make the perfect frosting that tastes just like your favorite sweet treat from your local grocery store!
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Softened butter
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Vegetable shortening
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Confectioners sugar
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Pure vanilla extract
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Salt
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Water or milk
The water or milk will be added at the end to help you reach the consistency you’re aiming for, so it may not be necessary. It’s up to you which you use, but add it slowly and carefully to avoid overdoing it!
And as I said above, if you want some color — which let’s be honest, the bright colors are part of the grocery cake or cupcake experience! — add a few drops of food coloring.
What is the Secret Ingredient in Grocery Store Frosting?
It’s the vegetable shortening! As I mentioned above, grocery stores use shortening to give their desserts more shelf life and stability.
It also helps them stand up well to heat — I don’t know about you, but my store often has these cupcakes and cakes in partially open display cases — and it doesn’t hurt that it’s affordable, too.
It may not be the glamorous answer you were looking for, but it’s the truth!
Tools You’ll Need to Make This Frosting
I recommend using a standing mixer, but you can get away with using an electric hand mixer and a large bowl.
If you’re piping this onto cupcakes, you’ll need a piping bag or decorating bag and a tip like my favorite star tip, size 1M.
You’ll also need some basic tools like measuring equipment and a spatula.
Homemade Grocery Store Frosting Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup Softened Butter
- 1 cup Vegetable Shortening Crisco used here
- 2 pounds Confectioners Sugar
- 1 tablespoon Pure Vanilla Extract
- pinch Salt
- 4-6 tablespoons Water or milk
Instructions
- In the bowl of a standing mixer or in a large bowl with an electric hand mixer, blend the butter and shortening on low speed.
- Gradually add about half of the confectioner’s sugar. Keep the mixer on low when adding additional ingredients, but you may increase the speed to medium when blending.
- Blend in the vanilla, salt and four tablespoons of the milk or water.
- Gradually add the rest of the confectioner’s sugar and mix very well until the frosting is smooth. If necessary, add additional milk or water to desired consistency.