I Asked 3 Experts To Name the Best Store-Bought Frosting—They All Said the Same Thing

The winner tastes the most homemade and doesn't have a weird aftertaste.

Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

When my oldest son turned one, I spent a full week making his very first birthday cake. I researched the perfect recipe for weeks and went on a journey to find each ingredient in the purest, most organic form. Grass-fed butter only, please and thank you.

I agonized over the frosting. Would an American buttercream be too sweet for his baby palate? Could I pull off a Swiss meringue for a party of 40 people? It turns out, babies like cake. Any cake, made with any ingredient and with any kind of frosting.

In fact, over the years my kids have begged for “normal” frosting on their birthday cakes. Imagine the horror… your mom wants to make you a German buttercream instead of store-bought frosting! It must be so tough for them! 

All jokes aside, I have tried to loosen the reins of my type-A ways with birthday celebrations. You want donuts instead of cake? Perfect. You want Funfetti with grocery store frosting?  Even better! 

I’m more than happy to make boxed cake mixes and use store-bought frostings. That said, it has to taste and look good. And who would know what’s good, if not the experts? I reached out to a few of my favorite bakers to find out what store-bought frosting is best and the findings surprised me.

In a wave of nostalgia, I learned the frosting of my childhood is their favorite: Duncan Hines Creamy Vanilla Frosting.

Read More: This 90-Year-Old Chocolate Frosting Is the Only One I'll Ever Make

Simply Recipes / Conagra Brands

The 3 Experts I Spoke To

• Laura Kasavan: Founder of baking blog Tutti Dolci
• Lauren Lane Beeman: Food blogger, recipe developer, and food stylist known for her fool-proof recipes and effortless entertaining tips
• Sara Haas: Trained chef, registered dietitian nutritionist, licensed dietitian nutritionist, and food writer

The Best Store-Bought Frosting, According to Experts

While Kasavan is known for her scratch-made recipes, she’s not afraid to admit that Duncan Hines Creamy Vanilla Frosting is her go-to in a pinch. “If I'm short on time and can't make frosting from scratch, I reach for [this] frosting. I like it because it's smooth and rich, with a natural vanilla flavor that doesn't taste artificial. It's not too sweet and the texture is super creamy and easy to spread. It's one of those pantry staples that's great to have on hand for a last-minute batch of cupcakes or just a craving for cake.”

Similarly, Beeman loves the dependability of the Duncan Hines Creamy Vanilla Frosting and that it’s not too sweet, which is important in a world full of cloyingly sweet store-bought frostings. 

She states that, unlike other brands, this particular frosting doesn’t have a weird aftertaste. In fact, it is neutral enough that she adds flavors to upgrade it, like a block of cream cheese for tang and some good vanilla extract.

Haas agrees with Beeman about the bad aftertaste some frostings have. She usually makes frosting from scratch, but keeps Duncan Hines Creamy Vanilla Frosting in her pantry. 

She says, “When I don't have time to make my frosting from scratch, I'll grab a container of Duncan Hines Creamy Vanilla. Out of all of the store-bought frostings I've purchased, this one comes closest to homemade. Sometimes I'll throw in a little extra vanilla extract to amp up the flavor.” After all, you always need to be prepared for a cake emergency!

Read More: How To Frost a Cake

Simply Recipes / Cindy Rahe

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