Kick your boxed cake up a notch with these homemade frosting recipes.

Our number one tip for upgrading your boxed cake mix?

Homemade frosting is much simpler (and quicker) to make from scratch than cake batter.

coconut pecan frosting - Southern Living

Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

While baking your cake, whip up a batch of homemade icing to top it off.

These fun flavors will carry you through the seasonsfrom holiday-party-ready buttercreams to Strawberry Frosting meant forsummer potlucks.

With these decadentfrosting and icingrecipes, no guests will ever guess the cake came from a box.

Southern Living Seven Minute Frosting using the frosting to ice the cupcakes

Credit:Robby Lozano; Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey; Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle

It’s light, smooth, and looks beautiful when piped.

It’s a decadent classic that will light up virtually every flavor cake.

To amplify the gooey chocolate effect, slather this frosting on a moist, fluffy chocolate cake.

Southern Living Whipped Cream Frosting on a cake that has been sliced to serve

Credit:Greg DuPree; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless

This vintage recipe shines with simple flavor and texture.

Best of all, Mascarpone Frosting only has four ingredients.

It’s crazy good.

Southern Living Chocolate Buttercream on top of chocolate cupcakes

Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

It’s also shockingly easy to whip up.

With a heavy dollop of Peanut Butter Frosting.

Spread a layer of nutty frosting onto the chocolate cake and revel in every delicious bite.

chocolate cream cheese frosting on a cake

Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

You’re welcome to lick the spoon but remember to save enough for the cake.

Peppermint Buttercream

Pretty pink peppermint buttercream?

Sounds like the holiday frosting of our dreams.

Southern Living Ermine Frosting on a slice of cake

Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

It couldn’t look dreamier in heavy-handed dollops.

Salted Caramel Frosting

Use this sweet-and-salty caramel frosting to dress up a vanilla cake.

It’s made with three different types of sugar to achieve depth of flavor.

Southern Living Mascarpone Frosting on cupcakes to serve

Credit:Greg Dupree, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen

Uplift any simple yellow cake with this zesty frosting spread thickly all around.

Vanilla Glaze

This stir-together glaze is an easy but impressive way to finish any gorgeousBundt cake.

Its simple vanilla flavor pairs well with warm spices,chocolate, and fruit, too.

wacky cake frosting on cake slice

Credit:Will Dickey; Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless; Food Stylist: Ali Ramee

Strawberry Frosting

This frosting, loaded with fresh chopped strawberries, pairs beautifully with any fruity cake.

A drop of food coloring guarantees that your cakes will be pretty in pink, surrounded by bright berries.

We promise it’s so much better than store-bought.

Peanut Butter Cake - Southern Living

Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Buttermilk Frosting

Southerners love to use buttermilk in everything, including in our frostings.

This silky frosting comes together in about 10 minutes, and it looks best garnished with candied carrot curls.

This frosting goes great with chocolate and vanilla, but we especially love it with our Coca-Cola Layer Cake.

Nutty Cream Cheese Frosting - Southern Living

Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Cherry Swirl Frosting is infused with Cheerwine soda and looks adorable topped with a maraschino cherry.

Orange Buttercream

Pair this fruity orange buttercream with cranberry at Christmastime or strawberry in the summer.

With citrus frosting so tasty, you’re able to’t go wrong.

Southern Living Coca Cola Cake on a cake plate with a slice taken out

Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Pair it with toasty, buttery pecans, and you’ve hit a home run.

Ginger Whipped Cream

Spice up your go-to whipped cream frosting with this Ginger Whipped Cream recipe.

Slices of peeled fresh ginger lend themselves to the delectable frosting perfect for seasonal baking.

Chocolate Peppermint Cake

Credit: Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Kathleen Varner

We recommend making the frosting before the cake to give it time to firm up.

This dreamy frosting pairs excellently with both fruity and decadent cakes.

Luscious frosting is as simple as can be and lives up to its name in spades.

Gingerbread Latte Cake with Vanilla Whipped Cream Frosting

Credit: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Vanilla Buttercream

When in doubt, stick to the classics.

ensure to start with softened butter for this go-to recipe.

We use heavy cream to make Vanilla Buttercream fluffier than ever.

Southern Living Chocolate Glaze on a cake ready to serve

Credit:Jen Causey; Food Stylist: Lauren Jewel; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

Brown your butter and process your peaches for the best results.

It’s simple and oh-so-creamy with a dash of bourbon.

Freeze-dried raspberries are the key to pink buttercream that’s fluffy and not too sweet.

Lemon-Orange Buttercream Frosting - Southern Living

Credit:Morgan Hunt Glaze; Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen; Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey

It’s the perfect element to balance sweet vanilla flavor and the sugary cake of your choice.

Fresh Raspberry-Cream Cheese Frosting

Give your boxed cake the old razzle-dazzle with tart and sweet raspberry-filled frosting.

Fudge Icing

https://www.southernliving.com/recipes/fudge-icing-0

Rich chocolate icing is the result of this well-loved recipe.

Southern Living Vanilla Glaze pouring the prepared glaze over a cake

Credit:Jen Causey; Food Stylist: Lauren Jewel; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

What’s the secret ingredient?

Our Test Kitchen calls this Salted Peanut Butter Frosting “out of this world.”

Browned butter and bourbon are an all-star pairing on top of a cake.

Strawberry Frosting

Credit: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

White Chocolate-Cream Cheese Frosting is rich and elegantIt presents wonderfully spread in a ruffled design.

Salted Milk Chocolate Frosting

You’ve heard of salted caramelNow introducing Salted Milk Chocolate Frosting.

The addition of salt makes this frosting a perfect not-too-sweet pairing with raspberries.

Caramel Cake

Credit: Jennifer Davick

Cream Cheese Frosting

Classic cream cheese frosting is an essential recipe to have in your repertoire.

It’s the ideal mix of sweet, creamy, and tangy flavors.

Frequently Asked Questions

Whenthickening frosting, first determine whether you are working with buttercream or royal icing.

Gingerbread Cake with Buttermilk Frosting

Credit: Hector Sanchez

Add powdered sugar or cornstarch for royal icing before letting it rest.

Upgradestore-bought frostingby adding pantry staples to help improve the consistency, flavoring, and texture.

Smooth additives include cream cheese, whipped cream, and butter.

Ultimate Carrot Cake

Credit: Alison Miksch

Try using peanut butter, Nutella, jam, or marshmallow creme for additional flavor.

Improve the frosting’s texture by adding chopped nuts, chocolate chips, flaked coconut, or sprinkles.

Coca Cola Chocolate Cake

Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner

Cherry-Swirl Frosting

Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner

White Cake with Cranberry Filling and Orange Buttercream

Credit: Hector Sanchez

Pecan Pie Cake With Browned Butter Frosting

Credit:Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Kay Clarke; Food Stylist: Rishon Hanners

Chocolate-Gingerbread-Toffee Cake

Credit: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Lydia Degaris Pursell

Butter Toffee-Pecan Layer Cake

Credit: Greg DuPree

Coconut Cake with Coconut Cream Frosting

Credit: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Luscious Lemon Cake

Credit: Jennifer Davick

Southern Living Vanilla Buttercream Frosting on cupcakes to serve

Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Brown Sugar Layer Cake with Peach Buttercream

Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Eggnog Layer Cake with Bourbon-Vanilla Bean Buttercream Frosting

Credit: Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

White Cake with Berry-Swiss Meringue Buttercream Frosting

Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl Jones

Confetti Cake with Vanilla-Sour Cream Frosting

Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl Jones

Fresh Raspberry-Cream Cheese Frosting

Credit: Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Margaret Monroe Dickey; Prop Styling: Christina Daley

Texas Sheet Cake With Fudge Icing

Credit:https://www.southernliving.com/recipes/fudge-icing-0

Devil’s Food Cake with Salted Peanut Butter Frosting and Ganache

Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl Jones

Bourbon-Chocolate Cake with Browned Buttercream

Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop styling: Lydia Pursell

Red Velvet Cake with White Chocolate-Cream Cheese Frosting

Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl Jones

Raspberry Snack Cake with Salted Milk Chocolate Frosting

Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke

Fresh Apple Cake

Credit: Hannah Zimmerman