I love frosting as much as Paula Deen loves butter. While others are wiping off the tops of cupcakes or the sides of a sheet cake, I’m secretly stealing spoonfuls of the stuff.

Store-bought frosting is overly sugary and hardens like plaster after an hour of sitting out, so I went in search of an easy homemade recipe with just the right amount of sweetness and texture.

frosting

Photo by Abigail Wang

I found this brilliant and oh-so-addicting idea of transforming instant pudding mix into frosting. This cake topper is light, fluffy and delicious, and the most amazing part is that any flavor of pudding can be used. Some ideas:

  • Chocolate fudge always gets the party started
  • Pumpkin is great idea for seasonal cakes (#basic)
  • Pistachio is the frosting to create when you’re feeling adventurous
  • Lemon pairs perfectly with white or yellow cake
  • Oreo pudding makes a bomb cookies and cream topping (dirt cupcakes, anyone?)

The endless flavor possibilities will have you feeling like Lindsey Lohan in Mean Girls.

frosting

Gif courtesy of tumblr.com

Keep in mind that one 3.4-ounce box of Jello-O instant pudding mix should be enough to cover about 24 cupcakes, if you can put the spoon down.

Easy

Prep Time: 2 minutes
Mix Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 7 minutes

Servings:  24 cupcakes or 1 two-layer, 9-inch round cake

Ingredients:

1 package (3.4 ounces) Jell-O instant pudding mix (any flavor)
¼ cup powdered sugar
1 cup cold milk
1 tub (8 ounces) Cool Whip, thawed

frosting

Photo by Abigail Wang

Directions:

1. In a bowl, combine the pudding mix and powdered sugar with a fork or whisk until there are no lumps.

frosting

Photo by Abigail Wang

2. Pour in the cold milk and whisk for two minutes.

frosting

Photo by Abigail Wang

3. Add spoonfuls of Cool Whip, folding with each addition until the whole tub is used and there are no lumps.

frosting

Photo by Abigail Wang

4. Spread on the cupcakes, sit back and savor each and every bite.

frosting

Photo by Abigail Wang

Note: After mixing all the ingredients together, the frosting may end up a little loose at first (especially if you mixed it in a warm room). Just pop it in the fridge until it reaches your desired consistency.

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For you cupcake enthusiasts out there: