The Difference Between Frosting and Icing: Explained
If you’re a baking enthusiast, you know that the terms “frosting” and “icing” are often used interchangeably. However, they’re not the same thing. Frosting and icing both add a finishing touch to baked goods, but they have different ingredients, textures, and uses.
Frosting
Frosting is a thick, fluffy mixture that’s used to cover the entire surface of a cake or cupcakes. Its main ingredient is butter or shortening, which gives it a rich and creamy texture. Frosting is also sweetened with confectioners’ sugar and flavored with extracts like vanilla or chocolate.
Frosting can be divided into two types: American and European. American frosting is made with powdered sugar, butter, and milk or cream, while European frosting (also known as buttercream) uses egg whites or whole eggs instead of powdered sugar. European frosting is richer and more stable than American frosting, making it ideal for decorating intricate cakes.
Icing
Icing, on the other hand, is a thinner and more liquid mixture that’s used to glaze or drizzle over cakes, cookies, and other baked goods. Icing is made with powdered sugar and a liquid like water, milk, or lemon juice. It can be flavored with extracts or food coloring, but it doesn’t contain fat like frosting does.
There are also different types of icing, such as royal icing and fondant. Royal icing is made with egg whites and confectioners’ sugar and is used to decorate cookies and gingerbread houses. Fondant is a mixture of sugar, water, and gelatin that’s used to cover cakes and create elaborate decorations.
Conclusion
In summary, while frosting and icing both serve the purpose of finishing off baked goods, they’re not the same thing. Frosting is thicker, made with butter or shortening, and used to cover cakes, while icing is thinner, made with powdered sugar and liquid, and used to glaze or drizzle over baked goods. Knowing the differences between frosting and icing can help ensure that you use the right one for your baking projects!
Table difference between frosting and icing
| Frosting | Icing |
| Frosting is thicker in consistency and has a creamy, buttery texture. | Icing is thinner in consistency and has a more glaze-like texture. |
| Frosting is typically used to frost cakes and cupcakes, and can be spread or piped on top. | Icing is typically used to drizzle over baked goods, like donuts and cinnamon rolls. |
| Frosting is made with ingredients like butter, powdered sugar, and milk or cream. | Icing is made with ingredients like powdered sugar, milk, and sometimes flavorings like vanilla or lemon juice. |
| Frosting can be flavored and colored in a wide variety of ways to match the flavor of the cake or personal preference. | Icing is typically white, but can be colored with food coloring to match the decor of the baked good. |