Don’t throw away that extra frosting! Here’s how you can easily freeze buttercream frosting for up to 3 months. A simple way to save money.
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Did you ever make frosted Christmas cookies? Or frosted birthday cakes?
When I was growing up, buying a birthday cake from a store was out of the question. Not only were they far too expensive, but they were nothing compared to the custom confections my mom designed.
One year, my sister wanted a Nala cake – as in The Lion King. But she didn’t want a Lion King cake. She wanted Nala on the top.
Surprisingly, they don’t make Nala cakes at Publix.
However, that didn’t matter because my mom could make it. She could make anything. That was half the fun on our birthday – choosing any design we wanted.
Being the kind of woman who never once said the words, “I can’t do that,” my mom made them all.
She was also incredibly frugal. Even if Publix had a special on cakes featuring a cartoon lioness, store-bought cakes weren’t in the budget.
While I didn’t inherit her love for frosting cakes (see exhibit A and exhibit B), I did learn to appreciate frugality.
Every Christmas, we make buttercream frosted sugar cookies. It’s the same recipe my grandmother made, my mother made, and now I make it with my kids.
My problem is the frosting. Butter can be expensive, so buttercream is a luxury. We always end up with extra frosting that sits in the fridge on the off-chance I make some Happy New Year’s Cookies in red, green, and white frosting.
You can guess how often that happens.
Did you know you can freeze it?
Simply scoop the frosting into a freezer bag, carefully squeeze all the extra air out of it, and seal. You can store it in the freezer for up to 3 months.
When you want to use it, thaw it overnight in the refrigerator, then let it soften on the counter an hour or two. You may need to re-whip it a little.
That’s it. No more wasted frosting! No more butter is thrown away. And one less step when your kid requests an obscure Disney character on their cake. Or do what I do and have your kids decorate their own cakes. Great excuse for sloppy frosting.
What You Can Do Now:
What kind of frosted treats did you have as a kid?
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I’m always trying to reduce food waste and I love tips like these as I hate to throw things out. Valentine’s Day is only a few months away!
I never would have thought to freeze frosting. What a great idea that results in lots of colors and lots to chose from. Happy Holidays.
I’m a waste not want not kind of girl, so I appreciate the ability to save the frosting for another use — however, I definitely don’t have the artistic flair that you do — my cookies never look that good.
This is a really good tip to know! I actually have never put leftover frosting in the freezer but I’m sure it would come in handy!
I never thought of freezing colored icing sugar. That’s a complete game changer! Generally speaking I rarely make cookies with icing sugars as I am a bit lazy in that regard and because you would have to use them up real quick. I am going to try this in the next days and freeze a batch!
Awesome, Helene! Let me know how it goes and if you have any questions. When I make sugar cookies, I usually freeze most of them after baking, and I only frost a few that we can eat the next few days. When those run out and we want more, I thaw the cookies and frosting, and we ice more of them.