--- title: "Frost: what it means in cooking — Tiny Plates" description: "To frost is to spread a thick, creamy layer such as buttercream over a cooled cake or cupcakes. Here is how to get a smooth coat without crumbs." url: "https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/frost" --- # Frost To frost is to spread a thick, creamy layer such as buttercream over a cooled cake or cupcakes. Here is how to get a smooth coat without crumbs. Also called Frosting, Ice, Icing. To frost means to cover a cake, cupcakes or cookies with frosting, a thick, spreadable mix such as buttercream or cream cheese frosting. In the UK the same step is usually called icing. Frosting is thicker and fluffier than a [glaze](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/glaze), which is thin and sets into a shell. ## How to do it 1. Let the cake cool completely, at least 1 to 2 hours. Even a slightly warm cake melts the frosting. 2. Brush loose crumbs off the cake. Level a domed top with a long serrated knife. 3. Put a dab of frosting on the plate or board to hold the bottom layer in place. 4. Spread a thin first layer all over, called a crumb coat. It traps loose crumbs. 5. Chill the cake for 20 to 30 minutes until the crumb coat is firm. 6. Add a thicker final layer. Pile frosting on top, push it out over the edges, then smooth the sides with an offset spatula or a bench scraper. 7. Finish with swirls, or [pipe](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/pipe) borders with a [piping bag](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/piping-bag). ## How to tell it is done The cake is evenly covered with no crumbs showing, and the frosting holds soft peaks or a smooth surface without sliding. ## How to store it A cake with butter frosting keeps at cool room temperature for a day or two. Cream cheese frosting, whipped cream and custard fillings need the fridge. Bring a chilled buttercream cake out 30 minutes before serving so it softens. ## Common mistakes * Frosting a warm cake. The frosting slides off and the layers can shift. * Frosting that is too stiff. It tears the cake. Beat in a teaspoon of milk at a time. * Frosting that is too soft. Chill it for 10 minutes or beat in more [powdered sugar](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/powdered-sugar) (icing sugar in the UK). * Skipping the crumb coat on a dark cake with light frosting. Crumbs show all over. * Using cold butter for buttercream. Start with [softened](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/softened)butter. ## In recipes American recipes say "frosting" for thick toppings and "icing" for thin ones, though many use the words loosely. British recipes say "icing" for both, and "buttercream" for butter-based frosting. ## Recipes that use this technique 28 recipes from the sites we collect. * [![](https://www.onceuponachef.com/images/2024/03/carrot-cake.jpg)Carrot Cakewww.onceuponachef.com · 80 min](https://www.onceuponachef.com/recipes/carrot-cake.html) * [![](https://www.skinnytaste.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/pumpkin-butterscotch-chip-cookie-bars.jpg)Pumpkin Butterscotch Cookie Barswww.skinnytaste.com · 45 min](https://www.skinnytaste.com/skinny-pumpkin-butterscotch-bars/) * [![](https://www.onceuponachef.com/images/2024/11/Cinnamon-Rolls-43-scaled.jpg)Cinnamon Rollswww.onceuponachef.com · 90 min](https://www.onceuponachef.com/recipes/homemade-cinnamon-rolls.html) * [![](https://www.onceuponachef.com/images/2022/05/vanilla-cupcakes-1200x1543.jpg)Vanilla Cupcakeswww.onceuponachef.com · 45 min](https://www.onceuponachef.com/recipes/vanilla-cupcakes.html) * [![](https://www.onceuponachef.com/images/2024/06/coconut-cake.jpg)Coconut Cakewww.onceuponachef.com · 75 min](https://www.onceuponachef.com/recipes/coconut-cake.html) * [![](https://pinchofyum.com/tachyon/chocolate-cherry-fudge-cake1.jpg?fit=225%2C225){Lazy} Chocolate Cherry Fudge Cakepinchofyum.com · 35 min](https://pinchofyum.com/lazy-chocolate-cherry-fudge-cake) * [![](https://www.onceuponachef.com/images/2015/10/owl-cupcakes-1-2.jpg)Halloween Owl Cupcakeswww.onceuponachef.com · 20 min](https://www.onceuponachef.com/recipes/halloween-owl-cupcakes.html) * [![](https://www.onceuponachef.com/images/2015/10/halloween-ghost-cupcakes-2.jpg)Ghost Cupcakeswww.onceuponachef.com · 30 min](https://www.onceuponachef.com/recipes/ghost-cupcakes.html) * [![](https://pinchofyum.com/tachyon/Chocolate-Cake-Recipe.jpg?fit=225%2C225)Blackout Chocolate Cakepinchofyum.com · 75 min](https://pinchofyum.com/blackout-chocolate-cake) * [![](https://www.onceuponachef.com/images/2012/11/Vanilla-Birthday-Cake-18-1200x1480.jpg)Vanilla Birthday Cake with Old-Fashioned Vanilla Buttercreamwww.onceuponachef.com · 60 min](https://www.onceuponachef.com/recipes/vanilla-birthday-cake-with-old-fashioned-vanilla-buttercream.html) * [![](https://minimalistbaker.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Vegan-GF-Chocolate-Cake-SQUARE.jpg)1-Bowl Vegan Gluten-Free Chocolate Cakeminimalistbaker.com · 55 min](https://minimalistbaker.com/1-bowl-vegan-gluten-free-chocolate-cake/) * [![](https://minimalistbaker.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Gluten-Free-Zucchini-Cake-SQUARE.jpg)Gluten-Free Zucchini Cake (Dairy-Free)minimalistbaker.com · 55 min](https://minimalistbaker.com/gluten-free-zucchini-cake/) ## Related terms * [GlazeA glaze is a thin, shiny coating brushed or poured on food, from sugar icing on cakes to jam on tarts and sticky sauces on meat. Here is how to make one.](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/glaze) * [GanacheGanache is chocolate melted into hot cream. Change the ratio and it becomes a glaze, a whipped frosting or firm truffles. Here are the ratios to use.](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/ganache) * [PipeTo pipe is to squeeze frosting, cream, batter or dough through a bag and nozzle to make neat shapes. Here is how to fill the bag, hold it and press evenly.](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/pipe) * [Powdered sugarPowdered sugar is sugar ground to a fine powder for frosting, glazes and dusting. In the UK it is icing sugar, in the US also confectioners' sugar.](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/powdered-sugar) * [Piping bagA piping bag is a cone-shaped bag you squeeze to pipe frosting, cream, meringue and choux dough into neat shapes. Here is how to fill it and pipe evenly.](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/piping-bag) * [SoftenedSoftened butter is soft enough to dent with a finger but still cool and holding its shape, about 18 to 20°C (65 to 68°F). Here is how to get it right.](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/softened) [More in baking and dough](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/category/baking-and-dough)[Every term from A to Z](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary)