This easy cool whip frosting recipe is the perfect topping for cakes and cupcakes. In just 5 minutes with 5 simple ingredients, you’ll have a delicious, creamy homemade frosting.

partially eaten chocolate cake topped with cool whip frosting and sprinkles on a while plate with a fork

Once you make this frosting with cool whip one time, it will probably become your favorite frosting! Once you know that cool whip makes such a good frosting, you’ll be hooked for life!

Unlike traditional frosting or standard buttercream, this cool whip frosting uses instant pudding mix, which makes for a perfectly fluffy frosting perfect for everyday cakes.

cool whip frosting in a glass bowl being stirred with a teal spatula

The light, yummy vanilla flavor makes this the perfect topping for sheet cakes. This seriously might be my favorite topping because it’s so versatile.

It’s stable for piping, and can easily be made into colored frosting by adding a few drops of food coloring. It also isn’t as sweet as other frostings, so it can be a great alternative for birthday cakes and for people who don’t love super-sweet icing.

vanilla cupcake topped with cool whip frosting and sprinkles with sprinkles around it on a white surface

Pair This Delicious Frosting With..

Why You’ll Love This Cool Whip Frosting Recipe

  • 5 basic ingredients
  • Easy recipe
  • Make it in 5 minutes
  • Stable for piping
  • Dye it with food coloring to make different colors
ingredients for cool whip frosting including vanilla extract, powdered sugar, a tub of cool whip, milk, and a box of vanilla pudding mix

What You’ll Need

This whipped cream frosting only requires 5 simple ingredients. Get the full measurements in the recipe card below.

  • Instant vanilla pudding mix
  • Powdered sugar
  • Milk
  • Vanilla extract
  • Cool whip
chocolate cake topped with cool whip frosting with sprinkles and lit birthday candles on top

How to Make Cool Whip Frosting

This cool whip pudding frosting is ready in just 5 minutes, making it a great frosting for last-minute cakes and cupcakes. Get the full instructions in the recipe card below.

Combine. In a large mixing bowl, combine the pudding mix, powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract. Beat with an electric mixer on medium-high speed for 2 minutes.

pudding mix, powdered sugar, vanilla extract and milk in a glass mixing bowl
pudding mix, powdered sugar, vanilla extract and milk in a glass mixing bowl

Cool Whip. Add in the cool whip and beat on medium until combined. Use frosting on cake or cupcakes. If storing for later, put it in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to use.

pudding mix, powdered sugar, vanilla extract,milk and cool whip in a glass mixing bowl
pudding mix, powdered sugar, vanilla extract,milk and cool whip combined in a glass mixing bowl

How to Thaw Cool Whip Quickly

If you decide to make this cool whip frosting at the last minute and didn’t thaw your cool whip ahead of time, there is a way to thaw it quickly without ruining it.

Simply move the frozen cool whip into a microwave-safe bowl. Using the defrost setting, microwave for 30-second intervals, being careful not to mix too much in between (this can make your cool whip watery).

Alternatively, you could leave the tub of cool whip closed and run it under room temperature water until it starts to soften.

close up of cool whip frosting with a teal spatula

Variations

  • Flavor. You can make different flavors of this frosting by simply changing the flavor of the pudding mix that you use. Use chocolate pudding mix for chocolate frosting, or cookies ‘n’ cream pudding mix for an oreo frosting.
  • Dye it. Use food coloring to dye the frosting various colors.
  • Sugar free. Use Sugar Free Cool Whip in place of regular Cool Whip.
chocolate cupcake topped with cool whip frosting and sprinkles arranged with sprinkles around it and a vanilla cupcake in the background

FAQs

How do you store cool whip frosting?

Cool whip frosting can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 10 hours before serving.

How do you make cool whip frosting thicker?

If you follow the directions in the recipe, this frosting should be thick enough and stable enough to place in a pastry bag for piping. You can place it in the refrigerator to set for 15 minutes if you’d like it a little thicker.

If you’d like your cool whip frosting to be thicker or stiffer, you can add real cream cheese or powdered sugar until you reach the desired consistency. Adding cream cheese will change the flavor to by tangy. Be careful of adding too much powdered sugar as this may make it too sweet.

partially eaten chocolate cake topped with cool whip frosting and sprinkles on a while plate with a fork

More Frosting Recipes

Cool Whip Frosting

4.03 from 239 ratings
Prep Time: 5 mins
Yield: 2 cups
This easy cool whip frosting recipe is the perfect topping for cakes and cupcakes. In just 5 minutes with 5 simple ingredients, you'll have a delicious, creamy homemade frosting.
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Ingredients

  • 1 package instant vanilla pudding mix, 3.4 oz
  • 2 tbsp powdered sugar
  • ½ cup milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 8 oz container cool whip, thawed

Instructions
 

  • In a large mixing bowl, combine the pudding mix, powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract. Beat with an electric on medium-high speed for 2 minutes.
  • Add in the cool whip and beat on medium until combined. Use frosting on cake or cupcakes. If storing for later, put in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to use. Store leftover cake or cupcakes in the fridge because of the frosting.
Cuisine: American
Course: Dessert
Author: Beth
Calories: 244kcal, Carbohydrates: 40g, Protein: 5g, Fat: 8g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g, Monounsaturated Fat: 2g, Cholesterol: 25mg, Sodium: 108mg, Potassium: 217mg, Fiber: 0.5g, Sugar: 30g, Vitamin A: 297IU, Calcium: 198mg, Iron: 0.04mg
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