Whip Baileys Into Store-Bought Icing For A Fluffy, Boozy Twist
Store-bought icing isn't anything to scoff at. Convenient and shelf-stable, it's a great ingredient to keep in your pantry for when you're baking a cake but don't feel like making the frosting from scratch. However, despite its dependability, even pre-made icings can sometimes miss the mark on flavor and consistency. The good news is, it's easy to improve store-bought frosting with a fun, boozy addition: Baileys liqueur.
While some store-bought frosting brands are better than others, all of them can be made to taste like they're homemade with a little extra love. There are many ways to elevate frosting, especially if you want to improve its texture. This can be as simple as whipping it for a few minutes or folding in whipped cream. But if you want to make canned icing fluffier, adjust its sweetness level, and add a splash of bold flavor, consider mixing in liqueur. This simple ingredient can transform your frosted baked goods with minimal effort.
When making frosted desserts for adults who enjoy their liquor, Baileys is our go-to for adding a special touch. To satisfy your curiosity and sweet tooth, we're revealing how this creamy liqueur can elevate the flavor and consistency of store-bought icing.
How Baileys enhances store-bought frosting
While it can save you lots of time and energy in the kitchen, sometimes store-bought frosting is a little too thick or sweet. Some brands might be lacking in the flavor department, or even taste too artificial for your liking. Fortunately, it's easy to build on pre-made frosting by adding the can's contents to a mixing bowl and breaking out the Baileys.
This cream liqueur can improve pre-made icing in all the typical trouble areas. It's rich and creamy enough to enhance flavors that are already present, while its liquid form helps thin out frosting that's not the ideal consistency. Plus, the 17% alcohol present in this liqueur can make sweet treats even more enjoyable for adults. Baileys is also easy to store despite its dairy content, so you can reliably reach for it when you want to do some boozy baking.
When mixing Baileys into store-bought frosting, add 1 tablespoon at a time, folding it in as you go. Adding it gradually will help you achieve your preferred texture; thicker is better for decorating, while thinner is ideal for light, fluffy peaks. If needed, you can aerate the icing to make it even fluffier by whipping it for a few minutes. In terms of taste, you probably don't need convincing, but try the frosting as you incorporate the liqueur to make sure its rich flavor is bold but not overwhelming.
The best desserts for boozy Baileys frosting
If you have a bottle of Baileys Irish Cream, you might be wondering what desserts (and occasions) it pairs well with. Naturally, you shouldn't mix it into frosting that's going to be spread on school bake sale cupcakes. Instead, this baking hack is great for sweet treats served at, say, fun dinner parties and girls' nights spent watching "The Bachelor."
Baileys is most well-known for its signature Irish cream liqueur, which combines sweet and bright flavors of chocolate, vanilla, and Irish whiskey. This array of flavors makes it ideal for elevating many different desserts. Coffee and cocoa-based sweets are a great option — try adding some Baileys to frosting used on espresso cream cupcakes or chocolate cake. You can also consider using your liqueur-infused icing to frost boozy brownies for a double dose of Baileys. If something less rich is more your speed, Baileys is ideal for lighter and creamier desserts as well, including iced sugar cookies or even Boston cream pie cupcakes.
If Irish cream isn't your thing or you want to try a different flavor, Baileys offers a range of other liqueurs. Opt for strawberry and cream liqueur for fruity frosted treats or red velvet liqueur for an even more decadent twist on red velvet cupcakes. With other flavors (including apple pie, smores, mint, and salted caramel) constantly being introduced and discontinued, the possibilities for turning store-bought frosting into a better, boozy version of itself with Baileys liqueur are endless.