There’s an Easier Way to Frost Your Homemade Cakes and It Requires No Cleanup at All

If you’re looking to satiate your sweet tooth, celebrate a special occasion, or simply indulge in some stress baking, there’s nothing like a homemade cake. Whether you start from scratch or hack a box of cake mix, nothing compares to the innate satisfaction of slicing into your sugary creation, marveling at the layers of tender crumb. 

Striving to make a cake as pleasing to the eye as it is pleasing to the palate, however, is a daunting task. Frosting a cake can be a process, requiring the time, precision, and tools we often don’t have. Recognizing this, Kroger introduced a hack on their TikTok to seamlessly frost a cake in minutes. The best part? No tools, no cleanup, and hardly any time required. 

For this shortcut, a canister of store-bought frosting is the star of the show. All you need to do is microwave the jar in 10-second intervals until the frosting becomes runny enough to pour right onto the top of the cake. (Be sure to remove the lid and plastic liner). While Kroger’s video sticks the canister directly in the microwave, a recommended alternative is to transfer the frosting to a microwave-safe bowl.

After pouring the now runny frosting on top of your cake, move the cake around until the surface is evenly covered, or gently use a knife to spread it around. Then, set the cake aside until the frosting reaches room temperature, and voilà!

Of course, you could first embellish the frosting however you like — adding sprinkles, chocolate chips, or cookie crumbs — or, you can just dig right in.

You’ll want to keep the cake contained in its baking tin for this one though. While the video shows a loaf pan, you can easily do this with a sheet pan cake of any shape or size, swapping out the homemade frosting for a shelf-stable alternative.