Our simple Cool Whip Frosting with Pudding Mix is both delicious and easy! This frosting tastes amazing on just about anything (or even by itself). It’s just a box of pudding, a tub of Cool Whip, and a bit of milk. How easy is that?!
While the photos show chocolate, you can use this exact same method with vanilla, lemon, or cheesecake pudding mix for a completely different treat!
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Whipped frosting is my absolute favorite frosting and I get it on my birthday cake every year. I wanted to make a homemade version without using whipping cream. I’ve made frosting with whipping cream before, and it’s a lot of pressure! You have to mix it just enough, but not too much.
Instead, I simply use a tub of pre-made whipped topping and call it good. I’ve even used this method to make my Lazy Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting that’s incredibly tasty!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Easy and Quick: Just three ingredients and a few minutes are all you need to whip up a creamy, dreamy chocolate frosting.
- Cost-Effective: Using brand name products this isn’t too bad, but you could use store-brand products to keep this frosting even more budget-friendly without sacrificing flavor.
- Customizable and Delicious: Swap in different instant pudding mix flavors to change it up.
Ingredients
Ingredient Notes
Made with just three simple ingredients, this Cool Whip pudding frosting whips up light, fluffy, and delicious every time. It’s easy to customize with different pudding flavors or whipped topping varieties, but otherwise it doesn’t need much changing, keeping things as simple (and tasty!) as possible.
- Pudding: For this recipe, we’re using instant chocolate pudding mix, but you can easily switch to any flavor you like.
- Whipped Topping: Any type works—regular or extra creamy, name brand or store brand.
- Milk: I use whole milk here because that’s what I have on hand, but any milk will work.
Special Note: To make this frosting more figure-friendly, try reduced-fat or zero-sugar varieties of these ingredients. It would be great on my Healthier Chocolate Cake.
Step-By-Step Photos
See recipe card below with ingredient amounts and detailed instructions.
- Mix pudding mix and milk together in a large mixing bowl with a hand mixer until fluffy, about 3 minutes.
2. Add the whipped topping
to the pudding mixture
and mix another 3 minutes.
Storage
Store any leftover frosting in an airtight container in the refrigerator for a few days.
Can This Frosting be Made Ahead of Time?
Absolutely! Store it in an airtight container in the fridge for a day or two until you’re ready to use it.
Can This Frosting be Frozen?
Yes. Frosting can be frozen in an airtight container. For frosted cakes or cupcakes, freeze them unwrapped first until frozen solid, then wrap tightly in plastic wrap and place in a container or freezer bag before freezing. Unwrap before thawing so the plastic wrap doesn’t stick.
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3-Ingredient Chocolate Pudding Cool Whip Frosting
Ingredients
- 1 box instant chocolate pudding, or any flavor 3.9 ounces
- ½ cup milk
- 1 tub Cool Whip 8 ounces
Instructions
- Mix pudding mix and milk together in a large mixing bowl with an electric mixer until fluffy, about 3 minutes, scraping down the bowl once.1 box instant chocolate pudding, or any flavor, ½ cup milk
- Add the whipped topping to the pudding mixture and mix another 3 minutes, scraping down the bowl once or twice.1 tub Cool Whip
Was not fluffy or frosting consistency. Added about 1 1/2 cup of powdered sugar which made it a little better.
I’m sorry it didn’t turn out as expected for you. When prepared as written with instant pudding mix and fully thawed Cool Whip, this frosting turns out light, fluffy, and pipeable, as shown in the photos. Texture can vary based on pudding brand and mixing time.
I also make this using pistachio pudding in cool whip and white cake mix. Very good!
Sounds delicious! Thank you for commenting and reviewing!