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Trader Joe’s Chocolate Frosting Mix, reviewed

TJ's Chocolate Frosting Mix
It is easy to whip up a simple buttercream to top off a cake or some cupcakes, but I was curious to try Trader Joe’s Chocolate Frosting Mix when I saw it on my last visit to Trader Joe’s. Frosting mixes used to be a very popular item on the baking aisle of many grocery stores, but were largely phased out as canned frosting became more and more popular. Not having seen any in a while, I couldn’t wait to give it a try and see how it tasted.

The mix is primarily made up of sugar, dutch processed cocoa powder and vanilla flavoring, and to use it you beat in softened butter and a few tablespoons of hot water until it reaches the consistency that you want. Aside from the cloud of cocoa that came up when I started to blend everything, the frosting came together without fuss. It had a nice smooth consistency, was very glossy and a great chocolate flavor to it, although I can’t say that it was that much better than my own basic chocolate frosting. I’d use it again, or at least put a box in the back of my pantry for a time when I need some quick frosting and don’t have enough of my own confectioners sugar (hey – it happens!) on hand to finish off a whole batch of frosting. This mix will make enough to frost 24 cupcakes or a 9-inch layer cake.

Frosted Cupcake

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8 Comments
  • Linda
    October 14, 2010

    I was tempted to try the frosting but held off this trip. I did buy one of the chocolate cake mixes and one of the vanilla ones to see how they work with doctored cake mix recipes. Though I need a treat for tomorrow and I’m not inspired to go in the kitchen and bake…so maybe just a TJ’s cake mix without any doctoring (I can probably manage my own frosting–I have powdered sugar…I hope!! Thanks for the review. TJ has some amazing stuff right now–I want to try it all.

  • Rene
    October 14, 2010

    I saw the cake mixes, but totally missed these frosting mixes. I’ll have to get some as an emergency reserve for when I’m too lazy to make my own frosting!

    Thank you for the review!

  • Lauren at KeepItSweet
    October 15, 2010

    good to know! sounds like it is at least much better than canned frosting

  • Dinetonite
    October 15, 2010

    nice meeting you and the chocolates looks good!

  • LinC
    October 17, 2010

    Seeing this dry frosting mix reminds me of the Pillsbury Bake-Off winning recipe for the Tunnel of Fudge Bundt cake. It required a dry frosting mix that’s no long made. I wonder if the Trader Joe’s frosting could recreate that lost wonder. I know people have come up with new versions of the Tunnel of Fudge cake, but I remember the original fondly.

  • There’s sort of a fake taste I’ve found with a lot of the chocolate stuff like frosting in a can and brownie mixes, etc. I’m not a snob. But I value good chocolate and just won’t make stuff that tastes “off.” I dunno, maybe it’s weird emulsifiers or something.

    I’d rather make something less expensive and more homemade than fake it. That said I’ve never gotten the call I need to show up with 3-dozen cupcakes in two hours for something.

    However, Trader Joes has so many great things to choose from – I’m always trying something new there. Maybe I’ll give it a whirl.

    As for the chocolate frosting – if I can’t afford a nice chocolate to make it great – I’d just rather make a cream cheese icing instead.

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