Ingredients in Canned Frosting ALWAYS Contain Palm Oil

Canned frosting always contains palm oil, no matter what. Below I list all the ingredients in canned frosting for popular brands, including Betty Crocker, Duncan Hines, and Pillsbury. I spell them out for 50+ different cans of frosting. I also included organic brands. I included all the flavors I could find.

For years, companies have used palm oil as one of the first three ingredients in frosting. Manufacturers use it for several reasons:

It’s cheap
It replaces the artificial trans fats that the FDA banned in 2018
Creates desirable mouthfeel
Helps combine ingredients
Helps make it creamy
Makes it easy to spread
Acts as a preservative
Stays semi-solid at room temperature
It’s tasteless (unlike coconut oil which, like palm oil, is also a MCT)

In this site, I try to focus on foods and products without palm oil. However, this is impossible when it comes to frosting ingredients.

Canned frosting is inexpensive, convenient to use, and easy to toss in your cart. If you are buying a boxed cake mix or brownies, or cookie mix, it may make sense to pick up the frosting too. However, please don’t!

It’s so easy to make vanilla buttercream frosting yourself with just three ingredients: real butter, confectioners sugar, vanilla extract. For chocolate, add cocoa powder.

Below are the frosting brands you will find at your local stores. Look at how many ingredients are in each of these frostings! They contain artificial flavors and many contain artificial food dyes. Every single one contains palm oil as well as other ingredients that contain palm oil.

The great news is you don’t have to decide which frosting to buy or not to buy. They ALL contain palm oil so you can walk right on by. If anyone reading finds one without it, please comment below with the brand and flavor. I will look up the ingredients, and if it doesn’t contain palm oil, I will gladly update this post.

Ingredients in Canned Frosting

Companies are required to list the ingredients in descending order. This means, there are more of each ingredient listed first than the ingredients listed last. You will see “palm oil” is listed in the first three ingredients in all of these containers of frosting.

Years ago, frosting in cans contained Partially Hydrogenated Soybean and Cottonseed Oil. However, adding artificial trans fats to foods was banned by the FDA in 2018. Many in the food industry (and all of the companies making frosting) used palm oil as a replacement.

Artificial Colors in Frosting

In addition to the basic vanilla and chocolate, companies also sell frosting with food dyes to make them green, pink, blue, purple, orange, etc. These colorings contain additional ingredients.

As I was compiling this list, I was interested to see how the artificial colors compared in Pillsbury frostings and the different number of ingredients used to make their colors. Below I listed the colors used in just the frosting, not in the candy bits.

Compare these Pillsbury Funfetti frostings and their artificial colors:

(Pink) Hot Pink Vanilla Frosting: Red 3
(Green) Vibrant Green Vanilla Frosting: Titanium Dioxide, Yellow 5, Blue 1, Red 40
(White) Unicorn Vanilla: Yellow 5, Red 40
(Orange) Halloween Vanilla: Yellow 5, Red 40
(Blue) Galaxy Space Blue: Titanium Dioxide, Blue 1
(Purple) Bold Purple Vanilla: Titanium Dioxide, Blue 1, Red 3, Red 40

Colorful canned frosting contains palm oil ~ Image credit: Aleander Grey, Pexels

The More “Fun” the Flavor…

There are 12+ ingredients in even the most “simple” vanilla and chocolate canned frostings (less in organic canned frosting — see below). Add some cookie or candy bits, and that means more ingredients. The more “complicated” the flavor, the more ingredients it will have.

You will see this a lot when companies introduce new brands of frosting for the holidays, etc.

Palm Oil Ingredients in Canned Frosting

These are the ingredients in canned frosting that typically contain palm oil. You will see palm oil and many of these palm oil derivatives in each of the frosting flavors:

Palm Oil
Palm Kernel Oil
Palm Fruit Oil
Monoglycerides
Mono- and Diglycerides
Distilled Monoglycerides
Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate
Propylene Glycol Monostearate
Polysorbate 60
Polysorbate 80
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Mixed Tocopherols
Tocopherols
Magnesium Stearate (in candy bits)

Ingredients in store bought frosting

Frosting WITH Palm Oil

Most stores that sell groceries will carry Betty Crocker, Pillsbury, and/or Duncan Hines frosting. There are store brands also. I am arranging these by the type of frosting (vanilla, chocolate, cream cheese, etc.) so you can compare ingredients with each brand. Note, they all contain palm oil as well as artificial ingredients in many forms.

Vanilla Frosting

Betty Crocker Rich & Creamy Vanilla Frosting

Sugar, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Palm Oil, Corn Starch, Water, Salt, Monoglycerides, Polysorbate 60, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Yellows 5 & 6, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate

Duncan Hines Creamy Vanilla Frosting

Sugar, Water, Palm Oil, Corn Syrup, Canola Oil, Corn Starch, Mono- and Diglycerides, Salt, Titanium Dioxide, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Rum, Caramel Color, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Potassium Sorbate, Antioxidants (Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopherols, Chamomile and Rosemary Extract), Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Yellow 5, Red 40

Duncan Hines Keto Friendly Vanilla Frosting

Palm Oil, Inulin*, Erythritol*, Allulose*, Water, Mono- and Diglycerides, Salt, Polysorbate 60, Potassium Sorbate (Preservative), Antioxidants (Ascorbyl Palmitate, Mixed Tocopherols, Chamomile Extract, Rosemary Extract), Monk Fruit Extract, Lactic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Rum, Caramel Color

Pillsbury Creamy Supreme Vanilla

Sugar, Palm Oil, Water, Corn Syrup, Corn Starch, Canola Oil, Salt, Mono and Diglycerides, Artificial Flavor, Artificial Color including Yellow 5 and Red 40, Polysorbate 60, Modified Corn Starch, Potassium Sorbate (Preservative), Soy Lecithin, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Antioxidants (Ascorbyl Palmitate, Mixed Tocopherols, Chamomile and Rosemary Extracts

These are some Pillsbury Funfetti Frosting flavors

Pillsbury Funfetti Vanilla

Frosting: Sugar, Palm Oil, Water, Corn Syrup, Corn Starch, Canola Oil, Salt, Mono and Diglycerides, Artificial Color including Yellow 5 and Red 40, Polysorbate 60, Modified Corn Starch, Potassium Sorbate, Soy Lecithin, Xanthan Gum, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Citric Acid, Antioxidants (Ascorbyl Palmitate, Mixed Tocopherols, Chamomile and Rosemary Extracts)

Candy bits: Sugar, Vegetable Oil (Palm and Palm Kernel), Modified Corn Starch, Soy Lecithin, Yellow 5, Carnauba Wax, Yellow 6, Blue 1, Red 40

Pillsbury Funfetti Hot Pink Vanilla

Frosting: Sugar, Palm Oil, Water, Corn Syrup, Corn Starch, Canola Oil, Salt, Mono and Diglycerides, Artificial Color including Red 3, Polysorbate 60, Modified Corn Starch, Potassium Sorbate, Soy Lecithin, Xanthan Gum, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Citric Acid, Antioxidants (Ascorbyl Palmitate, Mixed Tocopherols, Chamomile and Rosemary Extracts)

Pink sugar crystals: Sugar, Red 3, Carnauba Wax

Pillsbury Funfetti Vibrant Green Vanilla

Frosting: Sugar, Palm Oil, Water, Corn Syrup, Corn Starch, Canola Oil, Salt, Mono and Diglycerides, Artificial Color (including Titanium Dioxide, Yellow 5, Blue 1, Red 40), Polysorbate 60, Modified Corn Starch, Potassium Sorbate and Sodium Benzoate, Soy Lecithin, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Antioxidants (Ascorbyl Palmitate, Mixed Tocopherols, Chamomile and Rosemary Extracts)

Candy bits: Sugar, Corn Starch, Rice Flour, Palm Oil, Gum Acacia, Xanthan Gum, Confectioner’s Glaze, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Yellow 5, Blue 1, Red 40, Titanium Dioxide, Potassium Sorbate, Mono and Diglycerides, Polysorbate 60

Pillsbury Unicorn Funfetti Vanilla Frosting

Frosting: Sugar, Palm Oil, Water, Corn Syrup, Corn Starch, Canola Oil, Salt, Mono and Diglycerides, Artificial Flavor, Artificial Color including Yellow 5 and Red 40, Polysorbate 60, Modified Corn Starch, Potassium Sorbate , Soy Lecithin, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Antioxidants (Ascorbyl Palmitate, Mixed Tocopherols, Chamomile and Rosemary Extracts)

Candy bits: Sugar, Corn Starch, Vegetable Oil (Palm Oil, Palm Kernel Oil), Rice Flour, Soy Lecithin, Dextrin, Confectioner’s Glaze, Cellulose Gum, Gum Arabic, Carrageenan, Red 3, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Carnauba Wax, Dextrose, Maltodextrin, Blue 1 Lake, Artificial Flavor, Red 40, Yellow 5, Blue 1

Pillsbury Galaxy Funfetti Space Blue Vanilla Frosting

Frosting: Sugar, Palm Oil, Water, Corn Syrup, Corn Starch, Canola Oil, Salt, Mono- and Diglycerides, Artificial Flavor, Titanium Dioxide, Polysorbate 60, Modified Corn Starch, Blue 1, Potassium Sorbate, Soy Lecithin, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Antioxidants (Ascorbyl Palmitate, Mixed Tocopherols, Chamomile and Rosemary Extracts)

Candy bits: Sugar, Rice Flour, Vegetable Oil (Palm, Palm Kernel), Corn Starch, Cellulose Gum, Confectioner’s Glaze, Gum Arabic, Artificial Color, Soy Lecithin, Carrageenan, Dextrin, Yellow 5, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Titanium Dioxide, Carnauba Wax, Red 40, Blue 1, Yellow 6

Pillsbury Funfetti Aqua Blue Vanilla Frosting

Frosting: Sugar, Palm Oil, Water, Corn Syrup, Corn Starch, Canola Oil, Salt, Mono and Diglycerides, Artificial Flavor, Titanium Dioxide, Polysorbate 60, Modified Corn Starch, Blue 1, Potassium Sorbate, Soy Lecithin, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Antioxidants (Ascorbyl Palmitate, Mixed Tocopherols, Chamomile and Rosemary Extracts)

Candy bits: Sugar, Rice Flour, Palm Oil and Palm Kernel Oil, Corn Starch, Cellulose Gum, Carrageenan, Confectioner’s Glaze, Blue 1 Lake, Yellow 6, Red 3, Blue 2, Yellow 5, Blue 1, Red 40

Pillsbury Funfetti Bold Purple Vanilla Frosting

Frosting: Sugar, Palm Oil, Water, Corn Syrup, Corn Starch, Canola Oil, Salt, Mono and Diglycerides, Artificial Color (including Titanium Dioxide, Blue 1, Red 3, Red 40), Polysorbate 60, Modified Corn Starch, Potassium Sorbate, Soy Lecithin, Xanthan Gum, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Citric Acid, Antioxidants (Ascorbyl Palmitate, Mixed Tocopherols, Chamomile and Rosemary Extracts

Candy bits: Sugar, Corn Starch, Rice Flour, Palm Oil, Blue 1, Gum Acacia, Xanthan Gum, Confectioner’s Glaze, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Yellow 5, Red 40, Red 3, Potassium Sorbate, Mono and Diglycerides, Polysorbate 60

Pillsbury Zero Sugar Creamy Supreme Vanilla

Maltitol Syrup, Palm Oil, Water, Maltodextrin, Sorbitol, Polydextrose, Isomalt, Canola Oil, Cellulose, Modified Corn Starch, Citrus Fiber, Mono and Diglycerides, Salt, Artificial Color including Yellow 5 and Red 40, Polysorbate 60, Guar Gum, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Potassium Sorbate, Sucralose, Soy Lecithin, Citric Acid, Antioxidants (Ascorbyl Palmitate, Mixed Tocopherols, Chamomile and Rosemary Extracts)

Great Value Vanilla Frosting

Walmart brand frosting ingredients: Sugar, Palm Oil, Water, Corn Syrup, Cornstarch, Salt, Distilled Monoglycerides, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Polysorbate 60, Titanium Dioxide (Color), Potassium Sorbate (Preservative), Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Citric Acid, Beta-Carotene (Color)

Birch Benders Keto Friendly Vanilla Frosting

Palm Oil, Erythritol, Coconut Oil, Cassava Starch, Salt, Vanilla Extract, Stevia Extract, Monk Fruit Extract, Rosemary Extract, Mixed Tocopherols

Fitbake Vanilla Buttercream Frosting

Sustainably Sourced Palm Fruit Oil, Natural Sweetener Blend (Erythritol, Monk Fruit Extract), Vanilla Bean Powder (Dextrose*, Vanilla Bean Extractives), Coconut Oil, Stevia Leaf Extract, Natural Flavors

Betty Crocker Whipped Frosting flavors

White Frosting

Betty Crocker Whipped Frosting Fluffy White

Sugar, Palm Oil, Water, Corn Syrup, Corn Starch, Monoglycerides, Cellulose Gel, Salt, Polysorbate 80, Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Cellulose Gum, Artificial Flavor, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate

Duncan Hines Whipped Fluffy White

Sugar, Water, Palm Oil, Corn Syrup, Canola Oil, Mono- and Diglycerides, Modified Corn Starch, Cellulose Gum, Cellulose Gel, Modified Gum Acacia, Salt, Polysorbate 60, Titanium Dioxide, Potassium Sorbate (Preservative), Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Tocopherols and Ascorbyl Palmitate (Antioxidants), Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Artificial Flavor, Citric Acid, Dextrose

Pillsbury Creamy Supreme White

Sugar, Palm Oil, Water, Corn Syrup, Corn Starch, Canola Oil, Artificial Flavor, Salt, Mono and Diglycerides, Artificial Color, Polysorbate 60, Modified Corn Starch, Potassium Sorbate, Soy Lecithin, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Antioxidants (Ascorbyl Palmitate, Mixed Tocopherols, Chamomile and Rosemary Extracts)

Chocolate Frosting

Betty Crocker Rich & Creamy Milk Chocolate Frosting

Sugar, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Palm Oil, Corn Starch, Water, Cocoa Processed With Alkali, Salt, Monoglycerides, Polysorbate 60, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Citric Acid, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Potassium Sorbate

Betty Crocker Rich & Creamy Chocolate Frosting

Sugar, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Palm Oil, Water, Corn Starch, Cocoa Processed With Alkali, Salt, Monoglycerides, Polysorbate 60, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Citric Acid, Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Artificial Flavor, Potassium Sorbate

Betty Crocker Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Frosting

Sugar, Water, Palm Oil, Corn Syrup, Hershey’s Cocoa, Cocoa Processed with Alkali, Corn Starch, Salt, Monoglycerides, Polysorbate 60, Citric Acid, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Potassium Sorbate

Betty Crocker Whipped Milk Chocolate Frosting

Sugar, Palm Oil, Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Cocoa Processed with Alkali, Corn Starch, Hydrogenated Palm Oil, Monoglycerides, Cellulose Gel, Salt, Citric Acid, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Polysorbate 80, Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Cellulose Gum, Carrageenan, Potassium Sorbate

Duncan Hines Creamy Chocolate Frosting

Sugar, Water, Palm Oil, Cocoa Powder processed with Alkali, Corn Syrup, Canola Oil, Corn Starch, Salt, Mono- and Diglycerides, Invert Sugar, Caramelized Sugar, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Antioxidants (Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopherols, Chamomile and Rosemary Extract), Sodium Citrate, Acetic Acid, Caramel Color

Duncan Hines Creamy Milk Chocolate Frosting

Sugar, Water, Palm Oil, Cocoa Powder processed with Alkali, Corn Syrup, Canola Oil, Corn Starch, Mono- and Diglycerides, Nonfat Dry Milk, Salt, Polysorbate 60, Cream Powder, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Antioxidants (Tocopherols and Ascorbyl Palmitate, Chamomile Extract, Rosemary Extract), Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Lactic Acid

Duncan Hines Creamy Dark Chocolate Fudge

Sugar, Water, Palm Oil, Cocoa Powder processed with Alkali, Corn Syrup, Canola Oil, Corn Starch, Salt, Mono and Diglycerides, Citric Acid, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Cocoa Powder, Artificial Flavor, Antioxidants (Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopherols, Chamomile and Rosemary Extract), Sodium Citrate

Duncan Hines Whipped Chocolate

Sugar, Water, Palm Oil, Corn Syrup, Cocoa Powder processed with Alkali, Canola Oil, Corn Starch, Mono- and Diglycerides, Modified Corn Starch, Cellulose Gum, Cellulose Gel, Modified Gum Acacia, Salt, Polysorbate 60, Citric Acid, Caramel Color, Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Potassium Sorbate (Preservative), Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Tocopherols and Ascorbyl Palmitate (Antioxidants), Sodium Citrate, Natural and Artificial Flavor

Duncan Hines Keto Friendly Chocolate Frosting

Palm Oil, Inulin*, Erythritol*, Cocoa (Processed with Alkali), Allulose*, Water, Mono-and Diglycerides, Salt, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Lactic Acid, Potassium Sorbate (Preservative), Polysorbate 60, Antioxidants (Ascorbyl Palmitate, Mixed Tocopherols, Chamomile Extract, Rosemary Extract), Monk Fruit Extract, Xanthan Gum, Rum, Caramel Color

*Excessive Consumption May Cause a Laxative Effect in Sensitive Individuals

Pillsbury Creamy Supreme Chocolate Fudge

Sugar, Water, Palm Oil, Corn Syrup, Cocoa Processed with Alkali, Corn Starch, Canola Oil, Salt, Mono and Diglycerides, Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Polysorbate 60, Modified Corn Starch, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Soy Lecithin, Xanthan Gum, Antioxidants (Ascorbyl Palmitate, Mixed Tocopherols, Chamomile and Rosemary Extracts), Artificial Color

Pillsbury Funfetti Chocolate Fudge

Frosting: Sugar, Water, Palm Oil, Corn Syrup, Cocoa Processed with Alkali, Corn Starch, Canola Oil, Salt, Mono and Diglycerides, Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Polysorbate 60, Modified Corn Starch, Potassium Sorbate, Soy Lecithin, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Antioxidants (Ascorbyl Palmitate, Mixed Tocopherols, Chamomile and Rosemary Extracts), Artificial Color

Candy bits: Sugar, Rice Flour, Vegetable Oil (Palm Kernel and/or Palm), Corn Starch, Confectioner’s Glaze, Gum Arabic, Cellulose Gum, Carrageenan, Soy Lecithin, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 1, Carnauba Wax, Red 40, Blue 2 Lake, Artificial Flavor

Pillsbury Zero Sugar Creamy Supreme Chocolate Fudge

Maltitol Syrup, Water, Palm Oil, Sorbitol, Maltodextrin, Isomalt, Polydextrose, Cocoa Processed With Alkali, Canola Oil, Cellulose, Mono and Diglycerides, Salt, Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Citrus Fiber, Polysorbate 60, Potassium Sorbate, Soy Lecithin, Sucralose, Citric Acid, Guar Gum, Artificial Color (Including Red 40, Yellow 5 and Blue 1), Antioxidants (Ascorbyl Palmitate, Mixed Tocopherols, Chamomile and Rosemary Extracts)

Great Value Chocolate Frosting

Sugar, Palm Oil, Water, Corn Syrup, Cocoa processed with Alkali, Corn Starch, Canola Oil, Salt, Mono- and Diglycerides, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Maltodextrin, Modified Corn Starch, Polysorbate 60, Soy Lecithin, Preservatives (Potassium Sorbate and Citric Acid), Xanthan Gum, Antioxidants (Chamomile and Rosemary Extracts, Ascorbyl Palmitate and Tocopherols), Caramel Color

Fitbake Chocolate Buttercream Frosting

Sustainably Sourced Palm Fruit Oil, Natural Sweetener Blend (Erythritol, Monk Fruit Extract), Cocoa Powder, Coconut Oil, Stevia Leaf Extract, Natural Flavors

Cream Cheese Frosting

Betty Crocker Rich & Creamy Cream Cheese Frosting

Sugar, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Palm Oil, Corn Starch, Water, Salt, Monoglycerides, Polysorbate 60, Sour Cream (Cream, Nonfat Milk*, Cultures), Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Natural Flavor, Citric Acid, Yellows 5 & 6, Potassium Sorbate. *I am not sure if the Nonfat Milk contains palm oil.

Betty Crocker Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting

Sugar, Palm Oil, Water, Corn Syrup, Corn Starch, Monoglycerides, Salt, Cellulose Gel, Cultured Cream, Polysorbate 80, Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Cellulose Gum, Natural Flavor, Citric Acid, Yellows 5 & 6, Potassium Sorbate

Pillsbury Creamy Supreme Cream Cheese

Sugar, Palm Oil, Water, Corn Syrup, Corn Starch, Canola Oil, Salt, Mono and Diglycerides, Artificial Color including Yellow 5 and Red 40, Artificial Flavor, Polysorbate 60, Modified Corn Starch, Potassium Sorbate, Soy Lecithin, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Antioxidants (Ascorbyl Palmitate, Mixed Tocopherols, Chamomile and Rosemary Extracts)

Duncan Hines Creamy Cream Cheese Frosting

Sugar, Water, Palm Oil, Corn Syrup, Canola Oil, Corn Starch, Mono and Diglycerides, Salt, Titanium Dioxide, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Potassium Sorbate, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Lactic Acid, Antioxidants (Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopherols, Chamomile and Rosemary Extract), Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Yellow 5, Red 40

Great Value Cream Cheese Frosting

Sugar, Palm Oil, Water, Corn Syrup, Corn Starch, Canola Oil, Contains 2% or less of: Salt, Mono- and Diglycerides, Titanium Dioxide (Color), Polysorbate 60, Artificial Flavor, Modified Corn Starch, Soy Lecithin, Preservatives (Potassium Sorbate and Citric Acid), Xanthan Gum, Maltodextrin, FD&C Yellow No. 5, FD&C Red No. 40, Chamomile and Rosemary Extracts (Antioxidants), Ascorbyl Palmitate and Tocopherols (Antioxidants)

Fitbake Cream Cheese Frosting

Sustainably Sourced Palm Fruit Oil, Natural Sweetener Blend (Erythritol, Monk Fruit Extract), Cream Cheese Powder ([Pasteurized Milk, Cheese Culture, Salt, Carob Bean Gum], Sodium Caseinate, Disodium Phosphate, Natural Flavors), Coconut Oil, Natural Flavors

Butter Cream Frosting

Where’s the butter in the buttercream? Make it yourself instead with this easy frosting recipe.

Betty Crocker Whipped Butter Cream Frosting

Sugar, Palm Oil, Water, Corn Syrup, Corn Starch, Monoglycerides, Cellulose Gel, Salt, Polysorbate 80, Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Cellulose Gum, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Citric Acid, Color (Yellows 5 & 6 And Other Color Added), Potassium Sorbate

Duncan Hines Dolly Parton’s Creamy Buttercream

Sugar, Water, Palm Oil, Corn Syrup, Canola Oil, Corn Starch, Mono- and Diglycerides, Salt, Titanium Dioxide (Color), Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Acetic Acid, Preservative (Potassium Sorbate), Antioxidants (Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopherols, Chamomile and Rosemary Extract), Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Yellow 5, Red 40

Duncan Hines Dolly Parton’s Creamy Chocolate Buttercream

Sugar, Water, Palm Oil, Cocoa Powder processed with Alkali, Corn Syrup, Canola Oil

Contains 2% or less of: Corn Starch, Salt, Mono- and Diglycerides, Reconstituted Nonfat Dry Milk, Cream Powder (Cream, Nonfat Milk, Soy Lecithin), Polysorbate 60, Preservative (Potassium Sorbate), Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Mixed Tocopherols (Antioxidant), Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Artificial Buttercream Flavor, Lactic Acid, Ascorbic Acid

Strawberry Frosting

Betty Crocker Whipped Strawberry Mist Frosting

Sugar, Palm Oil, Water, Corn Syrup, Corn Starch, Monoglycerides, Salt, Cellulose Gel, Polysorbate 80, Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Cellulose Gum, Citric Acid, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Red 40, Blue 2, Potassium Sorbate

Pillsbury Creamy Supreme Strawberry

Sugar, Palm Oil, Water, Corn Syrup, Corn Starch, Canola Oil, Salt, Mono and Diglycerides, Artificial Color including Red 40, Artificial Flavor, Polysorbate 60, Modified Corn Starch, Potassium Sorbate, Soy Lecithin, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Xanthan Gum, Antioxidants (Ascorbyl Palmitate, Mixed Tocopherols, Chamomile and Rosemary Extracts)

Pillsbury Strawberry Frosting

Cherry Frosting

Betty Crocker Rich & Creamy Cherry Frosting

Sugar, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Palm Oil, Corn Starch, Water, Salt, Monoglycerides, Polysorbate 60, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Artificial Flavor, Citric Acid, Red 40, Blue 2, Potassium Sorbate

Betty Crocker Rainbow Chip Frosting Original

Sugar, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Vegetable Oil (Palm, Coconut), Corn Starch, Water, Corn Syrup, Salt, Monoglycerides, Nonfat Milk*, Polysorbate 60, Whey, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Color (Yellow Lakes 5 & 6, Blue Lakes 1 & 2, Red 40 Lake, Yellows 5 & 6), Natural and Artificial Flavor, Shellac, Soy Lecithin, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate.

Betty Crocker canned frosting

Specialty Flavors

Betty Crocker Cinnamon Toast Crunch with Cinnadust Frosting

Sugar, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Palm Oil, Corn Starch, Water, Corn Syrup, Salt, Cinnamon, Monoglycerides, Polysorbate 60, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Citric Acid, Color (Yellow 5 & 6), Potassium Sorbate

Duncan Hines Creamy Lemon Supreme Frosting

Sugar, Water, Palm Oil, Corn Syrup, Canola Oil, Corn Starch, Mono- and Diglycerides, Salt, Natural Flavor, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Potassium Sorbate, Antioxidants (Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopherols, Chamomile and Rosemary Extract), Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Yellow 5

Duncan Hines EPIC Fruity Pebbles Frosting

Sugar, Palm Oil, Water, Corn Syrup, Contains less than 2% of: Corn Starch, Mono- and Diglycerides, Modified Corn Starch, Salt, Titanium Dioxide (Color), Potassium Sorbate (Preservative), Corn Maltodextrin, Polysorbate 60, Xanthan Gum, Antioxidants (Ascorbyl Palmitate, Mixed Tocopherols, Chamomile Extract, Rosemary Extract, Alpha Tocopherol), Natural and Artificial Flavor, Citric Acid

Pillsbury Creamy Supreme Coconut Pecan

Sugar, Water, Dextrose, Palm Oil, Coconut (w/ Sodium Bisulfite added to protect color), Corn Syrup, Roasted Pecans (w/ Acetylated Monoglycerides added to protect flavor), Canola Oil, Corn Starch, Mono and Diglycerides, Salt, Pectin, Potassium Sorbate, Natural & Artificial Flavors, Polysorbate 60, Citric Acid, Soy Lecithin, Artificial Color (includes Yellow 5 & Red 40), Cottonseed Oil, Xanthan Gum, Antioxidants (Ascorbyl Palmitate, Mixed Tocopherols, Chamomile & Rosemary Extracts)

Note: Pillsbury’s Coconut Pecan frosting used to contain Propylene Glycol as well.

Pillsbury Creamy Supreme Caramel Latte

Sugar, Palm Oil, Water, Corn Syrup, Corn Starch, Canola Oil, Salt, Mono- and Diglycerides, Caramel Color, Polysorbate 60, Modified Corn Starch, Potassium Sorbate (Preservative), Soy Lecithin, Caramelized Sugar Syrup, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Coffee Extract (Water, Coffee), Natural Flavors, Antioxidants (Ascorbyl Palmitate, Mixed Tocopherols, Chamomile and Rosemary Extracts).

Pillsbury Creamy Supreme Salted Caramel

Sugar, Palm Oil, Water, Corn Syrup, Corn Starch, Canola Oil, Salt, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Modified Corn Starch, Mono and Diglycerides, Polysorbate 60, Potassium Sorbate (Preservative), Soy Lecithin, Caramel Color, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Artificial Colors Including Yellow 5 and Red 40, Ascorbyl Palmitate and Mixed Tocopherols (Antioxidants), Chamomile and Rosemary Extracts (Antioxidants)

Pillsbury Fluffy Frost Funfetti Vanilla Marshmallow

Frosting: Sugar, Palm Oil, Water, Corn Syrup, Canola Oil, Corn Starch, Mono and Diglycerides, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Modified Corn Starch, Cellulose Gel, Artificial Color, Salt, Propylene Glycol Monostearate, Carrageenan, Polysorbate 80, Potassium Sorbate, Cellulose Gum, Citric Acid, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Antioxidants (Ascorbyl Palmitate, Mixed Tocopherols, Chamomile and Rosemary Extracts), Soy Lecithin

Candy bits: Sugar, Vegetable Oil (Palm and Palm Kernel), Modified Corn Starch, Soy Lecithin, Yellow 5, Carnauba Wax, Yellow 6, Blue 1, Red 40

Pillsbury Funfetti Vanilla with OREO Pieces Frosting

Frosting: Sugar, Palm Oil, Water, Corn Syrup, Corn Starch, Canola Oil, Salt, Mono- and Diglycerides, Titanium Dioxide, Polysorbate 60, Modified Corn Starch, Potassium Sorbate, Soy Lecithin, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Antioxidants (Ascorbyl Palmitate, Mixed Tocopherols, Chamomile and Rosemary Extracts)

OREO cookie pieces: Unbleached Enriched Flour, Sugar, Palm and/or Canola Oil, Cocoa processed with Alkali, Invert Sugar, Leavening, Soy Lecithin, Salt, Chocolate, Natural Flavor

Holiday Flavors

I will update this with the seasons for each holiday.

Ingredients in canned Halloween frosting:

Pillsbury Funfetti Halloween Vanilla Flavored Frosting (orange frosting)

Frosting: Sugar, Palm Oil, Water, Corn Syrup, Corn Starch, Canola Oil, Salt, Mono and Diglycerides, Polysorbate 60, Modified Corn Starch, Potassium Sorbate (Preservative), Soy Lecithin, Artificial Color, including Yellow 5 and Red 40, Xanthan Gum, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Citric Acid, Antioxidants (Ascorbyl Palmitate, Mixed Tocopherols, Chamomile and Rosemary Extracts)

Candy bits: Sugar, Corn Starch, Rice Flour, Vegetable Oil (Palm and Palm Kernel), Cocoa Processed with Alkali, Dextrin, Gum Arabic, Soy Lecithin, Confectioner’s Glaze, Cellulose Gum, Yellow 6, Blue 1, Yellow 6 Lake, Carrageenan, Red 40, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Yellow 5, Carnauba Wax

Pillsbury Funfetti Green Vanilla Frosting (green frosting)

Frosting: Sugar, Palm Oil, Water, Corn Syrup, Corn Starch, Canola Oil, Contains 2% Or Less Of: Salt, Mono- And Diglycerides, (Yellow 5 Lake, Blue 1 Lake), Polysorbate 60, Modified Corn Starch, Potassium Sorbate (Preservative), Soy Lecithin, Xanthan Gum, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Citric Acid, Antioxidants (Ascorbyl Palmitate, Mixed Tocopherols, Chamomile and Rosemary Extracts)

Candy bits: Dextrose, Sugar, Corn Starch, Rice Flour, Vegetable Oil (Palm And Palm Kernel), Dextrin, Artificial Color (Including Blue 1, Yellow 5, Red 40, Red 3), Confectioner’s Glaze, Gum Acacia, Xanthan Gum, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Mono- and Diglycerides, Polysorbate 60, Glucose Syrup, Magnesium Stearate, Gum Arabic, Carnauba Wax

Pillsbury Baking Funfetti Midnight Black Frosting (black frosting)

Frosting: Sugar, Water, Palm Oil, Corn Syrup, Cocoa Processed With Alkali, Corn Starch, Canola Oil, Contains 2% Or Less Of: Salt, Mono- And Diglycerides, Natural And Artificial Flavor, Polysorbate 60, Modified Corn Starch, Red 40, Blue 1, Yellow 5, Potassium Sorbate (Preservative), Soy Lecithin, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Antioxidants (Ascorbyl Palmitate, Mixed Tocopherols, Chamomile and Rosemary Extracts), Caramel Color

Candy bits: Sugar, Rice Flour, Corn Starch, Vegetable Oil (Palm and Palm Kernel), Cellulose Gum, Confectioner’s Glaze, Soy Lecithin, Gum Arabic, Carrageenan, Titanium Dioxide (Color), Dextrin, Yellow 6 Lake, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Carnauba Wax, Yellow 5, Blue 1

Premade Bags of Frosting

Pillsbury Ready-to-Use Frosting Bag Vanilla

Sugar, Palm Oil, Water, Corn Syrup, Corn Starch, Canola Oil, Contains 2% or Less of: Salt, Mono and Diglycerides, Artificial Color (including Yellow 5 and Red 40), Polysorbate 60, Modified Corn Starch, Sodium Benzoate and Potassium Sorbate (Preservative), Soy Lecithin, Xanthan Gum, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Citric Acid, Antioxidants (Ascorbyl Palmitate, Mixed Tocopherols, Chamomile and Rosemary Extracts)

Pillsbury Ready-to-Use Frosting Bag Chocolate Fudge

Sugar, Water, Palm Oil, Corn Syrup, Cocoa Processed with Alkali, Canola Oil, Corn Starch, Salt, Mono and Diglycerides, Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Polysorbate 60, Potassium Sorbate and Sodium Benzoate (Preservatives), Soy Lecithin, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Antioxidants (Ascorbyl Palmitate, Mixed Tocopherols, Chamomile and Rosemary Extracts), Artificial Color

Pillsbury Ready-to-Use Frosting Bag Cream Cheese

Sugar, Palm Oil, Water, Corn Syrup, Corn Starch, Canola Oil, Salt, Mono and Diglycerides, Artificial Color including Yellow 5 and Red 40, Artificial Flavor, Polysorbate 60, Modified Corn Starch, Sodium Citrate, Soy Lecithin, Sodium Benzoate and Potassium Sorbate (Preservatives), Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Antioxidants (Ascorbyl Palmitate, Mixed Tocopherols, Chamomile and Rosemary Extracts)

Canned Organic Frosting

While a frosting may advertise “coconut” or it may seem healthier because it’s “all-natural” or “vegan”, they all contain palm ingredients.

I wrote about Simple Mills Organic Frosting before because it advertised made “with coconut oil” right on the front of the container. Yet, the first ingredient was Organic Palm Shortening. However, they contain fewer ingredients overall than the mainstream canned frosting brands. And their ingredients were of higher quality.

I emailed them to ask if they are still making their canned frosting because I couldn’t find it at my local grocery store. A rep emailed back to say Simple Mills discontinued making their frosting at the beginning of summer 2023.

This is part of their response:

We recently had to make the difficult decision to discontinue our frostings, based on customer feedback and demand. As sad as we are to let them go, it was the right choice for us at this time.

These were the ingredients in their canned frosting they used to make:

Simple Mills Organic Vanilla Frosting with Coconut Oil (discontinued)

Organic Palm Shortening, Organic Powdered Sugar, Organic Coconut Oil, Organic Tapioca Starch, Vanilla Extract, Organic Rosemary Extract, Sea Salt, Monk Fruit Extract

Simple Mills Organic Chocolate Frosting with Coconut Oil (discontinued)

Organic Palm Shortening, Organic Powdered Sugar, Organic Dutch Cocoa Powder, Organic Coconut Oil, Organic Tapioca Starch, Vanilla Extract, Organic Rosemary Extract, Sea Salt, Monk Fruit Extract

Does it surprise you to know canned frosting contains palm oil ingredients?

8 canned frosting palm oil ingredients

Other Organic Canned Frosting

Miss Jones Baking Co. Organic Vanilla Frosting with Coconut Oil

Organic Powdered Sugar, Organic Rainforest Alliance Certified Palm Fruit Oil*, Organic Coconut Oil, Organic Tapioca, Sea Salt, Natural Vanilla Flavor

Miss Jones Baking Co. Organic Chocolate Frosting with Coconut Oil

Organic Powdered Sugar, Organic Palm Fruit Oil*, Organic Coconut Oil, Organic Cocoa Powder, Organic Tapioca, Sea Salt.

Miss Jones Baking Co. Organic Confetti Pop Frosting with Coconut Oil

Organic Powdered Sugar, Organic Palm Fruit Oil*, Organic Coconut Oil, Non-GMO Sprinkles [Sugar, Cornstarch, Maltodextrin, Lemon Juice, Colors (spirulina extract, paprika, turmeric, vegetable juice (beetroot red, purple sweet potato, red radish), Carnauba Wax], Organic Tapioca, Sea Salt, Natural Vanilla Flavor

*Responsibly sourced, Rainforest Alliance-certified palm oil

Note instead of using artificial dyes (Red 3, etc.) in their Confetti Pop frosting, they use:

Spirulina extract
Paprika
Turmeric
Vegetable juice (beetroot red, purple sweet potato, red radish)

FAQs

Does canned frosting always contain palm oil?

Yes, canned frosting always contains palm oil. This is true for organic frosting, no sugar, low sugar, and Keto frostings, and frosting that advertises “with coconut oil.” Note, they never advertise: “with palm oil” on the front of the canisters.

What are the ingredients in Pillsbury frosting?

The ingredients in Pillsbury frosting are Sugar, Palm Oil, Water, Corn Syrup, Corn Starch, Canola Oil, Salt, Mono and Diglycerides, Artificial Color, Polysorbate 60, Modified Corn Starch, Potassium Sorbate, Soy Lecithin, Xanthan Gum, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Citric Acid, and Antioxidants.

Some of the Pillsbury frosting ingredients contain more ingredients because they have colors, candy, and or cookies.

Pillsbury chocolate frosting will also include Cocoa Powder processed with Alkali.

What are the ingredients in Duncan Hines frosting?

The ingredients in Duncan Hines frosting are Sugar, Water, Palm Oil, Corn Syrup, Canola Oil, Corn Starch, Mono- and Diglycerides, Salt, Titanium Dioxide, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Rum, Caramel Color, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Potassium Sorbate, Antioxidants, Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Citric Acid, and Sodium Citrate.

Duncan Hines chocolate frosting will also include Cocoa Powder processed with Alkali.

Does canned frosting have milk in it?

Canned frosting does not contain milk most of the time. They use palm oil instead of butter to create mouthfeel and a creamy texture.

What is grocery store frosting made of?

Grocery store frosting contains palm oil, sugar, water, corn syrup, canola oil, corn starch, and many other ingredients.

Ingredients in Store Bought Frosting

I very much understand how tempting it is to buy canned frosting. Before I learned palm oil made my son sick, I always bought pre-made cakes and desserts from the grocery store. If I was “baking” that meant I was buying a boxed cake mix and canned frosting and making it at home.

I didn’t bake anything from scratch. It never occurred to me to do it when premade frosting, cakes, cookies, etc. were already made and so convenient and (I thought) better than anything I could make.

I totally get how overwhelming it is to plan a party or to have to bring a dessert somewhere. It is convenient to be able to buy canned frosting. But please consider avoiding it if possible and making your own.

Using confectioners sugar, butter, and vanilla extract is all you need to make frosting yourself. If it’s too thick, you can add some coconut milk. If you want to make chocolate frosting, you can add cocoa powder. That’s it! Simple to make and no palm oil.

Thanks for your interest in learning about ingredients in canned frosting. Keep reading to learn more.