When did they start selling tubs of frosting?

When did the little tubs of frosting become available? I seem to recall them being a new thing in the 80's and in the 70's we always made frosting ourselves. It seemed like a novelty to just open a tub and spread it on. SWMBO thinks they always sold frosting in tubs. My google-fu is weak and I was unable to find the definitive history of store bought frosting in the four and a half minutes I looked for it, so I figured I'd ask here since it seems that no matter what the topic someone here knows the answer.

Cake Frosting? They were around in the 80s or I never would have had a birthday cake.

I shun the stuff because the real stuff has three ingredients: powdered sugar, butter, and milk. Okay, four if you put vanilla in it. It's pretty easy to make and it tastes great. The canned stuff has a chemistry set in it. Gosh, seems like the canned stuff has been in stores forever, maybe 30 years or so?

Wally wrote: Cake Frosting? They were around in the 80s or I never would have had a birthday cake.

Wally,

I’m so sorry, I forgot to give one of these “you’re so special” balloons for your birthday.

They’re about to run a huge batch of “you’re so unique” balloons…let me know if you’d rather have one of those.

Wally wrote: Cake Frosting? They were around in the 80s or I never would have had dinner.

FTFY...well, actually FTF me.

So, does anyone remember store bought frosting from the 70's or earlier?

This came up because I made cupcakes and said next time I was making frosting instead of using a tub.

That stuff tastes good. I used to tell my wife she might find me dead in a hotel room on a sales trip after eating a complete can of this stuff.

Then I look at the calorie count on the can........

Give me a tub of that frosting and I can kill a whole box of graham crackers and a gallon of milk.

Interesting question. Betty Crocker "Answer Cake" showed up in 1954, and it included frosting although it may have been a mix. I found a 1972 recipe that involves BC frosting mix, but again it's powdered.

I know it was definitely around in the early 80's, and the translucent gel in a tube also showed up in that decade. But that's just childhood memory.

In reply to Datsun310Guy:

One night we were coming home from a race and stopped at a gas station in New Hampshire to fill up. They were a bit limited on snackies so my friend and bought a can of frosting and a roll of cookie dough. We split the roll in half ate it and chased it frosting and Gatorade.

T.J. wrote: So, does anyone remember store bought frosting from the 70's or earlier? This came up because I made cupcakes and said next time I was making frosting instead of using a tub.

I'm pretty sure I remember it in the very late '70s, when my mother would make a birthday cake for me or my sister. But it could have been the very early 80's.

This is the best I could find...

http://www.foodtimeline.org/foodcakes.html#readytospread

One of them had a TV commercial where their frosting was touted as being "so smooth (I think that was the adjective) you can spread it with a paper knife". That's going way back--like early 80's.

I know they were selling them in '78-79. My friend liked them.

Started right here in Pittsburgh, PA as far back as the 1930's. Mmmmmmmm, Duff's frosting.

Best thread ever.

On this topic, one time I made cake in one of those brownie bite pans that gives you 1" squares. And instead of frosting it, I just dipped the cake in the frosting. Fat kid food of champions.

Paper knife commercial:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxcQRFBkeRw

And...it was already so well known that Frank Zappa was ragging on the idea when he recorded Flakes on January 25, 1978 (right around the three minute mark).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgyeUHH_V0g

a can of frosting and a roll of cookie dough. We split the roll in half ate it and chased it frosting and Gatorade.

my stomach hurts just from reading that

Cone_Junkie wrote: Give me a tub of that frosting and I can kill a whole box of graham crackers and a gallon of milk.

Forget the graham crackers, spread it on Oreos! I think it was raspberry cream cheese frosting we were spreading on them, and it was mind blowing. My teeth still hurt when I remember it though.

the containers are good for storing stuff too

Karacticus wrote:

Diabeetus.

I remember when it came out, I'll go along with late 70s. I was pretty young, but I remember it (born in 1970). Before that you bought a box of cake mix and a box of frosting mix and made them separately.

Woody wrote: Paper knife commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxcQRFBkeRw And...it was already so well known that Frank Zappa was ragging on the idea when he recorded *Flakes* on January 25, 1978 (right around the three minute mark). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgyeUHH_V0g

Nice finds!!!

Many, youtube is scary sometimes. This is one of those times.

Woody wrote: Paper knife commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxcQRFBkeRw And...it was already so well known that Frank Zappa was ragging on the idea when he recorded *Flakes* on January 25, 1978 (right around the three minute mark). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgyeUHH_V0g

Beat me to it.

When I was a kid my mom would set aside a piece of cake just for me without the frosting. Can't stand the stuff.

1988RedT2 wrote: I shun the stuff because the real stuff has three ingredients: powdered sugar, butter, and milk. Okay, four if you put vanilla in it. It's pretty easy to make and it tastes great. The canned stuff has a chemistry set in it. Gosh, seems like the canned stuff has been in stores forever, maybe 30 years or so?

The pre-made stuff takes metallic to me.

If you're making a cake for someone you care about (aka not another distant relative stealing your damn Saturday afternoon), make your own buttercream and make a round layer cake. There's something great about an oversized layered cake wedge that surpasses the recommended daily calorie intake. Use 3-4 9" pan cakes, split them in half, and if you live in the same house as the other person, eat cake all week. It's the best breakfast.

1988RedT2 wrote: I shun the stuff because the real stuff has three ingredients: powdered sugar, butter, and milk. Okay, four if you put vanilla in it. It's pretty easy to make and it tastes great. The canned stuff has a chemistry set in it. Gosh, seems like the canned stuff has been in stores forever, maybe 30 years or so?

You forgot cream cheese.

Store-bought frosting is terrible, but then so are the store-bought cake-from-a-mix that most people put it on. Baking a real cake only takes an extra 5 minutes, I don't understand why people use mixes.