As of writing, many grocery stores and supermarkets across the U.S. accept EBT for a wide range of food items, including some you might not expect.
For example, you can use your SNAP benefits to buy essentials like bread, fruits, and dairy, but did you know you can also purchase certain sweet treats and baking supplies?
Can I buy frosting with EBT? In fact, you can totally use your benefits to purchase baking ingredients like frosting, cake mix, and sprinkles.
1. Can I Buy Frosting with EBT?
For sure, you can buy frosting with your EBT card. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) allows the purchase of foods meant for human consumption.
You can use your EBT benefits to purchase:
- Canned or tub frosting
- Cake mix and frosting combo packs sold together in the baking aisle
- Other baking ingredients, like sugar, flour, and food coloring, if they’re intended for home use
They’re fully eligible for EBT payment at most major retailers.
You cannot use SNAP EBT to buy frosting (or any other ingredient) when it’s part of a hot or prepared food meant to be eaten immediately. For example:
- Decorated cakes or cupcakes from a restaurant
- Bakery frosting services, such as paying for custom decorations on a cake
You also can’t use your EBT card to buy non-food decorative items that may be sold alongside frosting, such as:
- Cake toppers
- Candles
- Party decorations
Most grocery and big-box stores that accept EBT will carry frosting, such as Walmart, Target, and Kroger.
>>> Can You Buy Sushi with EBT?
2. What Can I Buy with EBT/food stamps?
The main purpose of SNAP is to ensure people have access to essential groceries that can be stored, cooked, and eaten at home. EBT benefits can be used to buy most food items intended for home cooking or consumption.
This includes:
Basic Grocery Items:
- Bread and cereals, such as sandwich bread, rice, pasta, and cereal
- Dairy products: milk, cheese, yogurt, butter, etc.
- Fruits and vegetables, both fresh and frozen varieties
- Meat, poultry, and fish
- Snacks and beverages, such as chips, soft drinks, bottled water, and juice
- Frozen and shelf-stable meals: frozen dinners, pizzas, and other ready-to-heat foods (as long as they are not sold hot)
Baking and Dessert Ingredients:
- Frosting and cake mix
- Cookie and brownie mixes
- Pie crusts and fillings
- Sugar, flour, baking powder, and chocolate chips
- Frozen or refrigerated cookie dough (as long as it’s meant to be baked at home
What You Cannot Buy with EBT:
Prepared and Hot Foods:
- Hot meals sold by restaurants, delis, or convenience stores
- Prepared foods for immediate eating, such as rotisserie chickens or hot pizza slices
Non-Food Items:
- Alcoholic beverages (beer, wine, liquor)
- Tobacco products (cigarettes, cigars, vaping products)
- Vitamins, supplements, or medicines
- Pet food
- Cleaning supplies, paper goods, or household products
- Personal care products like soap or shampoo
The store’s checkout system will automatically separate these non-food items from your EBT purchase, so you can easily pay for them with cash, debit, or credit.
3. Can I Buy Cakes with EBT?
As long as the majority of its value is edible, you can buy a birthday cake with SNAP EBT benefits.
Important notes when planning to use SNAP EBT funds to purchase a cake:
- At least 50% of the cake’s value is edible. The edible portion includes the cake itself, frosting, filling, and any other parts meant for human consumption.
- The cake is purchased from a SNAP-authorized retailer that sells it as a food product, not as a catering or event service.
- The cake is not sold hot or intended for immediate consumption.
Most grocery store bakery cakes, frozen cakes, and boxed or pre-made cakes are fully EBT-eligible.
4. Where Can I Buy Frosting for Cakes with EBT?
You can find frosting at most major grocery stores, supermarkets, and big-box retailers that accept EBT payments, including:
- Walmart
- Target
- Kroger
- Publix
- Safeway
- Aldi
You can usually find canned or tub frosting in the baking aisle, along with other cake-decorating supplies. Many local grocery stores and regional chains also accept EBT, making it easy to buy frosting for homemade birthday cakes.
In addition to in-store shopping, customers can use EBT online to purchase eligible grocery items, including frosting, cake mix, and other baking products, through Walmart, Amazon, and Instacart (for select stores).
Any delivery fees, tips, or service charges must be paid separately with another form of payment, such as debit or credit.
5. Lifeline Program: Helping Low-income Families Stay Connected
It’s worth learning more about the Lifeline Program, a long-standing federal assistance initiative that helps low-income individuals and families afford communication services.
The program is available through a wide range of participating providers nationwide. Qualified users can typically save up to $9.25 per month on their phone or internet bill, or up to $34.25 if they live on qualifying Tribal lands.
To make it easier to picture, for example, in California, when you apply for Lifeline through AirTalk Wireless, you can receive 10–30GB* of free data per month, along with a free smartphone or a low-cost tablet, depending on your preference. Offers vary by state.
Eligibility for Lifeline is based on income level or participation in certain government programs, such as SNAP, Medicaid, or SSI. Apply today for a convenient and affordable way to stay connected.
*Offers may vary and are subject to future updates.
FAQs
Can I buy frosting with EBT online?
You can shop online through an authorized retailer that accepts EBT/SNAP for online grocery purchases. Major online grocery platforms and supermarkets, including Walmart, Amazon, and Kroger, accept EBT for eligible food items.
Can I buy frozen frosting or whipped topping with EBT?
Yes. The main rule for eligibility is that the items must be food intended for home consumption and cannot be hot, ready-to-eat food (such as a hot rotisserie chicken) or non-food items (such as paper goods, cleaning supplies, or vitamins).
Are baking utensils or cake pans EBT-eligible?
No. SNAP benefits cannot be used to buy non-food items like cooking utensils, pots and pans, baking equipment, cleaning supplies, paper products, or other household supplies.
Still, you can buy cake ingredients (flour, sugar, eggs, frosting, cake mix) with SNAP benefits/EBT card.
Can I use EBT at Walmart or Amazon for frosting?
Walmart accepts EBT cards for SNAP-eligible food purchases both in their physical stores and for online orders (pickup, delivery, or shipping, where available). Amazon accepts SNAP EBT payments for eligible groceries in most states.
When shopping online, look for the “SNAP EBT eligible” label on the product page to confirm.
Conclusion
Overall, the rules for buying frosting with EBT come down to how it’s sold and intended to be used. You can purchase canned or tubed frosting from grocery stores for home use, but anything sold as a hot, ready-to-eat, or prepared food won’t qualify.