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Learn how to make the best chocolate buttercream frosting! I’ve been making this frosting for years – it’s fluffy and chocolatey and goes so good with so many recipes. Never buy store bought chocolate frosting again once you have this one – it’s THAT GOOD!
Best Chocolate Frosting EVER
I used to use canned frosting for everything until I started making homemade buttercream – and that’s when I realized store-bought doesn’t even come close to the real thing. Making American buttercream is so easy it’s worth the time for the amazing fluffy texture and rich chocolate flavor.
This perfect chocolate buttercream icing recipe has been my go-to for years! It’s perfect on my chocolate cake recipe, on chocolate cupcakes, or on ANY cake or cupcake recipe you feel like making. It pipes great, has rich flavor, and simple ingredients – plus it’s done in just MINUTES!
Ingredients Needed
- Softened unsalted butter: Use a good quality butter, unsalted, so you can control the salt. Be sure to start with softened butter. If you only have salted butter, you can reduce the added salt.
- Unsweetened cocoa powder: You can use regular unsweetened cocoa or dark, or even dutch process cocoa.
- Powdered sugar: Also called icing sugar or confectioners’ sugar.
- Salt: Sounds weird but needed to counter the sweetness. An extra pinch of salt can help cut the sweetness if you add too much sugar.
- Vanilla extract: Only use PURE vanilla
- Heavy whipping cream: This is my secret to the best whipped chocolate frosting ever! It makes it nice and fluffy.
Substitutions
In place of heavy whipping cream you can also use milk (whole milk, 2%, nonfat) or any non-dairy milk (such as almond milk). While you can make substitutions, please use heavy whipping cream for best results.
Here’s the rule: the less fat the dairy has the less of it you should use. So, for example, it’s not a one-to-one substitution for heavy cream and nonfat milk. You would need less of the nonfat milk. The less fat the milk has the less creamy your frosting will be!
How to Make Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
- Beat the butter on medium speed until smooth.
- Add cocoa powder and salt and mix them together.
- Add the powdered sugar, one cup at a time, mixing on low speed between each addition. Be sure to scrape down the sides of the bowls as you go.
- Add the cream starting with 2 tablespoons and mix on high speed until it’s smooth, fluffy and thickened to your liking.
Expert Tips
- You can use a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, which is my preference for making any frosting recipe. It’s stronger and faster and the frosting becoming smooth before you add the cream.
- You can also do this with a hand mixer in a large bowl. Your frosting will look crumbly before adding the cream, so don’t be worried. Once you add the liquid it will come together fluffy and smooth.
- Always start with the smallest amount of cream and work your way up adding more after mixing a bit until you get the consistency you want.
Storage
- Store frosting in an airtight container in the fridge.
- Freeze in an airtight container – we love freezing leftover frosting!
- You can make this easy chocolate buttercream frosting ahead of time. Just leave at room temperature for several hours to thaw and/or soften. You may need to add a little extra cream to smooth it out.
FAQ
Salt will balance the sweetness so add a small amount, mix it in, and then taste. Be careful not to add too much otherwise it will be too salty!
Sifting cocoa is only important if it’s clumpy. Often it clumps in the container and will stay clumpy in your frosting, so if you notice this, sift it into the powdered sugar.
Chocolate Buttercream Frosting Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup (226g) unsalted butter softened
- ½ cup (40g) unsweetened cocoa powder
- 3 ½ cups (396g) powdered sugar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2-3 tablespoons (30-45ml) heavy whipping cream
Instructions
- Beat butter with a hand or a stand mixer until smooth, then add the cocoa and mix until smooth. Add the powdered sugar 1 cup at a time, mixing in between each addition. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
- Add the salt and vanilla, mix until smooth.
- Add 2 tablespoons of heavy whipping cream and beat on medium high speed until the frosting is smooth and fluffy and the desired consistency.
- Note on mixing: if you’re using a hand mixer it’ll stay crumbly for quite some time; add the heavy whipping cream to help it come together.
- If you feel like you need a little more to get to the consistency you like, you can add up to another 1 tablespoon, adding a teaspoon at a time. This differs each time you make it depending on what mixer you’re using or how hot it is (the buttercream comes together easier in summer, for example, when the kitchen is warmer).
- Frost as desired; will frost one 9×13-inch cake or a 9-inch layer cake or 24 cupcakes. If you like extra frosting for decorating, make a double batch.
- Store in refrigerator for up to 3 days and allow to come to room temperature before using; you may need to add some extra cream to thin it.
- You can freeze the frosting too for up to a month. Just let it defrost in the refrigerator then at room temperature before using.
Will this be enough for a 3 their cake??
Just in case I’d double it. I never want to run out of frosting! If you have leftover you can freeze it.
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