Chocolate Buttercream Frosting Recipe

The Perfect Chocolate Buttercream Frosting recipe essential for birthday cakes and celebrations! It’s the best chocolate buttercream frosting I’ve ever tasted!

The Perfect Chocolate Buttercream Frosting is definitely a must in my house! Rich and delicious, this buttercream frosting is perfect for cakes, cupcakes and more.

This compliments so many delicious cakes and cupcakes, but my favorite is when it’s paired with my Best Chocolate Cake. It is literally the perfect chocolate frosting so it’s naturally so good on chocolate cupcakes or even my Vanilla Cake. But seriously, it is pretty amazing on anything it touches. Like a spoon works just fine, too!

Made from just six simple ingredients, this buttercream frosting comes together quickly. This recipe yields enough to frost a three layer cake or three dozen cupcakes beautifully.

To make this delicious frosting, you’ll need a large mixing bowl or a large bowl for a stand mixer.

Thankfully, this chocolate buttercream comes together quickly and makes plenty to frost a three layer cake or three dozen cupcakes beautifully.

Yes! If you have leftover buttercream frosting once you’ve frosted your cake, you can refrigerate or freeze it.

Place frosting in an airtight container. Refrigerate for up to 5 days. Once ready to use, remove from the refrigerator and allow to reach room temperature, then whisk well to fluff the frosting.

Place frosting in an airtight, freezer safe container and freeze for up to 3 months. Once ready to use, place in refrigerator overnight to thaw, then remove from fridge for a short time prior to use as described previously and whisk to fluff the frosting.

Here’s my Perfect Chocolate Buttercream Frosting Recipe. I can’t wait to hear how you love it.

Chocolate Buttercream Frosting (6-Minute Recipe)

This American chocolate buttercream frosting is decadent, indulgent, and chocolatey. It has just the right amount of sweetness and is perfect for spreading or piping on cakes or Chocolate Cupcakes.

Prep: 6min

Total: 6min

Yield: 12

Serving Size: 1 serving

Nutrition Facts: calories 275 kcal, Carbohydrate 32 g, Protein 1 g, Fat 17 g, Saturated Fat 11 g, Trans Fat 1 g, Cholesterol 46 mg, Sodium 53 mg, Fiber 1 g, Sugar 30 g, servingSize 1 serving

Ingredients:

• 1 cup unsalted butter (softened)
• 3 cups confectioners sugar
• 1/2 cup unsweetened natural cocoa powder
• 3 to 4 Tbsp heavy whipping cream
• 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 1/4 tsp salt

Instruction:

1. With a handheld mixer or stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, beat butter on high speed for about 3 minutes or until creamy and lightened in color, scraping down the bowl as needed.
2. Add confectioners sugar, cocoa powder, 3 Tbsp heavy cream, 2 tsp vanilla extract, and 1/4 tsp salt.
3. Beat on low speed until sugar is incorporated then increase to medium/high speed and beat for 3 minutes, scraping down the bowl several times to ensure everything is well blended. Add another Tablespoon of heavy cream if needed to thin the frosting.

Perfect Chocolate Buttercream Frosting Recipe

Perfect Chocolate Buttercream Frosting is an essential when it comes to birthday cakes and other celebrations. Get this family favorite, perfect chocolate buttercream frosting recipe.

Prep: 15min

Total: 15min

Ingredients:

• 1½ cups butter (softened)
• 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 5 cups confectioner’s sugar
• ½ cup milk
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• ½ teaspoon espresso powder

Instruction:

1. Add cocoa powder to a large bowl or bowl of stand mixer. Whisk through to remove any lumps.
2. Cream together butter and cocoa powder until well-combined.
3. Add sugar and milk to cocoa mixture by adding 1 cup of sugar followed by about a tablespoon of milk. After each addition has been combined, turn mixer onto a high speed for about a minute. Repeat until all sugar and milk have been added.
4. Add vanilla extract and espresso powder and combine well.
5. If frosting appears too dry, add more milk, a tablespoon at a time until it reaches the right consistency. If it appears to wet and does not hold its form, add more confectioner’s sugar, a tablespoon at a time until it reaches the right consistency.

The Best Chocolate Buttercream Frosting

Smooth, creamy, and delicious! This is the Best Chocolate Buttercream Frosting we have ever tasted and is so easy to make. Great on cakes, cupcakes, and brownies!

Prep: 10min

Total: 15min

Ingredients:

• 1 cup Butter, slightly softened (we use Salted, Sweet Cream Butter)
• 2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract
• 1 pound Powdered Sugar (or 4 cups)
• ¾ cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
• 1-2 tablespoons of milk

Instruction:

1. Add the butter and the vanilla extract to a mixing bowl. The butter should be “slightly softened” which means it is still cold but has warmed up enough so you can press your thumb down into the stick of butter.
2. Mix the butter and the vanilla together on medium speed until thoroughly combined (about 2 minutes.) Use a spatula to scrape the butter and vanilla mixture down from the sides of the bowl before moving on to the next step.
3. In a separate bowl, use a food scale to measure 1 Pound of Powdered Sugar. If you don’t have a food scale, measure 4 cups instead.
4. Add the Cocoa Powder to the bowl with the Powdered Sugar.
5. Use a fork to whisk the Cocoa Powder and Powdered Sugar.
6. Pour the Cocoa Powder/Powdered Sugar mixture into the mixing bowl with the butter/vanilla mixture.
7. Start your mixer (or electric beater) on the lowest setting and keep it on low until the butter and sugar are incorporated (about 30 seconds).
8. Stop the mixer and scrape down the sides of the bowl and then increase the speed to medium-high and mix for another 30-45 seconds so the frosting gets light and fluffy.
9. Taste your frosting to determine if the consistency is correct or if it needs more milk or maybe a little more vanilla extract. If it tastes great, test the consistency. Too thick? Add milk a teaspoon at a time and mix again to check to see if it is now the right consistency.

Favorite Chocolate Buttercream

This is my favorite chocolate buttercream recipe. It’s incredibly rich, creamy, silky, smooth, and easy to work with for decorating cakes and cupcakes!

Prep: 5min

Total: 5min

Yield: 2

Ingredients:

• 1 cup (230g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
• 3 and 1/2 cups (420g) confectioners’ sugar
• 1/2 cup (41g) unsweetened natural or dutch-process cocoa powder
• 3 Tablespoons (45ml) heavy cream or milk
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Instruction:

1. With a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle or whisk attachment, beat the butter on medium speed until creamy, about 2 minutes. Add confectioners’ sugar, cocoa powder, heavy cream, salt, and vanilla extract. Beat on low speed for 30 seconds, then increase to high speed and beat for 1 full minute. Add 1/4 cup more confectioners’ sugar or cocoa powder if frosting is too thin or another Tablespoon of cream if frosting is too thick. Taste. Beat in another pinch of salt if desired.
2. Use immediately or cover tightly and store for up to 1 week in the refrigerator or up to 3 months in the freezer. After freezing, thaw in the refrigerator then beat the frosting on medium speed for a few seconds so it’s creamy again. After thawing or refrigerating, beating in a splash of heavy cream or milk will help thin the frosting out again, if needed.

How to Make the Best Chocolate Buttercream Frosting

FAQ

What is the difference between chocolate buttercream and chocolate frosting?

Can you add chocolate to buttercream icing?

What is chocolate buttercream made of?

Does chocolate buttercream frosting need to be refrigerated?