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This chocolate buttercream frosting recipe is the fluffiest, creamiest homemade frosting! You’ll never want store-bought frosting again!
This chocolate buttercream goes great on top of Peanut Butter Cupcakes, Vanilla Cupcakes, and especially our Chocolate Cupcakes!
Chocolate Frosting to Love!
You want to know the major difference between bakery-style cakes/cupcakes and subpar homemade treats? THE FROSTING!
Making a homemade chocolate buttercream frosting recipe makes all the difference in your baked goods and our recipe is so yummy!
Plus, whipping up a batch of buttercream is way easier than you think!
Why we love it:
- Quick + easy. This tasty recipe is ready in only 10 minutes!
- Simple ingredients. Nothing fancy, most likely the supplies are in your pantry!
- Delectable. This recipe makes the fluffiest, creamiest frosting with just the right amount of cocoa flavor.
- A must. It’s the perfect compliment for cakes, cupcakes, bars, cookies, and any other thing you want to smother!
The Ingredients
- unsalted butter – make sure it’s softened! You can use salted butter, but omit the added pinch of salt.
- unsweetened cocoa powder – either regular or dutch processed baking cocoa works great. Be sure it is good quality because the better the quality, the better the chocolate flavor will be.
- powdered sugar – the extra step of sifting the confectioners’ sugar and cocoa powder together ensures you aren’t left with any hidden clumps.
- milk – use whole milk or half and half for the creamiest frosting.
- vanilla – I prefer pure vanilla!
- pinch of salt – Control exactly how much saltiness your frosting has with this pinch of salt.
How to Make Chocolate Frosting
- COMBINE. In a medium bowl, beat together the butter and cocoa powder until light and fluffy.
- Add the powdered sugar, milk, vanilla, and salt. Mix until well blended, adding additional milk if needed to bring the frosting together.
- Continue to beat for 3-5 minutes, until light and fluffy.
- FROST. Pipe the buttercream onto the cooled cupcakes.
Frosting Tips
- Too thick or thin. Getting the right consistency for your frosting is key. To pipe on a generous top for cupcakes you’ll want a thicker consistency. Other desserts may be better with a thinner frosting. Easily adjust the consistency:
- To thin, add 1 tablespoon of milk at a time.
- To thicken, add 1 tablespoon of powdered sugar at a time.
- For chocolate treats to frost:
Piping Tips
I generally only use my piping tips when I’m topping cupcakes or other small desserts. The following steps are how I pipe onto cupcakes, but you may find the tips adaptable to other treats.
- Choose your tip. The larger the tip the thicker the piping will be. I use Ateco 808 for smooth piping and Ateco 844 tip for star piping.
- Fill the bag. Place the tip of choice at the bottom of a piping bag, place the bag in a tall cup, and fold over the edges. Using a spatula, fill the bag with frosting leaving enough space to twist the top of the bag closed.
- If you don’t have a piping bag, trim the corner off of a Gallon Ziploc bag. It will have a smooth edge like the Ateco 808.
- Frost. Make one dollop of frosting in the center of the cupcake as a guide.
- Frost around the center dollop. Once you have gone a full rotation lift up to the second layer, moving inward slightly, and continue squeezing out the frosting. Repeat layers until you’re happy with the height and look.
- Use even, steady pressure the entire time as you push out the frosting.
Storing Info
- STORE. This homemade chocolate frosting can be kept in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days. Bring it to room temperature and remix before frosting your dessert.
- FREEZE. Store chocolate buttercream frosting recipe in an airtight freezer-safe container for 2-3 months. Thaw in the fridge and then bring to room temperature. Mix well before using.
For More Frosting Recipes:
Chocolate Buttercream Frosting Recipe
This chocolate buttercream frosting recipe is the fluffiest, creamiest homemade frosting! You’ll never want store-bought frosting again!
Ingredients
- ½ cup butter softened
- ¼ cup cocoa powder
- 1½ cups powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons milk or half and half
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- pinch of salt
Instructions
- Beat together the butter and cocoa powder until light and fluffy.
- Add the powdered sugar, milk, vanilla, and salt. Mix until well blended, adding additional milk if needed to bring the frosting together.
- Continue to beat for 3-5 minutes, until light and fluffy.
- Pipe the buttercream onto the cooled cupcakes.
Video
Notes
STORE. This homemade chocolate frosting can be kept in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days. Bring it to room temperature and remix before frosting your dessert.
FREEZE. Store chocolate buttercream frosting recipe in an airtight freezer-safe container for 2-3 months. Thaw in the fridge and then bring to room temperature. Mix well before using.
Nutrition
Calories: 133kcal, Carbohydrates: 16g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 8g, Saturated Fat: 5g, Cholesterol: 21mg, Sodium: 69mg, Potassium: 31mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 15g, Vitamin A: 236IU, Calcium: 7mg, Iron: 1mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Making this recipe? Tag us!
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Delicious. Doubled the recipe because I split each layer of a 2 layer cake. Should have tripled the recipe. But it is great!
Wish I could put a picture!
I wish I could see a picture too! It sounds beautiful! So glad you enjoyed the frosting recipe.
I just love how I can count on my favorite food bloggers to give me tried and true recipes. Years ago I gave up on making my own frosting as it always seemed too heavy and rich. I found your recipe and thought I’d give it a try. Oh my gosh what a winner!!! My family just raved about it. Just like you described, creamy, fluffy and delicious. I even skipped the sifting step and had no lumps. Simple to make recipe and whips up in no time. My boys asked for extra frosting next time, I think that says it all. Thanks again.
It tastes like something from Louis Bakery! I’ve never had good luck with homemade frosting, but I adore this. I made it and put it on a cake for my Mom’s 45th birthday. ❤
Oh thank you for your sweet words! How awesome you used this buttercream recipe for your mom’s cake. Hope she enjoyed it too! 🙂
This was so good! But needed more because I wanted to just gobble it down!
I feel the same way when I make this frosting! Thanks so much for trying it!
I’m not always a fan of homemade chocolate frosting, but this is really good.
Homemade frosting is always my first choice. This frosting will not disAppoint!
The fluffiest & most delicious frosting! I am excited to try it on cake & brownies!
Great recipe for chocolate lover like me, just tried it, really yummy and easy to make!
Yes, it really is the best for chocolate lovers! Glad you liked it! Thank you!