My Favorite Chocolate Frosting Recipe (2024)

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This is my all-time favorite chocolate frosting recipe, and I think that once you try it it’ll be yours, too! Just 6 ingredients needed and it will easily frost a 2 layer 8″ or 9″ cake or generously ice a dozen cupcakes!

My Favorite Chocolate Frosting Recipe (1)

The Best Chocolate Frosting

Maybe you’ve seen this chocolate frosting recipe around here before. It’s made quite a few appearances, on my chocolate cake,vanilla cupcakes (pictured above), and myvanilla cake (just to name a few), and finally it’s getting its own place on the blog.

Use it to top off your favorite cake or cupcake recipe, or just enjoy by the spoonful (you’ll get no judgement from me!).

What makes this the best chocolate frosting:

Well, you’re going to love it because it:

  • Is richly chocolatey, without being too rich. The chocolate flavor complements whatever you put it on without being overwhelming!
  • Is soft, smooth, and creamy.
  • Uses less sugar than classic buttercream frosting or chocolate buttercream, perfect if you think most frosting recipes are too sugary or sweet!
  • Absolutely melts in your mouth.
  • Pipes beautifully, or frosts a cake smoothly.

What You Need

My Favorite Chocolate Frosting Recipe (2)

Here’s what you need:

  • Chocolate. Real melted chocolate gives my chocolate frosting its incredible flavor and firm but fudgy consistency once it’s cooled. Chocolate bars (my preference) or chocolate chips will work fine.
  • Powdered Sugar. This thickens and sweetens the frosting. One thing I love about this frosting is that it uses less sugar than your average frosting recipe.
  • Butter. I use unsalted then add a pinch of salt for best flavor. Your butter should be at room temperature. If it’s too cold, small bits of the chocolate may harden as your ingredients are being combined and you will have chocolate bits in the mix rather than a smooth chocolate frosting.
  • Vanilla Extract. Added for flavor! Any good chocolate is enhanced with a splash of vanilla to add depth of flavor.
  • Heavy Cream. The small amount of heavy cream is the other part of what gives this chocolate frosting its smooth texture and rich flavor.

SAM’S TIP: You can use dark chocolate, semisweet, or milk chocolate for this frosting. If you want to use white chocolate, see my white chocolate buttercream recipe instead

Remember, this is just an overview of the ingredients I used and why. For the full recipe and all details, please scroll down to the bottom of the post!

How to Make Chocolate Frosting

My Favorite Chocolate Frosting Recipe (3)
  1. Chop chocolate into small pieces (only if you’re using a bar, no need to chop if you’re using chips) and melt in 15-30 second increments, stirring in-between, until completely melted. semi-sweet chocolate into same-sized pieces and place in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat the chocolate in the microwave for 30 seconds and stir. Let the chocolate cool until it’s no longer warm to the touch (but not re-solidifying) before continuing.
  2. Beat butter until creamy, then drizzle in melted (cooled) chocolate. Make sure the chocolate’s cooled, or the butter will melt and you’ll have a greasy chocolate frosting!
  3. Add the sugar in small amounts, stirring after each addition. Thoroughly stir in salt and vanilla.
  4. Drizzle in heavy cream and gradually turn up your mixer speed to high. Beat for 30 seconds for a light, silky smooth frosting!
My Favorite Chocolate Frosting Recipe (4)

Frequently Asked Questions

Why isn’t my frosting smooth?

Make sure that your chocolate hasn’t begun to re-solidify before you add it to the butter. If this happens, small pieces may harden and you’ll have flecks of chocolate throughout the frosting. This will make piping the icing especially difficult.
If you heat the chocolate too quickly in the microwave, it could seize, giving it a grainy, rather than smooth, appearance. If this happens, toss out the chocolate and start over or your frosting will be pebbly.

Why is my chocolate frosting runny or greasy?

While heat can make a frosting soft, melt-y, and even runny, with this recipe the culprit is usually that your chocolate was too hot. Stir it occasionally as it cools and make sure if you touch the melted chocolate or the bottom of the bowl it doesn’t feel warm to the touch.

Can I make this with cocoa powder?

Unfortunately I don’t recommend using cocoa powder for this recipe. If you’d like to use cocoa powder, see my chocolate buttercream instead.

My Favorite Chocolate Frosting Recipe (5)

More Recipes You Might Like

  • Brown Butter Frosting
  • Ermine Frosting
  • Cookie Dough Frosting
  • Peanut Butter Frosting

Enjoy!

Let’s bake together! Make sure to check outthe how-to VIDEO in the recipe card!

My Favorite Chocolate Frosting Recipe (10)

Chocolate Frosting Recipe

A simple chocolate frosting recipe that will easily frost a 2 layer 8" or 9" cake or generously ice a dozen cupcakes!Be sure to check out the how-to video!

Print Pin Rate

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes minutes

Servings: 12 servings (see note 1)

Calories: 305kcal

Author: Sam Merritt

Ingredients

  • 6 oz (170 g) semisweet chocolate² chopped into small pieces of roughly the same size
  • 1 cup (226 g) unsalted butter softened to room temperature
  • 2 cups (250 g) powdered sugar
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ¼ teaspoon salt³
  • 2 Tablespoons (30 ml) heavy cream

Recommended Equipment

Instructions

  • Place your chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave for 30 seconds. Stir well. Return chocolate to microwave and heat for another 15 seconds and stir again. Continue heating chocolate for 15 seconds, stirring after each, until chocolate is completely melted and smooth.

    6 oz (170 g) semisweet chocolate²

  • Allow chocolate to cool for at least 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally. You want chocolate to cool so that it is not hot to the touch, otherwise it will melt your butter and sugar and the frosting will not turn out.

  • While the chocolate is cooling, place butter in a separate bowl and use a stand mixer or electric mixer to beat until creamy.

    1 cup (226 g) unsalted butter

  • Add melted, cooled chocolate and stir well.

  • Gradually add sugar, scraping down the sides and bottom of bowl occasionally so that ingredients are well combined.

    2 cups (250 g) powdered sugar

  • Sprinkle in salt and vanilla extract, stir well.

    ½ teaspoon vanilla extract, ¼ teaspoon salt³

  • With mixer on low, gradually add heavy cream to frosting. Gradually increase speed to high and beat for 30 seconds.

    2 Tablespoons (30 ml) heavy cream

  • Pipe or spread frosting onto prepared, cooled baked good.

Notes

¹How many cupcakes/how much cake will this frost?

This recipe will modestly cover 24 cupcakes or generously (as seen in the photos above) cover 12 cupcakes. You can also cover an 8″ or 9″ cake or a 9×13″ sheet cake. If you want to use the frosting for decorative borders around the cake, increase the recipe by 50%.

²Chocolate

If you don’t have semisweet chocolate bars you can use 1 cup (170g) of semisweet chocolate chips instead.

³Butter

I recommend using unsalted butter, but if you only have salted on hand you can use that, just leave out the salt in this recipe.

Making in Advance

This frosting may be made in advance. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator with a piece of plastic wrap pressed firmly against the surface. When ready to use, let it come to room temperature then remove the plastic wrap and stir again to regain that smooth consistency before using.

Piping Tip

I used an Ateco 848 piping tip to pipe the cupcakes seen in the photos above.

Nutrition

Serving: 1/12th frosting | Calories: 305kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 45mg | Sodium: 53mg | Potassium: 87mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 25g | Vitamin A: 517IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 15mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered an estimate only. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods, cooking method, portion sizes, and more.

Tried this recipe? Show me on Instagram!Mention @SugarSpun_Sam or tag #sugarspunrun!

This recipe was originally published January 8th, 2018. While the recipe remains unchanged, I’ve updated the text of the post photos and added a how-to video.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Lollie

    My Favorite Chocolate Frosting Recipe (11)
    Yum! I had the chocolate bars bit I used chocolate chips. This recipe is delicious. Thank you for sharing

    Reply

  2. Amanda

    My Favorite Chocolate Frosting Recipe (12)
    Wow! I hate making frosting but also hate paying a lot of money for premade frosting with lots of artificial ingredients and corn syrup.

    I made this today and it was easy and turned out great. I used it to frost brownies and cupcakes. Everyone loved it! Thanks for posting my new go-to frosting recipe!

    Reply

    • Sandy Gore

      Made this frosting it was easy and taste great

      Reply

  3. Bee

    Hi Sam, this frosting looks so decadent. I wanted to ask you if this buttercream is grainy like normal buttercream

    Reply

    • Sam

      Hi Bee! Buttercream is not supposed to be grainy. That being said, this one is not grainy. 🙂

      Reply

  4. Sherry

    My Favorite Chocolate Frosting Recipe (13)
    Easy and delicious. Thank you! Made white cake recipe too. S

    Reply

  5. Tam

    I didn’t see this comment, so maybe it’s just me… but if I cool my chocolate at room temp, it ended up with hard pieces in it. This is not for me. I think the idea is great but if you cool the chocolate that was once hard, it’s going to harden… so no. I wasted 2 sticks of butter and 6 ounces of chocolate… threw it all in the trash.

    Reply

    • Sam

      Hi Tam! It’s important that the chocolate not be warm to the touch but that it still be fluid, it sounds like you are just cooling the chocolate a bit too long. I hope that helps!

      Reply

      • Bev

        can the frosting be at room temperature once the cake is frosted, or will it ‘melt’?

      • Sam

        Hi Bev! It will be fine at room temperature, unless of course that room is really warm. 🙂

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My Favorite Chocolate Frosting Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What kind of frosting do most bakeries use? ›

Most commercial bakeries are using a buttercream made with shortening rather than butter, because it is more stable, especially if it gets warm.

What is the difference between icing and frosting? ›

Frosting is the thickest of these confections and is ideal for spreading or piping on cakes, cupcakes and cookies. Icing is a little thinner than frosting and is often poured or piped over coffee cakes, pound cakes, doughnuts and cookies—and it usually hardens when it dries.

What kind of frosting made of chocolate and heavy cream? ›

cream, chocolate and a pinch of butter. Using just those ingredients, the process to make Chocolate Ganache Frosting is super easy, almost foolproof! Heat the cream, pour over the chocolate chips and butter then allow to sit for 5 minutes to soften. Once softened, whisk till smooth and allow to cool – seriously simple.

How to improve chocolate frosting? ›

You CAN kick it up another notch by adding one teaspoon of instant coffee powder to the frosting for a richness in taste. Try this tip when using dark chocolate canned frosting and dark chocolate cocoa powder for a dark chocolate frosting that is out-of-this-world! Your guests will definitely think it's fully homemade.

Why does bakery frosting taste different? ›

It tastes real because it uses ingredients that we like. Grocery store buttercream isnt for flavor, it's so that it stays shelf stable. They use vegetable shortening, which has almost no taste and leaves a waxy aftertaste. Butter and eggs go bad after a while, not refrigerated especially, so they leave them out.

How do you make frosting taste like bakery? ›

Whip the frosting with half a block of cream cheese and an extra cup of powdered sugar and a few drops of the appropriate flavoring extract. If you're using chocolate, add cocoa powder. If you want a richer buttery flavor add a few tablespoons of butter as well.

What is the difference between chocolate icing and chocolate frosting? ›

Frostings are generally thicker, fluffier, and used for coating not just the outside but also between layers of baked goods. Some frostings use a meringue base, while others simply rely on butter and sugar. Icings on the other hand are typically thinner and harden to a firm consistency, like royal icings, for example.

What is the difference between chocolate frosting and icing? ›

Both contain powdered sugar, but frosting is whipped from butter and icing with liquid. This results in a difference of textures. Frosting is thicker, so it's perfect for piping, while icing is thinner and made for drizzling.

Is canned frosting any good? ›

Canned frosting is a great way to save you some extra time when it comes to preparing a cake, but there is no denying that a homemade frosting in comparison to store-bought is always just a little bit more delicious.

What is the hardest frosting to make? ›

Italian Meringue Buttercream

This is considered one of the very difficult methods for making buttercream because the sugar syrup must be cooked to a specific temperature and then, while piping hot, poured into the whipped egg whites.

What is chocolate frosting called? ›

CHOCOLATE GANACHE FROSTING

Chocolate ganache frosting has an intense chocolate flavor that adds a level of deep richness to any dessert. This frosting recipe starts with, of course, chocolate ganache—made by mixing heated heavy cream with chopped chocolate until the chocolate melts and a silky mixture is achieved.

Why is it called German chocolate frosting? ›

Originating in the United States, it was named after English-American chocolate maker Samuel German, who developed a formulation of dark baking chocolate that came to be used in the cake recipe.

What is the secret ingredient that will improve your frosting? ›

By mixing in some vinegar, it will give another layer of flavor and also help hold the icing together better. (In general, you'll need a quarter of a teaspoon of vinegar for every three egg whites you use.)

Why does my chocolate frosting get hard? ›

If it's too cold, small bits of the chocolate may harden as your ingredients are being combined and you will have chocolate bits in the mix rather than a smooth chocolate frosting.

How do you intensify chocolate flavor in a cake? ›

Adding a teaspoon of espresso powder goes a long way towards enhancing chocolate flavors in your cooking. Since espresso powder is typically fine-ground, it dissolves in batters and doughs easily.

What icing is used on professional cakes? ›

Fondant icing is a sugar paste and a classic choice for decorating cakes because it provides a smooth and professional look. There are three types of fondant: rolled fondant, marshmallow fondant, and poured fondant. They are all used for coating sponges and pastries but will provide slightly different results.

What type of buttercream do most bakeries use? ›

Swiss meringue buttercream is a favorite among many cake decorators because of its smooth finish on the outside cakes and its ability to hold piping detail.

What icing do cake shops usually use? ›

Simple buttercream is commonly used to decorate cakes because it's easy to prepare and bakers can add vanilla, chocolate, or lemon flavorings to enrich a cake's flavor profile.

What is the most popular frosting? ›

Buttercream is the most popular type of frosting largely because of its few ingredients and easy application. Classic buttercream requires beating butter into icing sugar until you reach a frosting consistency.

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