Super Easy Chocolate Frosting Recipe - Lauren's Latest (2024)

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With over 1 million page views and counting since 2013, thisChocolate Frosting Recipeis my most popular frosting recipe on my website. Using simple ingredients, it’s simple to whip up and the best frosting for any kind of cake…especially birthdays!

Super Easy Chocolate Frosting Recipe - Lauren's Latest (1)

There are thousands of homemade chocolate frosting recipes out there. This is the one that continues to be requested for every birthday, special occasion or just because! Just take a look at the 600+ reviews in the comment section at the bottom of this post and you’ll see that it’s a favorite for many others as well. Be warned, this frosting is so gosh darn delicious it may disappear before you even get to frost your cake! Move over store-bought frosting because this recipe is about to knock your socks off.

Homemade Chocolate Frosting ingredients

This Chocolate Frosting recipe is essentially a chocolate buttercream because it’s made with:

  • softened butter that is whipped together with
  • powdered sugar
  • cocoa powder
  • vanilla
  • milk

Pro Tip:Before you get started, make sure you are using very soft butter, sifted powdered sugar, sifted cocoa powder and be prepared to adjust the thickness of the frosting with a little more milk or a little more powdered sugar.

If you’re going to pipe this recipe, you’ll want it more stiff so it holds its shape, if you’re wanting to frost a cake, you’ll want it slightly thinner and more easily spreadable.

How to make Chocolate Frosting

I assure you this is one of the easiest recipes in the entire world you can make. I promise you can do it! Just get the right ingredients and you’re golden.

  1. Whip butter and cocoa together until smooth in large bowl.
  2. Stir in vanilla and powdered sugar.
  3. Slowly stream in milk until frosting reaches desired consistency.
  4. Scrape sides and whip again until light, fluffy and smooth, 1-2 minutes.

Need more chocolate in your life? Try these tasty treats: Actually Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies, Chocolate Cake Extreme, Chocolate Cobbler, Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars.

Can I make this Chocolate Buttercream Frosting ahead of time?

Absolutely! This chocolate frosting will last for one week in the fridge as long as its in an airtight container. If you plan on using it to frost a cake, you’ll want to bring it to room temperature for 3-4 hours first and then whip it for a quick 20 seconds to get it light and fluffy again before using.

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Chocolate Icing tips and tricks

Time and time again, I get comments on this recipe saying it was either way too thick or way too thin to use. Here’s the secret though: not everyone measures cocoa powder or powdered sugar exactly the same. So all the frostings you make using the exact same recipe will vary and you will have to make minor adjustments.

  • If your frosting is too thick, slowly add in milk little by little to get the consistency you want.
  • If your frosting is too thin, add a little extra powdered sugar little by little to get the consistency you want.
  • If you want to use this frosting to cover a whole cake, run a butter knife through the finished frosting. If it holds its shape but is still really easy to spread, it’s perfect. I’d highly recommend using an offset spatula for frosting a cake.
  • For pipeable frosting that holds its shape, you want to make sure the frosting will hold its shape and not fall, so slightly stiffer than for frosting a whole cake. These disposable piping bags are great! Also, this 1M Wilton frosting tip is the one everyone uses to get those gorgeous mountains of frosting on top of cupcakes.
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This Frosting is too sweet!

Friends, frosting is supposed to be sweet! I know when you see 5 cups of powdered sugar, your eyeballs jump out of their sockets a little bit, but trust me, it will be just fine. Especially since this chocolate frosting recipe makes a ton: enough to frost an entire 9-inch cake with leftovers or 24 cupcakes.

If you find that the frosting is too sweet, try to sprinkle in a little salt or use salted butter. If you want to reduce the powdered sugar by 1-2 cups, you are welcome to do so, but know you will have to reduce the milk as well.

How to use Chocolate Buttercream Frosting

Besides licking this right from the spoon, I have lots of cakes and cupcakes recipes to make with Chocolate Buttercream Frosting.

  • Classic Chocolate Cake
  • Chocolate Cupcakes
  • Flourless Chocolate Cake
  • Chocolate Candy Cane Cake
  • Vanilla Cake– this combo is to die for!

Chocolate Buttercream Frosting FAQs

Do I really have to sift the powdered sugar and cocoa powder?

No, not at all. Cocoa powder is notoriously lumpy and it definitely helps to sift, but not totally necessary. Most of you making this recipe aren’t professionals and might not even have a sifter available to you, which is fine! Also, powdered sugar has cornstarch mixed into it to help prevent lumping. As you whip the ingredients for the frosting together, most of the lumps should come out. *Should* come out. They might not, which is all the more reason to sift. But again, don’t lose sleep over this if you can’t sift.

Can I use Salted Butter?

Yes! I actually prefer using salted butter for all my desserts and baked goods. I know, I know, sacrelig! Either unsalted or salted butter is absolutely fine to use interchangeably in this recipe.

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Love Cake Decorating? Try these other frosting recipes:

  • Vanilla Buttercream
  • Cream Cheese Frosting
  • Royal Icing
  • Chocolate Sour Cream Frosting
  • Whipped Chocolate Ganache Frosting
  • Cream Cheese Frosting
  • Lemon Mousse Frosting

More Favorites from Lauren’s Latest

  • Lasagna Recipe
  • Salisbury Steak
  • Waffle Recipe
  • Crescent Roll Pigs in a Blanket
  • Lemon Curd Recipe Easy
  • Peach Cobbler Recipe

So, there you have the easiest, tastiest chocolate frosting recipe! Hope you absolutely love it! Be sure to pin, save, bookmark and share this recipe because it’s a good one! Have a great day, friends!

If you make this recipe, I would really appreciate it if you wouldgive it a star rating and leave your review in the comments! If you have a picture of your finished dish, post it on Instagram using the hashtag #laurenslatest and tagging me @laurens_latest.

Super Easy Chocolate Frosting Recipe - Lauren's Latest (5)

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4.43 from 403 votes

Chocolate Icing Recipe

Easy Chocolate Frosting is the BEST frosting for cakes, especially birthday cupcakes!! It’s simple to whip up and so creamy!

servings 12

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 10 minutes mins

Ingredients

US CustomaryMetric

Instructions

  • Whip butter and cocoa together until smooth in large bowl. Stir in vanilla and powdered sugar. Slowly stream in milk until frosting reaches desired consistency. Scrape sides and whip again until light, fluffy and smooth, 1-2 minutes. Frosts 1-9 or 8 inch round layered cake or 24 cupcakes.

Notes

  • If your frosting is too thick, slowly add in milk little by little to get the consistency you want.
  • If your frosting is too thin, add a little extra powdered sugar little by little to get the consistency you want.

Nutrition

Calories: 341kcal | Carbohydrates: 52g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 41mg | Sodium: 138mg | Potassium: 64mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 49g | Vitamin A: 480IU | Calcium: 13mg | Iron: 0.5mg

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Chocolate Frosting, easy

Super Easy Chocolate Frosting Recipe - Lauren's Latest (2024)

FAQs

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

But, there are ways to make it more interesting; one such way is to hit it with a shot of vinegar. Don't worry, the icing won't taste sour or like vinegar at all, but the acid will help balance out the sweetness, making it taste more pleasant. Even better, it will make the icing stronger and more durable.

How to jazz up chocolate icing? ›

Flaked coconut, mini chocolate chips or shavings, chopped nuts and even sprinkles would be fun morsels to fold into your frosting, depending on what dessert you'll frost. Editor's Tip: Before you add any mix-ins, make sure the frosting is at your desired consistency first.

How do you stiffen chocolate frosting? ›

If you are making a chocolate frosting, adding more cocoa powder is a great option for thickening it. The technique is basically the same as if you were thickening with powdered sugar, but you want to use a smaller quantity of cocoa powder than icing sugar. Try adding just 1 to 2 teaspoon at a time.

What is the most stable frosting? ›

The most stable of the buttercreams, Italian buttercream is made from a meringue made bystreaming hot sugar syrup into egg whites as they're being whisked.

What is the most important ingredient in frosting? ›

Sugar is the most important ingredient in all types of frostings, providing sweetness, flavor, bulk and structure.

Why put vinegar in frosting? ›

Add white vinegar.

Although many do so to avoid cracks and to achieve a smooth appearance, I find just the tiniest bit — about 1/2 to 3/4 teaspoon — also curbs the sweetness, allowing the wonderfully creamy mouth-feel of the icing to truly shine.

Does whipping canned frosting make it better? ›

Always begin by scraping the frosting into a mixing bowl and stirring vigorously or mixing with a mixer until smooth and creamy. This simple step of incorporating air into a can of dense store-bought frosting will make it fluffy and enhance the flavor.

How to make bought frosting taste homemade? ›

For a (16-ounce) tub of frosting, anywhere from ½ cup to 1 cup of crunchy additions will do the trick. Toasted nuts, coconut flakes, chocolate chips or chunks, halvah, and toffee will all add a fun new dimension of flavor. Stir in chopped up canned pineapple or fresh berries for an extra fruity kick.

Why is my chocolate icing not setting? ›

If you are using a spreadable type of butter it may not set as well as this type of butter has extra water and vegetable oils in it, which makes it soft to spread but means the icing will not set. Also, measure the milk carefully - it is 3 tablespoons, which is 45mls.

Does powdered sugar make frosting stiffer? ›

Add powdered sugar

If the frosting has not reached your desired thickness after chilling, add a few tablespoons of sifted powdered sugar to help your buttercream stiffen.

How do you thicken chocolate frosting without icing sugar? ›

If you're worried about making the frosting too sweet, add 1 ounce of softened cream cheese to the frosting to thicken it without adding more sugar. For chocolate-based frostings, you can also add 1 to 2 teaspoons of extra cocoa powder for thickening.

What is the royal icing used for? ›

Royal icing is a hard white icing, made from softly beaten egg whites, icing sugar (powdered sugar), and sometimes lemon or lime juice. It is used to decorate Christmas cakes, wedding cakes, gingerbread houses, cookies, and many other cakes and biscuits. It is used either as a smooth covering or in sharp peaks.

What frosting do professionals use? ›

Swiss meringue buttercream is probably the most standard buttercream for pastry professionals. It is incredibly smooth, making it an extremely popular choice for icing cakes. Compared to American buttercream, it has a much stronger butter flavor, but is considerably less sweet.

What kind of frosting do most bakeries use? ›

Buttercream frostings rely on the main ingredient of butter and will be the most common type of frosting you will find in a bakery.

Which frosting is best for beginners? ›

In terms of ease, buttercream is the best frosting to use as it's easy to make and relatively easy to spread.

How can I make frosting better? ›

For a (16-ounce) tub of frosting, anywhere from ½ cup to 1 cup of crunchy additions will do the trick. Toasted nuts, coconut flakes, chocolate chips or chunks, halvah, and toffee will all add a fun new dimension of flavor. Stir in chopped up canned pineapple or fresh berries for an extra fruity kick.

What is the secret to buttercream frosting? ›

6 Secrets for Perfect Buttercream
  • Use the right powdered sugar the right way. ...
  • Beat, beat, beat the butter! ...
  • You can use cream OR milk, just use the right amount. ...
  • Adjust the sugar to your preference. ...
  • Never add too much liquid to your buttercream. ...
  • Prevent your buttercream from melting on a hot or humid day.
Jan 15, 2018

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