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Rich, creamy chocolate buttercream frosting is a dessert staple and we’ll show you how to make it – it’s easy! Pair it with cupcakes or cake and it will melt in your mouth!

chocolate cupcakes with fluffy chocolate frosting on top on white background
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Chocolate Buttercream Frosting Recipe

We’re sharing a dessert staple today!

Chocolate frosting with cocoa powder is an essential recipe for a baker! It pairs well with so many cakes and cupcakes – further down in the post I’ll be sharing my recommendations.

Fluffy chocolate buttercream is incredibly easy to make and most likely you have all the ingredients on hand already!

chocolate frosting in white bowl with striped towel

What is buttercream

Buttercream is a type of frosting that calls for creaming butter and powdered sugar together to make a fluffy frosting.

Buttercream is the typical frosting that you see paired with cakes and cupcakes.

cocoa powder and butter in glass bowl

Best Chocolate Frosting Ingredients

  • Butter, room temperature
  • Unsweetened cocoa powder
  • Powdered sugar
  • Vanilla extract
  • Dash milk or heavy cream if frosting becomes too thick

How to Make Easy Chocolate Frosting

  1. Place room temperature unsalted butter in a mixing bowl. Use an electric mixer on medium and beat the butter for 1 minute, until whipped and fluffy. 
  2. Add in the cocoa powder, powdered sugar and vanilla extract, beat again on low for 1-2 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl, until everything is incorporated. 
  3. If the frosting is too thick, add a tablespoon of milk or heavy cream, and beat until creamy. 
chocolate frosting in glass mixing bowl with electric mixer

Easy Chocolate Frosting Recipe Tips

  • Use room temperature butter because it whips more easily and produces a fluffier frosting
  • Whip it! Want fluffy frosting? Whipping is the key!
  • Use unsweetened natural or dutch processed cocoa powder

Best Chocolate Buttercream Frosting Uses

chocolate cupcakes with chocolate frosting on white marble background

How to Store Homemade Chocolate Frosting

You can store frosting in a sealed container on the counter for up to 2 days.

However, you can store frosting in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 1 week. Before using, place the frosting on the counter and allow it to come to room temperature. Give it a quick whip with an electric mixer before using,

Best Chocolate Buttercream Frosting FAQs

Why do I have air bubbles in my frosting and how can I get rid of them?
What is the difference between chocolate frosting and icing?
What is the difference between frosting icing and ganache?
How do you make chocolate buttercream thicker?
Should I refrigerate buttercream frosting before piping?
4.25 from 4 ratings

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Best Chocolate Frosting (Easy!)

By: Beth
Additional Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Servings: cups
Rich, creamy chocolate buttercream frosting is a dessert staple and we’ll show you how to make it – it’s easy! Pair it with cupcakes or cake and it will melt in your mouth!

Ingredients

  • 2 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature, 1 cup
  • cup cocoa powder
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • Dash milk or heavy cream if frosting becomes too thick
An advertisement for the cookbook Sweet by Beth Baumgartner features the book cover and photos of colorful desserts. Text reads: My New Cookbook Sweet with 63 dessert recipes & photos is now available! A Buy Now button with a cart icon is included.

Instructions 

  • Place room temperature unsalted butter in a mixing bowl. Use an electric mixer on medium and beat the butter for 1 minute, until whipped and fluffy. 
  • Add in the cocoa powder, powdered sugar and vanilla extract, beat again on low for 1-2 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl, until everything is incorporated. 
  • If the frosting is too thick, add a tablespoon of milk or heavy cream, and beat until creamy. 

Notes

How long does chocolate frosting keep?

You can store frosting in a sealed container on the counter for up to 2 days.
However, you can store frosting in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 1 week. Before using, place the frosting on the counter and allow it to come to room temperature. Give it a quick whip with an electric mixer before using.

Why do I have air bubbles in my frosting and how can I get rid of them?

Air bubbles form when whipping the frosting, which is a necessary step in making buttercream! But you can reduce the amount of air bubbles by beating the frosting on low speed for a minute or by hand mixing the frosting. You are essentially pushing out the air bubbles. 

Nutrition

Serving: 2Tablespoons | Calories: 169kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 30mg | Sodium: 3mg | Potassium: 59mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 353IU | Calcium: 8mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition Disclosure

All nutritional values are approximate and provided to the reader as a courtesy. Changing ingredients and/or quantities will alter the estimated nutritional calculations.

Like this recipe? Rate and comment below!

About Beth

I believe that everyone should have a go-to dessert to bring to parties! With hundreds of recipes, I'll help you find yours!

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4.25 from 4 votes (4 ratings without comment)

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4 Comments

  1. First time I will doctor up a box cake mix. Sounds terrific. Will let you know the results.

    Thank You for sharing.

    Yolanda

  2. Can I whip up the frosting entirely by hand? I don’t have a hand mixer and can’t afford anymore at the moment.

    1. Yes you definitely can! It will take a lot of arm muscle to get the butter fluffy!