Chocolate Buttercream Frosting

Rich and creamy 5-ingredient chocolate buttercream frosting is a classic for piping and decorating a plethora of sweet treats, and it comes together in just 10 minutes!

Why this recipe works

Just like our classic vanilla buttercream frosting, this chocolate version is a true staple for baked goods. A good chocolate buttercream frosting is airy, fluffy, rich, and doesn’t go overboard on the ingredients. Butter, powdered sugar, cocoa powder, vanilla extract, and heavy cream are whipped in a mixer bowl leaving you with incredibly smooth and decadent chocolate frosting to pipe or layer onto all sorts of cakes and cupcakes.

Ingredients you will need

Get all measurements, ingredients, and instructions in the printable version at the end of this post.

Ingredient Info and Substitution Suggestions

BUTTER – When a recipe calls for softened butter, this means the butter should be at room temperature. You can tell when butter is properly softened when you can gently poke it with the tip of your finger, back of a spoon, or a butter knife and it leaves an indentation. To soften, cut the butter into cubes and allow it to rest on a plate at room temperature for 30-45 minutes. Do not microwave butter in order to soften it.

CREAM – In place of the heavy cream, you can use whole, regular milk, or almond milk though you likely won’t need the full amount originally called for. Heavy cream creates a fluffy smooth frosting, milk will do the trick as well but is thinner in consistency and may cause the frosting to be runnier. If you plan on substituting the heavy cream with milk, use your best judgment when adding it to the mixture (you don’t want to add too much otherwise the frosting won’t be very stable).

How to Make Chocolate Buttercream Frosting

These step by step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make this recipe. You can Jump to Recipe to get the printable version of this recipe, complete with measurements and instructions at the bottom.

1. Beat softened butter in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment until light and fluffy.
2. Add in powdered sugar and cocoa powder. Mix slowly, gradually increasing the speed so that the powdered sugar stays in the mixing bowl.
3. Beat in vanilla extract.
4. Add 2 tablespoons of the heavy cream and whisk on high speed. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and add 1-2 tablespoons more of heavy cream, beating until desired consistency is achieved (about 5 minutes).

Frequently Asked Questions & Expert Tips

We used natural unsweetened cocoa powder which works perfectly in this recipe, but you can also use Dutch-processed cocoa powder if preferred. Dutch-processed cocoa powder will give the frosting a smoother flavor and will be darker in color.

Store homemade buttercream frosting in an air-tight container kept in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. You may also freeze the frosting in an air-tight container or sealed ziptop bag for up to 3 months. To use after storage, bring the buttercream to room temperature and re-beat it in the mixer to smooth it out.

This recipe will frost a 13×9 cake, a regular 9-inch cake, or around 24 cupcakes with a flat-spread of frosting. If you’re looking to pipe the frosting onto cupcakes, I would recommend doubling this recipe as you’ll use a lot more compared to a flat spread. For a 2-tiered 9-inch cake, you will want to make a double batch. You may have a bit more than you will need, but it never hurts to have a little extra just in case.

Serving Suggestions

Pipe, decorate, and smear chocolate buttercream frosting over cupcakes, brownies, cookies, and cakes. You can thin out this frosting with additional heavy cream to create a glaze or drizzle over the top of donuts and other baked goods.

Looking for a vanilla version? Check out our buttercream frosting recipe. We also have you covered on the cream cheese frosting and chocolate fudge frosting recipes.

What to Use Chocolate Buttercream Frosting For

• Cake Balls
• Marble Cake
• Classic White Cake
• Mayonnaise Cake
• Double Chocolate Cupcakes

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