The Perfect Chocolate Buttercream Frosting recipe essential for birthday cakes and celebrations! It’s the best chocolate buttercream frosting I’ve ever tasted!

The Perfect Chocolate Buttercream Frosting is definitely a must  in my house! Rich and delicious, this buttercream frosting is perfect for cakes, cupcakes and more.

Chocolate Buttercream Frosting frosts Chocolate Cake on white antique cake stand - ©addapinch.com

This compliments so many delicious cakes and cupcakes, but my favorite is when it’s paired with my Best Chocolate Cake. It is literally the perfect chocolate frosting so it’s naturally so good on chocolate cupcakes or even my Vanilla Cake. But seriously, it is pretty amazing on anything it touches. Like a spoon works just fine, too!

Chocolate Buttercream Frosting

Fluted edge white heirloom cake stand holds chocolate cake with Chocolate Buttercream Frosting - ©addapinch.com

Made from just six simple ingredients, this buttercream frosting comes together quickly. This recipe yields enough to frost a three layer cake or three dozen cupcakes beautifully.

Here’s how I make it.

Ingredients for Chocolate Buttercream Frosting

You’ll need these ingredients to make this frosting.

  • butter – softened. I prefer using salted butter.
  • unsweetened cocoa powder
  • confectioner’s sugar – also called powdered sugar
  • milk
  • vanilla extract – this homemade version is rich and delicious, but if you can use another quality vanilla if you wish.
  • espresso powder – this adds a such a richness to the frosting further enhances the amazing chocolate flavor. It’s easy to make your own and is available in many grocery stores, cooking supply stores or online. This little extra ingredient heightens the deliciousness even more!

How to Make Chocolate Buttercream Frosting

To make this delicious frosting, you’ll need a large mixing bowl or a large bowl for a stand mixer.

  1. Add cocoa to large bowl or bowl of stand mixer. Whisk through the cocoa well to remove any lumps.
  2. Then, add softened butter to the bowl with cocoa. Cream together the butter and cocoa powder until well-combined.
  3. Next, alternately add sugar and milk to the cocoa mixture by adding 1 cup of sugar followed by about a tablespoon of milk. After each addition has been combined, turn mixer onto a HIGH speed for about a minute. Repeat until all sugar and milk have been added. This is important – so please make sure to mix it just as described in these instructions. It makes the frosting into fluffy, delicious perfection!
  4. Then add your vanilla extract and espresso powder and combine well.
  5. If your frosting appears too dry, add more milk, only one tablespoon at a time until it reaches the right consistency.
  6. If it appears too wet and does not hold its form, add more confectioner’s sugar, only one tablespoon at a time until it reaches the right consistency.
  7. Frost your cake or cupcakes as desired and enjoy!

Thankfully, this chocolate buttercream comes together quickly and makes plenty to frost a three layer cake or three dozen cupcakes beautifully.

Can I Store Extra Frosting?

Yes! If you have leftover buttercream frosting once you’ve frosted your cake, you can refrigerate or freeze it.

To Refrigerate

Place frosting in an airtight container. Refrigerate for up to 5 days. Once ready to use, remove from the refrigerator and allow to reach room temperature, then whisk well to fluff the frosting.

To Freeze

Place frosting in an airtight, freezer safe container and freeze for up to 3 months. Once ready to use, place in refrigerator overnight to thaw, then remove from fridge for a short time prior to use as described previously and whisk to fluff the frosting.

More Favorite Frostings

Vanilla Buttercream Frosting

Cream Cheese Frosting

Strawberry Buttercream Frosting

Ganache

Whipped Cream – not a frosting, but still a great topping to many desserts.

Here’s my Perfect Chocolate Buttercream Frosting Recipe. I can’t wait to hear how you love it.

Perfect Chocolate Buttercream Frosting Recipe

4.97 from 756 votes
Perfect Chocolate Buttercream Frosting is an essential when it comes to birthday cakes and other celebrations. Get this family favorite, perfect chocolate buttercream frosting recipe.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 36 (2 tablespoons) servings

Ingredients 

  • cups (339 g) butter, softened
  • 1 cup (84 g) unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 5 cups (567.5 g) confectioner’s sugar
  • ½ cup (113.5 g) milk, whole
  • 2 teaspoons (9 g) vanilla extract
  • ½ teaspoon (1 g) espresso powder

Instructions 

  • Add cocoa powder to a large bowl or bowl of stand mixer. Whisk through to remove any lumps.
  • Cream together butter and cocoa powder until well-combined.
  • Add confectioner's sugar to a large bowl. Whisk through to remove any lumps. Alternatively, you may sift the confectioner's sugar into the large bowl. Add the confectioner's sugar and milk to the cocoa mixture by adding 1 cup of confectioner's sugar followed by about a tablespoon of milk. After each addition has been combined, turn the mixer onto a high speed for about a minute. Repeat until all sugar and milk have been added.
  • Add vanilla extract and espresso powder and combine well.
  • If frosting appears too dry, add more milk, a tablespoon at a time until it reaches the right consistency. If it appears to wet and does not hold its form, add more confectioner’s sugar, a tablespoon at a time until it reaches the right consistency.

Nutrition

Serving: 2 tablespoons | Calories: 141kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 21mg | Sodium: 63mg | Potassium: 45mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 242IU | Calcium: 10mg | Iron: 0.3mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Enjoy!
Robyn xo

You may also want to try my White Chocolate Buttercream Frosting recipe as well.

Welcome to Add A Pinch

About Robyn

Robyn Stone is a cookbook author, wife, mom, and passionate home cook. Her tested and trusted recipes give readers the confidence to cook recipes the whole family will love. Robyn has been featured on Food Network, People, Southern Living, and more.

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Recipe Review




2,735 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    The chocolate cake and chocolate frosting was really good! I’m going to try your vanilla cake next time. 🥰

    1. 5 stars
      Delicious frosting!!!! My family loved it. The espresso powder really makes a difference too. Will definitely make this again

    2. Thank you. I’m glad your family loved this frosting. I think the espresso powder makes a huge improvement in taste, too.

    1. Desiree, I always use the paddle attachment when making this frosting. Start the mixer on low speed as you start mixing the ingredients and increase as they are combined. Hope you enjoy.

  2. Can I leave the cake out or do I need to refrigerate it? I made some cream cheese frosting and I had to refrigerate it. It kept the frosting firm, but the carrot cake wasn’t good after getting cold. Thanks!

    1. You don’t have to refrigerate buttercream frosting, Ginni. I leave my Best Chocolate Cake with this chocolate buttercream frosting under a covered dome on my counter. I hope you enjoy!

    2. Thanks so much! I like making the frosting, I haven’t mastered the cake part, I just use a box from the store, but I’m pretty good at making frosting. 😁

    3. Ginni, the Best Chocolate Cake is so easy to make. I hope you try it sometime.

    4. As a matter of fact, I looked it up and made it today! I’m getting ready to make the frosting now, my son wanted chocolate cake for his birthday. Thanks again!

  3. 5 stars
    This cake and buttercream frosting truly are THE BEST EVER. I CANT BELIEVE HOW EASY BOTH RECIPES ARE. And everyone who ate it, loved it. I shared the recipe with my sister who bakes often to share at work. In my house we were rationalizing eating this cake for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Thank you!

    1. Ginny, thanks so much. I can understand the breakfast, lunch, and dinner scenario! I’m thrilled everyone loved the cake and that you found the recipes easy to make.

  4. 5 stars
    Best frosting I’ve ever had! Went extremely well with my cake, I definitely recommend it!

  5. 5 stars
    First off, LOVE your recipe! It is my go-to for for my chocolate cupcakes and chocolate cake! However, I noticed you answering Betty’s comment about you using salted butter in your recipe. I have been using unsalted every time I have made it, so do you recommend using salted from now on? Would that balance out the sweetness?

    1. Donald, you can use whichever you prefer. I just prefer salted butter in all my baking. The salted butter may balance the sweetness.

    1. This recipe makes at least 4 1/2 cups of frosting, Bryanna. It is enough to frost a 3 layer cake or 36 cupcakes.