Perfect Chocolate Buttercream Frosting Recipe
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Chocolate buttercream frosting is an essential recipe. Rich, soft, creamy, and delicious, my recipe for chocolate buttercream is easy to make and simple to pipe and decorate for cakes, cupcakes, and other desserts. It is the best I’ve ever tasted and pairs perfectly with my favorite chocolate cake recipe.
Why I Love This Recipe
This recipe has a rich chocolate taste and a smooth and creamy texture. 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. It stores well if I need to make it ahead.
Ingredients to Use & Why
You’ll need these ingredients to make this frosting.
- Butter – Use softened butter for the creamiest frosting. If you use butter that has not been properly softened, the butter will not mix appropriately with the other ingredients for the frosting.
- Unsweetened cocoa powder—The chocolate flavor in this frosting comes from the cocoa powder. You can use natural or Dutch-processed. You can also use raw cacao powder if you prefer. Cacao powder is pure cacao bean powder and is less processed than either natural or Dutch-processed. You may choose to use a bit less cacao powder, as it can have a richer taste.
- Confectioner’s sugar (also called powdered sugar and icing sugar) adds sweetness to the finished frosting. Since confectioner’s sugar is a fine-grain sugar, it combines easily with the other ingredients for the creamiest texture.
- Milk—Whole milk, heavy cream, or half-and-half have a higher fat content than reduced-fat milk. This adds creaminess and stability to the frosting. Make sure that the milk used is at room temperature. Cold milk can separate and cause the frosting to have a grainy texture.
- Vanilla extract—Use pure vanilla extract rather than vanilla flavoring for the best flavor. I love to use my homemade vanilla extract (such a simple recipe!).
- Espresso powder – While optional, I highly recommend adding espresso powder to chocolate recipes. Like vanilla extract brings out the flavor in sweet recipes, espresso powder further enhances the chocolate flavor in chocolate recipes. It is easy to make your own and is available in many grocery stores, cooking supply stores, or online.
How to Make Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
Chocolate Buttercream Frosting is incredibly easy to make and takes about 10 minutes from start to finish!
- Beat the cocoa powder and butter until creamy. Whisk through the cocoa powder in a large bowl to remove any lumps. Add the softened butter and cream together until well combined and creamy.
- Add the sugar and milk. Alternately mix in the confectioner’s sugar and the milk. After each addition, mix on HIGH speed for about a minute. This is a key step and makes the frosting fluffy and delicious!
- Add vanilla extract and espresso powder. Mix in the vanilla and espresso powder until well combined.
How to Tell When Buttercream Frosting is Done
Swipe a kitchen spoon back and forth through the buttercream frosting. It is ready if it is fluffy, creamy, smooth, and holds shape. If too dry? Add more milk, a tablespoon at a time, until it reaches the desired consistency. If too wet? Add more confectioner’s sugar, a tablespoon at a time, until the frosting holds its form.
Thankfully, this chocolate buttercream comes together quickly and makes plenty to frost a three-layer cake or three dozen cupcakes beautifully.
Storage Tips
Refrigerator: 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.
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.
Vanilla Cake with Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
More Favorite Frosting Recipes
Strawberry Buttercream Frosting
Here’s my Perfect Chocolate Buttercream Frosting Recipe. I can’t wait to hear how you love it.
Perfect Chocolate Buttercream Frosting Recipe
Ingredients
- 1½ 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, half and half, or heavy cream preferred
- 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.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Enjoy!
Robyn xo
Hi Robyn. Thanks for sharing this recipe. I’m about to make your chocolate cake tomorrow as well as this frosting to frost the cake. I love buttercream frosting. I just want to know if I can use instant coffee instead of espresso powder for the cake and the frosting? Thank you so much.
Hi Robyn, I’m making this for my one year olds birthday cake, is it just as good when you omit the espresso??
The espresso powder just enhances the chocolate flavor but you can certainly omit it if you choose, Mary Beth. Hope your one year old loves the cake and has a happy birthday!
Can this be made as a plain white frosting? Just not add the espresso and cocoa powder? I need a good white buttercream I can add food coloring to!
Erica, try my Classic Vanilla Buttercream Frosting. Hope you enjoy!
Absolutely love this recipe. Family favorite…made a number of times. Variation: I never have expresso pwd on hand and works out expensive just for this recipe. I use hot cup of extra strong brewed coffee in the cake and 1 teaspoon of instant coffee in the buttercream instead of expresso. People who are not coffee fans like ….not overpowering.
I’ve struugled just making a straight buttercream…this one is phenomenal!!! Very easy to do if you just follow the instrux. And do not skip the beqting on high for a min…truly makes it outstanding & super fluffy!! Thanks for such a great recipe & for the specific directions!!
This really is simple and easy recipe, isn’t it, Jen? I’m so happy you love it.
Hi! What kind of milk to you use?
I use whole milk in this recipe, Mary. Hope you enjoy!
This is the most delicious buttercream. How would you store any extra and how long can you store it?
You can refrigerate or freeze this frosting, Lori. If you refrigerate it, it’s good in the fridge for about 3 – 5 days. Just make sure you store it in an airtight container. If you want to freeze it, put in a freezer safe, airtight food storage container and freeze for up to 3 months. When ready to use after freezing, remove from freezer and place it in the fridge overnight to thaw. Right before you get ready to frost your cake, allow the frosting to come to room temperature and mix it well again to make it fluffy before using.
Hope this helps! Thanks so much.
Will this recipe make five cups. Thanks
This makes at least 4 1/2 cups of frosting, Gloria.
I’m thinking to make this soon!!
is the 1cup cocoa mean , powder? or just cocoa for drink?
It is unsweetened powdered cocoa, Aya. Hope you enjoy!
Amazing flavour! My new “go to” Chocolate Icing
Thank you, RA.
Should the butter be salted or unsalted?
I use salted butter, Stephanie. Hope you enjoy!
Thank you! Looking forward to making this for a Christmas party and a Birthday party!
Love it. I followed the instructions exactly. Worked out perfect. Perfect consistency. Not too sweet like Buttercream Frosting usually is. 9 of us tried it last night for a birthday cake. Everyone agreed. Wonderful Buttercream Frosting. And I loved working with it to ice the cake 🎂😁
Thank you, Kathleen. I’m glad everyone loved the buttercream frosting. Don’t you love how easy it to make!