This chocolate buttercream frosting is rich, creamy, silky, and so versatile. Made with just a handful of ingredients, it's a quick and easy frosting you can use on all kinds of desserts or even as a fun dessert dip.
Buttercream is perhaps the most iconic frosting in the world. It's used in and on everything from cupcakes to donuts. I love using it with all kinds of cake and cupcake recipes, but I especially love it on my chocolate banana sheet cake.
This delicious frosting is a cocoa-licious twist on the classic. I combined buttercream frosting with OliveNation 22/24 Fat Dutched cocoa powder to create a rich, creamy buttercream frosting filled with deep, decadent chocolate flavor.
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love This Chocolate Buttercream Frosting Recipe
- Ingredients
- Flavor Variations and Substitutions
- Equipment
- How to Make Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
- Tips for the Best Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
- Storage
- What to Use with Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
- More Frosting Recipes
- FAQ
- Related
- 📖 Recipe
- 💬 Comments
Why You'll Love This Chocolate Buttercream Frosting Recipe
- Limited Ingredients: This frosting only uses a few simple pantry staples you most likely have in your kitchen right now.
- Easy: It only takes a few minutes of mixing to make this chocolate buttercream.
- Rich Flavor: The Dutch cocoa creates an incredibly deep, smooth chocolate flavor.
- Ultra Creamy: Heavy cream, powdered sugar, and cocoa create an incredibly creamy frosting that's so thick and rich.
Ingredients
It only takes a handful of pantry staples to make this recipe, and almost everyone has them in their kitchen. Anything you might not have can be found at any grocery store.
- Cocoa Powder: I prefer using OliveNation 22/24 Fat Dutched Cocoa Powder (use code: NK15 for 15% off) for its deep, rich, smooth chocolate flavor.
- Vanilla Extract: Singing Dog Vanilla is my vanilla extract of choice for its quality, purity, and deep vanilla flavor.
- Butter: You can't have buttercream frosting without butter!
- Powdered Sugar: Powdered sugar gives the frosting body and its signature sweetness.
See the recipe card at the end of the post for a full list of ingredients and their exact quantities.
Flavor Variations and Substitutions
- You can make this frosting dairy-free by using dairy-free butter and dairy-free heavy cream or almond milk.
- Omit the cocoa for classic buttercream frosting.
- Use different cocoa intensities to change the flavor of the frosting.
Equipment
How to Make Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
1: Cream the butter on high in a large mixing bowl or stand mixer with the paddle attachment for about 90 seconds until creamy.
2: Add the vanilla extract and salt and mix on low speed until just combined.
3: Gradually add the powdered sugar, mixing on low until combined.
4: Add 2 tablespoons of heavy cream and mix until combined.
5: Add both cocoa powders and mix on low. Then, increase to medium and continue mixing until combined.
6: Add 2 more tablespoons of heavy cream and mix for 2 minutes or until you reach your desired consistency. Adjust with more cream to thin out the frosting if necessary.
Tips for the Best Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
- Fully soften your butter to create the richest, creamiest frosting and prevent little bits of raw butter in the frosting.
- Begin beating your frosting on low when you add the dry ingredients before ramping up the speed to avoid a big mess!
- Add extra heavy cream slowly while adjusting the frosting to ensure you don't accidentally thin it out too much.
- Sift your powdered sugar to avoid a grainy texture.
Storage
Refrigerator: Store this frosting for up to a week in an air-tight container.
Freezer: Store for up to 3 months in an air-tight container. Defrost it in the refrigerator the night before you plan to use it, then whip it again.
What to Use with Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
This rich, decadent chocolate frosting is perfect on cakes or cupcakes, as a filling, or as a fun dip for your favorite sweet items like cookies, wafers, or scones.
More Frosting Recipes
If you think this chocolate buttercream frosting looks good, I encourage you to try my other delicious frosting recipes.
FAQ
Buttercream frosting can take on a grainy texture if too much powdered sugar or too little cream is added to it. In addition, if the powdered sugar isn't sifted, it could make the frosting grainy.
Yes, you can. Overwhipping buttercream will cause it to become chunky and curdled by incorporating too much air into the frosting, causing it to separate.
To fix overwhipped buttercream frosting, add 1 tablespoon of heavy cream and mix by hand to smooth it out.
Of course, you can frost your cakes and cupcakes with it. You can also use it as a frosting for cookies, as a filling for sandwich cookies, cupcakes, or donuts, or use it as a dessert dip.
Yes, this chocolate buttercream frosting is gluten free as the ingredients are all naturally gluten free. Just always make sure to check your labels.
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Related
📖 Recipe
Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
Ingredients
- 3 ½ cups powdered sugar
- ½ cup OliveNation 22/24 fat Dutched cocoa powder
- 1 tablespoon dark cocoa powder
- 2 sticks butter room temperature
- 2 teaspoon Singing Dog Vanilla extract
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- 5 tbsp heavy cream
Instructions
- Cream the butter on high in a large mixing bowl or stand mixer with the paddle attachment for about 90 seconds until creamy.
- Add the vanilla extract and salt and mix on low speed until just combined.
- Gradually add the powdered sugar, mixing on low until combined.
- Add 2 tablespoons of heavy cream and mix until combined.
- Add both cocoa powders and mix on low. Then, increase to medium and continue mixing until combined.
- Add 2 more tablespoons of heavy cream and mix for 2 minutes or until you reach your desired consistency. Adjust with more cream to thin out the frosting if necessary.
- This recipe will frost 24 cupcakes, a double 8-inch cake or 9x13 cake. For 12 cupcakes or a cheesecake, cut the recipe in half.
Anonymous says
My family loved this!
Anonymous says
This worked exactly as written, thanks!
Oscar says
This Chocolate Buttercream Frosting is a versatile delight for any dessert lover. Rich, creamy, and silky, it’s made with just a few simple ingredients, making it quick and easy to prepare. Perfect for frosting cakes, cupcakes, or even as a fun dip, it adds a luscious chocolatey touch to any sweet treat.
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