Chocolate Buttercream Frosting

In just 10 minutes, turn any dessert into a fudge-filled dream with this Chocolate Buttercream Frosting!

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If it’s anything that unlocks my deepest childhood memories, it’s chocolate buttercream frosting. My mom would whip this up for birthday cakes throughout the year, since she was the “head baker” of our family. Sometimes, she would even make it to frost cookies with during Christmastime. I’ve always preferred chocolate to vanilla, so this wasn’t just a treat for me: it was my favorite way to decorate a cake or a gingerbread cookie. It might not look colorful, but the luscious chocolate flavor sets off fireworks of joy on my taste buds.

Whether you’re a novice baker or professional pastry chef, chocolate buttercream is a must-have for anyone’s personal cookbook. It’s so simple, it only takes 10 minutes to whip up, and yet it can elevate almost any dessert to bakery status. You can get fancy and pipe it through a pastry bag to create all kinds of swirly designs, or simply spread it on with a knife. Whether you choose to show off or not, this tasty chocolate buttercream lasts a while in the fridge, so keep it handy for your next family birthday cake or holiday baking session.

Is Chocolate Buttercream Frosting Healthy?

No, chocolate buttercream frosting is a classic dessert topping made with sugar, butter, heavy cream, and cocoa, so it’s best enjoyed for special occasions only. This recipe doesn’t contain any gluten, so you can add it to your favorite gluten-free treats.

What Exactly is “Buttercream”?

Buttercream is exactly what it sounds like: a frosting in which butter acts as the primary fat. It creates the texture of the frosting, making it both creamy and dense, and perfect for piping or spreading. The base of every buttercream (whether chocolate, vanilla, or another flavor) is butter, sugar, and heavy cream or milk. Whip these together and you’ve got a sweet and smooth topping for anything from cookies to cupcakes.

INGREDIENTS

1 1/2 cups salted butter, softened
4-5 cups powdered sugar, sifted
1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted
5 tablespoons heavy cream
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

INSTRUCTIONS

Cream

Beat butter until creamy.

Mix

Combine sugar and cocoa with butter.

Blend

Add cream and vanilla; beat until fluffy.

Devour!

FAQs & Tips

How To Make Ahead And Store

You can make this frosting 2-3 days ahead of time. Keep it in an airtight container in the fridge and then bring it to room temperature before using it in your baked goods.
For longer storage, you can freeze chocolate buttercream frosting in freezer bags for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight and then re-whip before serving.

Can I Use Melted Chocolate Instead Of Cocoa Powder?

While at first it might seem like a good idea, doing so would change the consistency to be more of a liquid. Cocoa powder has just the right amount of dryness to firm up the frosting and keep it pipable. Don’t worry! It won’t be grainy; the cocoa powder mixes in smoothly with everything else.

What’s The Difference Between French Buttercream And American Buttercream?

French buttercream differs greatly from American because it uses egg yolks, which give it a more custard-like texture. American buttercream, on the other hand, is firmer and fluffier, and doesn’t contain eggs.

How Can I Make Chocolate Buttercream More Flavorful?

Something sneaky my mom and I like to do as bakers is add in our favorite spices. In chocolate buttercream, I like to add a teaspoon of cinnamon and 1/2 teaspoon each of cardamom, ginger, and nutmeg—especially when I’m making gingerbread. The spices play with those gingerbread flavors really well, which in my opinion, go great with chocolate. Alternatively, you could add 1-2 drops of food-grade peppermint essential oil (or about 1/2 teaspoon of peppermint extract) to make a chocolate mint frosting.

Serving Suggestions

Use chocolate buttercream frosting to top decadent desserts like German Chocolate Cake, Banana Chocolate Cupcakes, Eggless Sugar Cookies, Instant Pot Chocolate Cake, or Gluten-Free Strawberry Chocolate Cake. You could also sneak a scoop of buttercream onto a Brownie Chocolate Raspberry Mousse Parfait or Chocolate Pomegranate Ice Cream. However you dish out your desserts with chocolate buttercream, it’s sure to be a hit!