Last Updated on January 14, 2023
Is there anything that beats the tasty nature of rich, flavorful, light, fluffy chocolate buttercream frosting? No! There is no doubt that whipped chocolate buttercream is every baker’s dream. I use this recipe on my homemade brownies and birthday cakes. My fluffy and silky smooth frosting is a great compliment to any cupcake or cake flavor. You can also use it for an array of other baked goods.
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Tips to Whip Up Homemade Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
Who has all the time in the world to make buttercream frosting at home when it can take only 2 seconds to pick and toss it into a shopping cart? After one of my readers emailed me requesting a homemade chocolate buttercream frosting recipe, I knew it was a perfect time I waved goodbye to the store-bought stuff and go the DIY route.
5 minutes into the process of creating my recipe, I licked my spatula slathered in the creamiest, richest, and most chocolatey buttercream frosting. I repeat, it only takes 5 minutes.
No seven-syllable ingredients. No fancy preservatives. Simply vanilla, milk, sugar, cocoa powder, and butter. Oh and a pinch of salt; my secret ingredient. I discovered that salt is magical when it comes to balancing out the sweetness and perfecting the flavor.
Skip the store-bought frosting for an easy homemade frosting that only takes 5 minutes to make.
Here are some tips to keep in mind while at it:
- Always make sure you use high-quality cocoa powder. The higher the quality, the better your frosting will taste.
- Instead of using the whisk with your stand mixer, use the beater blade. It will result in not only creamy frosting but also one that lightens in color the longer you mix it.
Now, are you ready to make the easiest chocolate buttercream frosting recipe?
Things You Will Need To Make Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup whole milk
- 2 ⅓ cups confectioners’ sugar
- 6 tablespoons softened, unsalted butter
- ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Chocolate Buttercream Frosting Step-By-Step Instructions
Step One
Inside a stand mixer bowl, beat butter on medium speed for about 1 minute. It must be smooth.
Step Two
Add cocoa powder and confectioner’s sugar to the bowl. Beat until combined. As the stand mixer runs at a slow speed, gradually stream in vanilla extract, milk, and salt in that specific order. Continue beating until they have combined well as you scrape down the sides when necessary for about 2 minutes.
Step Three
Increase the mixer’s speed to high. Beat the frosting for 2 more minutes. You can use the frosting straight away or store it inside an airtight container in a fridge.
Note: If you refrigerate the frosting, you will have to re-mix it for a minute or so, in a stand mixer before using it.
You can use this frosting for spreading on brownies and layer cakes, piping on cupcakes, or even filling sandwich cookies.
Homemade chocolate buttercream frosting not only comes together easily, but it also tastes so much better compared to the canned variety. In addition to being so smooth, it is also very easy to work with.
Chocolate Whipped Buttercream Frosting
To make the perfect-tasting homemade chocolate buttercream frosting, there are many recipes you can follow. However, to make it taste homemade, I've found the key ingredients are salt and heavy cream. To make a homemade fluffy chocolate buttercream frosting, you'll need the following ingredients:
- 1 cup of softened butter,
- 3 ½ cups of confectioners' sugar,
- ½ cup of cocoa powder,
- 3 tablespoons of heavy cream,
- ⅛ tablespoon of salt, and
- 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
Now all you need to do is:
- Add the softened butter to a stand mixer and beat.
- Keep beating for around 2 minutes.
- At this point, the mixture should be light and creamy.
- Next, add the vanilla, salt, heavy cream, and cocoa powder.
- Mix well until combined.
- Now gradually add the confectioners' sugar to the mixture.
- Once all the sugar has been added, beat for around a minute.
- Depending on how thick you'd like your buttercream, you may want to add additional sugar or thin the frosting out with additional heavy cream.
- Add additional salt if the frosting tastes too sweet.
Chocolate Frosting Without Butter
You can make creamy chocolate frosting without the use of butter. Many recipes call for vegetable shortening, rather than butter. Here's how to make fluffy chocolate buttercream frosting with a few simple ingredients. All you'll need is:
- 1 cup of vegetable shortening (I find Crisco the best option),
- 5 cups of powdered sugar,
- 3 tablespoons of dream whip powder,
- 1 ½ cups of cocoa powder,
- ⅓ cup of milk, and
- 2 tablespoons of vanilla extract
Now all you need to do is:
- Add the vegetable shortening to your stand mixer and mix for a few minutes.
- Once beaten, slowly add the powdered sugar.
- This should be done gradually, and the next cup of sugar should only be added once the previous cup has been combined.
- Next, add the dream whip powder and cocoa powder and mix well until evenly distributed.
- Now add the two tablespoons of vanilla, along with the milk.
- Add the milk gradually; as you may need slightly less than ⅓ of a cup, or slightly more.
- Keep mixing until you've reached the consistency you require for your chocolate buttercream frosting.
How to Make Chocolate Icing With Cocoa Powder
Making chocolate buttercream frosting with cocoa powder is the best way to achieve fluffy chocolate buttercream frosting, in my opinion. Many recipes use cocoa powder as the secret ingredient. Another great recipe I often follow uses the following ingredients:
- ½ cup of unsweetened cocoa powder,
- ¼ cup of melted butter or margarine,
- ⅓ cup of milk,
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract, and
- 3 ½ cups of confectioners' sugar (you may need slightly more)
Now all you need to do is:
- Add the melted butter (or margarine) into a bowl with the unsweetened cocoa powder.
- Mix well until completely combined.
- Once mixed, add the vanilla extract and milk.
- Beat mixture until smooth.
- Now slowly add the confectioners' sugar.
- You should add around one cup at a time, and only add the next cup until the previous cup is completely combined.
- Once 3 ½ cups of sugar have been added, test the consistency.
- You may need to add more sugar or milk, depending on the thickness you'd like your buttercream.
The Easiest Chocolate Buttercream Frosting Recipe
Equipment
- Cake scraper
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup whole milk
- 2 ⅓ cups confectioner´s sugar
- 6 tablespoon softened unsalted butter
- ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ¼ teaspoon teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Inside a stand mixer bowl, beat butter on medium speed for about 1 minute. It must be smooth.
- Add cocoa powder and confectioner´s sugar to the bowl. Beat until combined. As the stand mixer runs on slow speed, gradually stream in vanilla extract, milk, and salt in that specific order. Continue beating until they have combined well, as you scrape down the sides when necessary for about 2 minutes.
- Increase the mixer’s speed to high. Beat the frosting for 2 more minutes. You can use the frosting straight away or store it inside an airtight container in a fridge.
Notes
Karen is a passionate pastry chef who loves to create delicious baked goods. She has been in the culinary arts for over 10 years, honing her skills and perfecting her craft. Karen is known for her creativity and attention to detail, creating unique desserts that bring a smile to everyone’s face. She is always looking for ways to challenge herself and come up with new recipes that are both tasty and visually appealing. Karen loves to experiment with different flavors and textures, and she is committed to providing the highest quality of products to her customers.
