Chocolate Buttercream Frosting

This quick and easy recipe for chocolate buttercream frosting is ideal for any occasion. You’ll only need five ingredients and less than 10 minutes to whip up a batch to use in a variety of ways, from cakes to cupcakes, sandwich cookies and more. Slather it on a basic white cake or pipe it onto chocolate cupcakes. Don't forget the sprinkles!

Desserts aren’t finished until they're topped with frosting, and while there are plenty of flavor options from cream cheese frosting to caramel frosting, there’s one type of classic frosting that’s always the perfect fit when you need something luscious and entirely flavorful: an American buttercream frosting. This one just happens to have deep, rich cocoa powder added for the chocolate finish.

Learn how to make chocolate buttercream frosting, and use it with all your favorite desserts for rave reviews from the crowd.

The Secret to Great Buttercream

There's one thing that could make your buttercream less than impressive: buttery lumps. And that might happen if you are not using softened butter. Properly softened butter needs about 30 minutes to an hour at room temperature (depending on how warm your kitchen is). Butter that is too cold won't mix properly; butter that is too hot will be too soft to whip properly and will sag when piped.

What Is Chocolate Buttercream Frosting Made Of?

This easy chocolate frosting requires only five simple ingredients.

• Unsalted butter: Softened butter provides the key base for this buttercream frosting.
• Powdered sugar: This provides the sweetness for the frosting but also bulks up the butter into a pipe-able consistency.
• Cocoa powder: The best type of chocolate for a rich and deeply chocolaty frosting.
• Heavy cream: A small amount will make the frosting spreadable.
• Salt: A pinch of salt will balance the sweetness of the frosting.

How To Make Chocolate Frosting

No cooking, only mixing. This is one of the easiest frostings to make, which is precisely why you'll turn to it again and again for your desserts. Here's a brief outline of the process:

• Step 1: Mix butter and powdered sugar. Beat the butter and two cups of powdered sugar on medium speed in a stand mixer with the paddle attachment.
• Step 2: Add the remaining ingredients. Mix in the heavy cream, the remaining powdered sugar, the cocoa powder, and salt. Continue to mix on medium speed to allow the frosting to start to come together. 
• Step 3: Whip the frosting. As the frosting comes together, increase the speed on the mixer to medium-high. This will whip the frosting, creating the ideal smooth, luscious consistency for spreading on a cake. 

Ways To Use Chocolate Buttercream Frosting

Chocolate buttercream frosting is incredibly versatile and can be used for any number of desserts. Of course, it’s a classic pairing for a yellow cake, or you can use it to top a chocolate cake, a vanilla cake, or even something fruit-based such as a strawberry or raspberry cake. We think this Banana Layer Cake would be extra delicious with a chocolate frosting. This chocolate frosting can also be used to top cupcakes, brownies, and even cookies.

How Do You Store Chocolate Buttercream Frosting? 

If you have leftover chocolate frosting, it can be stored to use later. Keep it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days. Once it’s time to use it again, pull it out of the fridge and allow it to come back up to room temperature, and stir or beat it with a mixer before using.

More Classic Frostings

Looking for something to use with your cake or cupcakes? These are always a hit:

• Vanilla Buttercream Frosting
• Buttermilk Frosting
• Browned Butter Frosting
• Cream Cheese Frosting
• Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting
• Italian Meringue Buttercream