Easy Chocolate Frosting

Homemade Chocolate Frosting is so easy to make! This chocolate buttercream frosting is made with butter, cocoa powder, powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract.

Chocolate Frosting

I know some people are intimidated by the thought of making their own frosting. Seriously … It is one of the easiest things in the world to make!

In my personal opinion, homemade chocolate frosting tastes so much better than any of that canned stuff. Don’t get me wrong, there’s a time and place for everything – but when you want a little something more – homemade is the way to go!

A few common ingredients – butter, cocoa powder, powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract – combine to make the creamiest, most chocolatey frosting ever! Spread this Homemade Chocolate Frosting on your favorite cake – homemade or boxed, or just stick a spoon in it … I won’t judge – it’s all good to me! This will become a family favorite you’ll want to pass down for generations!

Recipe for Chocolate Buttercream Frosting

• real salted butter, softened
• unsweetened cocoa powder
• powdered sugar
• milk, cream, or water
• pure vanilla extract

How to make Chocolate Frosting

1. Place the butter and cocoa powder in a large mixing bowl. Blend with an electric mixer on low speed until well combined.
2. Add the remaining ingredients and mix on low speed for about 1-2 minutes. Stop the mixer and scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Blend on low for 1 minute or until the frosting is light and fluffy.
3. Add more milk or powdered sugar, if necessary – 1 tablespoon at a time – to get the desired consistency.
4. Use to frost the cake, cookies, cupcakes, or brownies of your choice.

Chocolate Frosting Recipe: Questions and Answers

• Can I use unsalted butter for frosting?

Absolutely! However, you may want to add a pinch or two of salt to help make the flavor pop.

• Do I need to refrigerate chocolate buttercream frosting?

Because of the large amount of sugar, the U.S. Food Safety and Inspection Services say that buttercream frosting made with small amounts of milk are safe to leave out at room temperature for 2-3 days. When not stored in the fridge, chocolate buttercream frosting should be stored in a container in a cool, dry area.

• Do I have to use milk in this recipe?

You can also use heavy whipping cream, half and half, or plain old water. 

• My frosting is too thick – what should I do?

Add more milk – 1 tablespoon at a time – until you reach the desired consistency. 

• My frosting is too thin – what should I do?

Add more powdered sugar – 1 tablespoon at a time – until you reach the desired consistency.

• Can chocolate frosting be frozen?

You do not have to throw leftover frosting in the trash. While frosting only lasts for 4-5 days in the refrigerator, it will last for 3 months in the freezer! When you are ready to use the frosting, you can simply place it in the refrigerator to defrost it.

Other recipes you may enjoy

• Chocolate Chip Cookie Cups with Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
• Simple Vanilla Buttercream Frosting
• The Best Lemon Bars EVER
• Chocolate Bread Pudding
• Strawberry Buttercream Frosting

4.35 from 66 votes

Servings: 24 servings

Easy Chocolate Frosting

By Jamie Sherman

Homemade Chocolate Frosting is so easy to make! This chocolate buttercream frosting is made with butter, cocoa powder, powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract. This will become a family favorite you'll want to pass down for generations!

Prep: 15 minutes mins

Total: 15 minutes mins

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Equipment

• Wilton Coupler, Large, 1-Pack
• piping tip
• piping bags
• offset spatula
• hand mixer

Ingredients 

1x2x3x

• ▢ 8 tablespoons real unsalted butter, softened, 1 stick
• ▢ ⅔ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• ▢ 3 cups powdered sugar
• ▢ ⅓ cup milk
• ▢ 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

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Instructions 

• Place the butter and cocoa powder in a large mixing bowl. Blend with an electric mixer on low speed until well combined.
• Add the remaining ingredients and mix on low speed for about 1-2 minutes. Stop the mixer and scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Blend on low for 1 minute or until the frosting is light and fluffy. Add more milk or powdered sugar, if necessary – 1 tbsp at a time – to get the desired consistency.
• Use to frost the cake, cookies, cupcakes, or brownies of your choice.

Notes

• Makes about 3 cups of frosting.

Nutrition

Serving: 2tbsp., Calories: 100kcal, Carbohydrates: 17g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 4g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Trans Fat: 0.2g, Cholesterol: 10mg, Sodium: 32mg, Potassium: 43mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 15g, Vitamin A: 122IU, Calcium: 9mg, Iron: 0.3mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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Originally published on October 20, 2012. Updated on May 28, 2020.