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    Home » How To

    Chocolate Buttercream Frosting

    Published: Sep 19, 2019 Updated: Mar 11, 2021 by Alison Hope · This post may contain affiliate links · 5 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe
    Chocolate Buttercream

    Rich and velvety chocolate buttercream frosting with heaps of chocolate flavor. Ideal to spread on cakes or to pipe onto cupcakes.

    Cupcake with chocolate buttercream frosting piped on top.

    This chocolate buttercream frosting is wonderfully versatile. It spreads beautifully over cakes and holds its shape perfectly when piped onto cupcakes.

    If you want to pipe decoration onto your cakes with this buttercream, it works perfectly for that too. It’s rich, decadent and exactly what you want on your baked goods!

    Of course this frosting is divine on some chocolate cupcakes or spread on a chocolate cake.

    Cupcakes with chocolate buttercream frosting piped on top.

    How To Make Chocolate Buttercream Frosting

    Full instructions and measurements can always be found in the recipe card at the bottom of the post. This is a summary of the process to go along with the process photos.

    • It’s really simple to make this buttercream. Add softened butter (unsalted or lightly salted) to the bowl of your stand mixer. Start at slow speed and gradually increase the speed of your mixer. Let it whip until your butter is looking quite pale in color. 
    • Then add in powdered sugar, cocoa powder, vanilla extract, milk and some (optional) instant espresso powder. 
    • Mix again, starting at slow speed and gradually increasing speed until you’re at full speed and let the mixer run for a few minutes until the frosting is very fluffy. 
    Step by step process photo collage of making chocolate buttercream frosting.

    TOP TIP: The key to a really good chocolate buttercream is to whip it until it’s really fluffy. The optional instant espresso powder deepens the chocolate flavor and is really divine. However, if you don’t like to mix your coffee and frostings, then you can leave it out. 

    Chocolate Buttercream Frosting For Cake

    This is perfect for spreading onto cakes. See it in action below!

    Chocolate buttercream frosting spread onto a chocolate cake.
    Chocolate cake with buttercream frosting on a cake stand.

    And with added melted chocolate swirls…

    Chocolate buttercream frosting and chocolate decoration on a chocolate cake.

    Use this chocolate buttercream frosting recipe for:

    Chocolate cakes. It’s enough to frost a two layer 9-inch chocolate cake, or a three layer 8-inch chocolate cake.

    Chocolate cupcakes. This frosting makes enough to very generously pipe frosting onto 12 cupcakes (as pictured). If you’re piping on a smaller swirl then it makes enough for 18-24 cupcakes.

    Chocolate buttercream piped onto a cupcake.

    Storing and Freezing

    Store it covered in the fridge for up to a week. Before using, bring it up to room temperature on the countertop and then beat it again until smooth.

    You can freeze it for up to 3 months. If you freeze it then let it thaw in the fridge and then bring it up to room temperature on the countertop before beating it again until smooth.

    Cupcake with chocolate frosting piped on top.

    More Frosting Recipes

    1. Vanilla Buttercream Frosting
    2. Cream Cheese Frosting
    3. White Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting
    4. Espresso Buttercream Frosting
    5. Biscoff Buttercream Frosting

    Did you make this recipe? Be sure to leave a comment and rating below.

    Chocolate buttercream frosting

    Chocolate Buttercream Frosting

    Rich and velvety chocolate buttercream frosting with heaps of chocolate flavor. Ideal to spread on cakes or to pipe onto cupcakes.
    5 from 7 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Diet: Vegetarian
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Total Time: 10 minutes
    Servings: 12
    Calories: 290kcal
    Author: Alison

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup Butter Lightly Salted, Softened*
    • 3 and ½ cups Powdered Sugar
    • ¾ cup Cocoa Powder Unsweetened
    • 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
    • 6 Tbsp Milk
    • ½ tsp Instant Espresso Powder Optional
    US Customary – Metric

    Instructions

    • Add softened butter to the bowl of your stand mixer and starting at slow speed gradually increase speed and beat until smooth and pale in color.
    • Add the powdered sugar and cocoa powder, vanilla extract, milk and instant espresso powder and starting at slow speed and gradually increasing speed beat for a few minutes until very fluffy and smooth.
    • If it ends up too thin, then add ¼ cup more powdered sugar.

    Video

    Notes

    1. Butter can be either unsalted or lightly salted. I prefer lightly salted as it balances out the sweetness nicely. If you’re using unsalted butter though, then you can just add ¼ tsp salt. 
    2. Powdered sugar is also called Icing Sugar.
    3. Instant espresso powder just deepens the chocolate flavor, you don’t taste coffee in your final result. However it is optional and you can leave it out if you prefer not to use it. 
    4. It’s best to use the buttercream while it’s at room temperature for spreading or piping. If it’s been in the fridge, then let it come back to room temperature on the counter and then beat it again before using. 

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1Serve | Calories: 290kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 41mg | Sodium: 140mg | Potassium: 96mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 35g | Vitamin A: 485IU | Calcium: 20mg | Iron: 1mg
    DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?Rate it & leave your feedback in the comments section below, or tag @gimmethatflavor on Instagram and hashtag it #gimmethatflavor
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    About Alison Hope

    Hi I'm Alison, I'm the voice and cook behind Gimme That Flavor. I am a big time foodie and probably cooking up a storm in my kitchen right now! I'm also a cat mom. And a sweet tooth. Binge watcher of TV shows. Terrible sleeper always staying up too late....Find out more about me here.

    Gimme That Flavor is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. This site may contain some of these links to Amazon.com. If you make a purchase through one of those links, Gimme That Flavor will receive a small commission from the purchase at no additional cost to you.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Sarah White

      March 22, 2021 at 12:10 am

      Quick, easy, light buttercream recipe. I usually don’t like to use buttercream because it’s too rich & heavy, but this recipe is perfect!5 stars

      Reply
      • Alison Hope

        March 23, 2021 at 10:33 am

        Awesome! Thanks so much Sarah!

        Reply
    2. Nadine

      June 15, 2020 at 2:32 pm

      Best frosting recipe!!!5 stars

      Reply
    3. Megan

      September 26, 2019 at 12:49 pm

      Oooh so light and fluffy, this is perfect buttercream!5 stars

      Reply
      • Alison Hope

        September 26, 2019 at 12:51 pm

        Thanks so much Megan. 🙂

        Reply

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    Alison Hope Author

    Hi! I'm Alison! Big time foodie. I'm probably cooking up a storm in my kitchen right now. I'm also a cat mom. And a sweet tooth. Binge watcher of TV shows. Terrible sleeper always staying up too late.... 

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