The Best Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
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Chocolate Buttercream Frosting is one of those things that everyone needs to know how to make. So put this recipe in your arsenal!
This chocolate frosting is great on cupcakes, cakes both large and small, sheet cakes, and let’s be honest, it’s even great just right out of the bowl with a spoon!
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Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
The full ingredients list and instructions are found in the printable recipe card at the end of this post. I highly recommend reading the blog post all the way through so that you don’t miss any tips or substitution suggestions; to ensure that you have all the ingredients and equipment required, and to understand the steps and timings involved.
If you are looking for a chocolate buttercream frosting to have on hand, this 5-ingredient recipe is the one!
Buttercream frosting is made with unsalted butter and powdered (icing) sugar, a little milk (or cream if you want a frosting that is a bit richer), and some vanilla extract.
To turn it into chocolate buttercream, simply add cocoa powder.
It’s an easy recipe that I can make blindfolded and goes well on all types of cakes – cupcakes, sheet cakes, layered cakes, heck, even smeared onto brownies!
So save this post to Pinterest, print off the recipe, and add it to your home recipe book for the next time you need a chocolate frosting recipe!
Ingredients & Equipment Used In This Recipe
While most ingredients can be bought in grocery stores, for your convenience, any specialized or notable ingredients (and equipment) needed for this recipe have been listed below and linked to Amazon, Amazon Fresh, or other stores if available online. The complete list of ingredients with measurements is found on the recipe card.
- Dairy Produce – Unsalted Butter and Whole (Full-fat) Milk or Heavy (Double) Cream – depends on how rich you want your buttercream to be.
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar – also known as Icing Sugar or Confectioners Sugar.
- Vanilla Extract
Recipes on The Purple Pumpkin Blog use both cup measurements and/or weighted measurements. American cups and kitchen food scales are handy pieces of equipment to have in your kitchen as it means you’ll be able to make all of the different recipes on my blog. I try to give American, imperial, and metric measurements in my recipes. You can mix cup measurements with weighted measurements, but never mix imperial (pounds, ounces, pints, etc.,) with metric (kilograms, grams, litres, etc.,).
More Recipes Using Chocolate
One of the hero ingredients in this dish is chocolate, so here are some more recipes using the same:
- Chocolate Hazelnut Truffles – A Delicious Homemade Gift!
- Chocolate-Covered Strawberries for Valentine’s Day
- Decadent Chocolate Walnut Brownies with Chocolate Frosting
How Do I Make Chocolate Buttercream Frosting?
Just check out the printable recipe card below with full ingredients and instructions. Any demonstration photos do not print out to save your ink.
Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
Ingredients
- 1 cup 8oz/225g unsalted butter, room temperature
- ½ cup 4oz/100g cocoa powder
- 3½ cups 16oz/450g powdered sugar
- 1-2 Tbsp whole milk or heavy cream
- 1 tsp real vanilla extract
Instructions
- Using an electric mixer, mix the butter and cocoa powder in a large bowl until well blended.
- Add the powdered sugar to the bowl and mix on low speed until all of the sugar is combined.
- Stir in milk and vanilla extract, if using, to reach desired consistency.
- Use in recipes as required.
SUGGESTED PRODUCTS
Nutrition
Nutritional information is always approximate and will depend on the quality of ingredients used and serving sizes. If you need exact calories and macros, please do your own calculations.
Make It A Meal!
You’ve made the frosting to go on a batch of cupcakes for dessert, but what about the rest of the courses?
Here are additional recipes to make a full meal!
- Appetizer: Bacon-Wrapped Water Chestnuts Party Appetizer with Spicy Mustard Dip
- Main Dish: Super Easy Atlantic Cod with Garlic-Herb Butter
- Side Dish: Instant Pot Garlic Mashed Potatoes – A Quick & Tasty Side Dish
- Side Vegetable: Simple Oven Roasted Asparagus – A Delicious Side Dish for Fish & Steak!
- Beverage: Frozen Watermelon Slush Mocktail (or Spike It With Booze!)
- Dessert: The BEST Vanilla Cupcakes Recipe
There are 500+ Recipes on The Purple Pumpkin Blog for you to enjoy – please feel free to check them out too!