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    Homemade Chocolate Frosting

    Apr 14, 2019 · 118 Comments

    6.5K shares
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    Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe

    Homemade chocolate frosting makes a delicious frosting recipe for birthday cakes, chocolate cupcakes, chocolate chip cookies, and so many more sweet treats! It’s rich, smooth and creamy, and is super easy to whip up. This simple recipe will become a favorite!

    Homemade Chocolate Frosting

    Smooth frosting that pipes beautifully, and is the perfect way to finish off all of your birthday cupcakes.

    But when I don’t feel like making cupcakes, I simply like to spread a thin layer on a cookie or a graham cracker. And what a mighty delicious sweet treat it is! This is my go-to frosting recipe, and in my opinion, is the BEST Chocolate Frosting ever! I’ve been making it for years so I’m surprised I haven’t shared it before!

    Why make your own chocolate frosting?

    • First of all, there’s just something about rich and buttery chocolate frosting that is perfect when paired with a vanilla or dark chocolate cake.
    • It’s smooth, creamy and not-too-dark.
    • You won’t waste your ingredients by knowing exactly how much frosting this recipe produces. It will frost an 1-8 or 9 inch layered cake, or 24 cupcakes. In order to frost a double layered 9 inch cake, with plenty of frosting in between the layers, simply double the recipe!
    • No more unhealthy store bought frosting! I gave up on canned frosting a while ago because of many questionable ingredients and oils used there instead of real butter. I felt so guilty feeding my child those questionable ingredients. Making this chocolate frosting puts you in control of what you are feeding your family! Butter is healthy, nutritious and is such a better alternative to all those unhealthy oils in the supermarket frostings!
    Homemade Chocolate Frosting

    Should I use salted butter?

    • Either salted or unsalted butter will do. I used unsalted butter, but had to add ½ teaspoon of salt to enhance the chocolate flavor.
    • If you use salted butter in your frosting recipe, do not add any salt.

    What kind of cocoa powder should I use?

    • I used unsweetened cocoa powder in this chocolate frosting recipe.

    How much sugar is too much?

    There are many recipes that add 5 cups and even 8 cups of powdered sugar to the homemade chocolate frosting recipe. In my opinion it’s going way overboard on your sugar cravings. I want to spare my pancreas and liver.

    So I can assure you that I successfully made this recipe with 3 cups of powdered sugar and it was perfect! I also used 2 cups once and did not see any difference in texture and appearance. Less sugar here is more!

    Homemade Chocolate Frosting

    Our family and friends now use it as their ‘favorite frosting!’  I just wanted to share it with my chocolate friends everywhere! Let’s do it!

    How to make chocolate frosting step by step

    Add softened butter to a large bowl and mix with milk, vanilla and salt.

    Homemade Chocolate Frosting

    Next add cocoa powder by sifting it and whip with a whisk or electric mixer together until smooth.

    Homemade Chocolate Frosting

    Now stir in powdered sugar by sifting it into the mixture.

    Homemade Chocolate Frosting

    Scrape sides and whip again until light, fluffy and smooth, 1-2 minutes.

    Homemade Chocolate Frosting

    You are minutes away from the best chocolate frosting recipe!

    How to achieve smooth chocolate frosting

    • Make sure to melt your butter on the stove and let it harden as it cools.
    • Alternatively, you can also soften your butter at room temperature by taking it out of the fridge the night before.

    Store, refrigerate or freeze

    • Store in the airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
    • Or, store your homemade chocolate frosting in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.
    • You can also freeze the frosting for up to a month.

    Enjoy!

    More delicious chocolate recipes

    Vegan Chocolate Frosting

    Chocolate Coconut Bites

    Double Chocolate Buckwheat Cookies

    Chocolate Frosting
    Print Recipe
    4.65 from 45 votes

    Best Chocolate Frosting

    Smooth, creamy and rich frosting for birthday cupcakes or a cake!
    Prep Time20 mins
    Total Time20 mins
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: chocolate frosting
    Servings: 12
    Author: Olya

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup softened butter
    • ⅓ cup whole milk
    • 1 ½ teaspoon vanilla
    • ½ teaspoon sea salt
    • ⅔ cup cocoa powder, sifted
    • 3 cups powdered sugar, sifted

    Instructions

    • Soften butter by either melting it and cooling it until slightly hardened or taking it out of the fridge the night before.
    • Add butter to a large bowl and mix with milk, vanilla and salt. Next add cocoa powder by sifting it and whip with a whisk or electric mixer together until smooth. Next stir in powdered sugar by sifting it into the mixture. Scrape sides and whip again until light, fluffy and smooth, 1-2 minutes.
    • This recipe frosts one 9 or 8 inch cake or 24 cupcakes. In order to frost a double layered 9 inch cake, simply make two batches of this recipe, or double the recipe!
    Nutrition Facts
    Best Chocolate Frosting
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 268 Calories from Fat 144
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 16g25%
    Saturated Fat 10g63%
    Cholesterol 41mg14%
    Sodium 236mg10%
    Potassium 86mg2%
    Carbohydrates 33g11%
    Fiber 1g4%
    Sugar 29g32%
    Protein 1g2%
    Vitamin A 485IU10%
    Calcium 18mg2%
    Iron 0.7mg4%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

    Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy only. This information comes from online calculators. Although whatsinthepan.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures are only estimates.

    Notes

    Store airtight at room temperature for up to 3 days, or store airtight in the refrigerator for up to 7 days, or store airtight in the freezer for up to a month.
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Lavon Brannon says

      May 07, 2022 at 1:56 pm

      THIS RECIPE WAS ABSOLUTELY HANDS DOWN WONDERFUL!!

      Reply
      • Olya says

        May 09, 2022 at 6:41 pm

        Thank you Lavon for this compliment!

        Reply
    2. Mary says

      April 12, 2021 at 8:54 am

      Absolutely delicious frosting – we loved it!!!

      Reply
    3. Heide Gillham says

      April 01, 2021 at 1:49 am

      Haha that’s ok. You’re new here. See

      Reply
    4. Madie McG says

      February 27, 2021 at 12:18 pm

      I added a little bit of water and it fixed all my problems!

      Reply
      • Olya says

        February 28, 2021 at 11:55 am

        That’s great! So happy it was such an easy fix!

        Reply
    5. Lynne says

      February 05, 2021 at 5:27 pm

      This recipe was as close to my grandmother’s that I’ve ever found! Thank you so much for it!! It brought back wonderful childhood memories for me. She always made me a chocolate cake with homemade chocolate icing for my birthday. It’s a very easy recipe to follow & was more than enough frosting to cover a round 2 layer 9″ cake. (Again, what my grandmother would make for me.) I had to add a touch more salt for my tastes. I think it’s simply due to my cocoa powder being very close to its expiration date and maybe not as fresh as it should’ve been. Anyhoo, I’ll absolutely be putting this recipe in my special personal cookbook of favorites. Thank you again!!

      Reply
      • Olya says

        February 07, 2021 at 3:24 pm

        Thank you so much Lynne for putting this recipe in your personal cookbook!

        Reply
    6. Lennie Neff says

      February 04, 2021 at 6:25 pm

      WHY NOT put the INGREDIENTS FIRST, and instructions AFTER ????

      Reply
      • Kathy says

        February 08, 2021 at 11:06 pm

        Click “jump to recipe” at the top of page. It will take you to the format you apparently want.

        Reply
    7. Fred Glaze says

      January 27, 2021 at 11:28 pm

      Made This yesterday it tastes awesome thanks for the recipe

      Reply
    8. nancy says

      December 26, 2020 at 3:45 pm

      Hands down, the best homemade frosting ever! I make extra just to eat it out of the bowl. I think the sea salt is the secret to the great taste. Thanks for sharing i love it!! Totally a perfect 10!

      Reply
      • Olya says

        December 26, 2020 at 4:02 pm

        Thank you so much, Nancy! Sea salt is DEFINITELY a must! Good observation:)

        Reply
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    Hi, I'm Olya! Welcome to the online home of my recipes that will make you look like a pro, yet without having to spend too much time in the kitchen! More about me →

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