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!
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!
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!
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.
Next add cocoa powder by sifting it and whip with a whisk or electric mixer together until smooth.
Now stir in powdered sugar by sifting it into the mixture.
Scrape sides and whip again until light, fluffy and smooth, 1-2 minutes.
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
Double Chocolate Buckwheat Cookies
Best Chocolate Frosting
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!
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.
Randall Snyder says
This is the best chocolate frosting I’ve ever had! I use it all the time now. Thank you for sharing..
LaDonna says
I didn’t have whole milk but it still turned out great! This is now my go to!
Taiwo says
Is icing sugar and powered sugar the sugar?
Olya says
Yes, icing or powdered sugar is the same thing. You can use either one for this recipe
Chinyere says
Is it vanilla Essence or extract
Olya says
It’s vanilla extract
Joy says
So if I’m using salted butter, should I eliminate the 1/2 teaspoon of sea salt? Thank you.
Olya says
Yes!
Collette N Arredondo says
Can I use almond milk instead
Olya says
Almond milk doesn’t have enough fat content to hold the frosting together. Unfortunately, it won’t work. Coconut cream mixed with almond milk will work together.
Michele says
Tried this frosting today and It was very delicious! I also cut down on the sugar to 2.25 – 2.5 cups.
Olga says
I’m glad it worked with less sugar. I recently made the same frosting with 2 cups.
Karen says
Followed the recipe as is. Came out great – plenty for an 8” layer cake. We’ll see when the “judges” take a bite! Ok come back with their comments!
Olga says
I hope the judges approved!
Jay says
I think 1/3 milk was too much, made the frosting a little runny., so had to put in a lot of sugar to thicken it out by than it became way too sweet.
Robyn says
I thought it was the perfect texture and delicious. I only used two cups of powdered sugar. All other ingredients were as directed. So good!