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 and creamy, and is super easy to whip up. It pipes beautifully, and is the perfect way to finish off all of your birthday cupcakes. This simple recipe will become a favorite!
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!
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!
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.
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!
How to store creamy chocolate frosting
- 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.
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!
First we will soften our butter and whip it slightly.
Next, let’s add milk, vanilla, salt (if using unsalted butter) and cocoa powder. Make sure to use a sifter when adding cocoa to avoid clumps. 
Lastly, add powdered sugar by sifting it into the bowl.
You are minutes away from the best chocolate frosting recipe!
Enjoy!
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.
This has got to be the BEST chocolate frosting I have ever made . Thank you so much for sharing it. I think the sea salt is the secret. My family loves this frosting!! I make extra so they can eat it right out of the bowl. Thanks!! This is a perfect 10!!
This is literally the best chocolate frosting I have ever had. I refuse to use any other recipe! I’ve made it at least 15 times in the last year. But today(of course right before Christmas) I made a double batch. The taste is off and I can’t figure out why! At first it tasted like I had to much powdered sugar. So I added very small amounts of cocoa powder. And maybe a half teaspoon of vanilla. But it still does not taste right. Any suggestions?? I may just toss and remake.
I am so glad you love it so much! 15 times is wonderful! I do know that changing volume can present an issue with sugar and cocoa dissolving differently. Since it’s the flavor issue – maybe it’s a type of cocoa powder?
Oh my goodness! The best chocolate frosting I have ever tasted!!!! So glad I tried this recipe!!!
Thank you Cheryl! You are very generous!
I made this tonight to go on a chocolate cake I baked! It came out amazing!!! Lovely smooth texture and a perfect flavor! I didn’t double the recipe and had plenty to cover my double 8 inch round cakes with leftovers for later.
Thank you for posting such a detailed review! I am so happy it was enough to cover a double 8 inch cake!
Quick, delicious and just the right amount of sweet! We had everything on hand and it was easy to whip up. Love it! 😍
I love chocolate with the right amount of sweet – thank you for pointing that out!
don moen thank you lord
PERFECT, cloud like frosting ! Everyone flipped for it – thank you ! Followed the recipe exactly !
Loved it. Twice now!
Thanks for this recipe. It’s so simple yet it looks really good. I’ll try it this weekend.
I have a question though. I am on Keto and I will be using splenda, do you have any suggestion how many teaspoons I’m going to use? Again thanks.
This sucks it made bad frosting and ruined my cake don’t try this recipe.
What made it bad?
How did it ruin your cake?
I had the same experience