Homemade Chocolate Buttercream Frosting Recipe
This post may contain affiliate links, please visit our privacy policy for details.
Elevate your desserts with this rich, decadent homemade chocolate buttercream frosting! This classic recipe is easy to follow and delivers a perfectly creamy, chocolatey texture that’s perfect for piping or spreading onto cakes, cupcakes, and more.
ThJust when you thought chocolate buttercream couldn’t get any better, we are sharing our favorite (and our go-to!) recipe. Honestly, I was tempted to call this recipe “basic chocolate buttercream”, but I will be honest…this recipe is ANYTHING but basic!
It’s oh-so creamy, silky, smooth, and rich. Think, chocolate fudge but in frosting form. Melts in your mouth and tastes unbelievably delicious on top of vanilla cupcakes!
Why You Will Love This Chocolate Buttercream Frosting:
- Rich and Decadent: This frosting delivers a deep, chocolatey flavor with every spoonful!
- Perfectly Creamy Texture: The smooth, creamy consistency is ideal for spreading, piping, and filling.
- Easy to Make: It’s so much easier than driving to the store and buying it! You just need a bowl, a mixer, and a handful of ingredients.
- Versatile: Use it to frost cakes, cookies, cupcakes, or even brownies!
- No Artificial Ingredients: Made from just five pantry staple ingredients, this frosting is free from artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives.
Overview: How To Make The BEST Chocolate Frosting
This is, by far, one of the easiest frostings you’ll ever make. If you’ve ever made our American Buttercream, you’ll be doing almost that same method. Here is a quick overview:
- Start by whisking the dry ingredients. Mixing the powdered sugar and cocoa powder is one of the most important steps for the perfect chocolate frosting! This ensures no lumps of cocoa powder or powdered sugar in your frosting.
- Cream butter. Depending on the amount of frosting you will be making, you will either need a stand mixer or hand mixer to beat the butter.
- Add cocoa mixture, alternately with milk, beating until smooth. While this may seem a bit excessive, this step really does help! By beating the cocoa mixture in a little at a time, we are making sure that everything combines properly.
- Stir in the vanilla. This adds just that little extra bit of flavor that takes this frosting from delicious to undeniable!
What Tastes Best With Chocolate Frosting?
I personally think almost ANYTHING works with chocolate, but here are some of our absolute favorites:
- Chocolate Fudge Cake
- Old Fashioned Sheet Cake
- Pumpkin Cupcakes
- Strawberry Cupcakes
- Better Than Boxed Brownies
- Vanilla Doughnuts
- Classic Vanilla Cake
- Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake
- Coconut Cake
Be sure to browse all of our cake and cupcake recipes for some flavor inspiration!
More Frosting Recipes:
When you make this Chocolate Buttercream Frosting, leave a comment down below! We love hearing from you and answering any questions you might have! Also, be sure to tag us on social media and hashtag it #BakersTable.
Happy baking!
x, Caylie
Homemade Chocolate Buttercream Frosting Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
- 1 cup natural process cocoa powder, sifted
- ¾ cup salted butter, room temperature
- ⅔ cup whole milk, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk powdered sugar and cocoa until well combined. Set aside.
- With an electric mixer fitted with a flat beater, beat butter until creamy.
- Add cocoa mixture, alternately with milk, beating until smooth.
- Stir in vanilla.
Notes + Tips!
- Important Note: Use room temperature butter (about 70℉/21℃).
- Quantity: This recipe should make enough to frost 8-10 cupcakes, depending on how much frosting you pipe/spread onto each cupcake. This recipe should also be enough to frost a thin layer onto a 8×12 sheet cake.
- Substitutions: To substitute unsalted butter for the salted, add ¼ teaspoon salt. To make this recipe vegan/dairy-free, use your favorite plant-based butter.
Tools You May Need (affiliate links)
– Still Hungry? –
Here are a few recipes may like!
