Fluffy and smooth with a lovely chocolatey flavour, this is how to make Chocolate Buttercream Frosting! Follow along with the quick recipe video (below recipe). Use this buttercream to frost cakes and cupcakes – it can be piped, spread and used to sandwich cake layers!
Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
Fluffy and chocolatey, buttercream frosting is a classic favourite for smothering over cakes and cupcakes. This Chocolate Buttercream Frosting is:
✅ Perfect for piping – it holds its shape with swirls, roses etc
✅ Can be used for sandwiching between cake layers – it won’t ooze out everywhere like cream when you cut into the cake
✅ Fluffy, creamy, luscious and buttery. Totally indulgent and will rival any high end bakery!
How to make Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
Buttercream frosting is not hard to make but it does take time – and an electric mixer or stand mixer. The key is beating, beating, beating – for at least 6 minutes, usually 7 to 8 minutes.
The longer you beat, the fluffier it is and the smoother it is.
Beat, beat, beat!
Other than beating, the only other tip I have for a beautiful classic buttercream frosting is to use the right butter to icing sugar (powdered sugar) ratio. Too much sugar to butter = gritty frosting. Too little, and it just tastes like butter.
Go forth and enjoy! – Nagi x
Use this Chocolate Buttercream Frosting for:
-
Chocolate Cupcakes – no stand mixer required for these incredible cupcakes!
-
Chocolate Cake – the BEST everyday chocolate cake, ever!
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Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
Ingredients
- 200g / 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 1/2 cups soft icing sugar / powdered sugar , sifted (Note 1)
- 1/2 cup cocoa powder , unsweetened, preferably Dutch Processed, sifted(Note 3)
- 1/4 cup milk (any)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract (optional)
Instructions
- Place butter in the bowl of a stand mixer with paddle attached. Beat for 3 minutes on speed 7 until it becomes pale.
- Add half the icing sugar and cocoa powder. Beat for 3 minutes - start slow, increase to speed 7.
- Add remaining icing sugar and cocoa powder. Beat again for 3 minutes.
- Add milk and vanilla if using. Beat again for 1 minute on speed 7.
- Spread onto cakes / cupcakes, or spoon into frosting bag and pipe.
Recipe Notes:
WATCH HOW TO MAKE IT
Chocolate Buttercream Frosting recipe video!
LIFE OF DOZER
BY POPULAR DEMAND…. Dozer photo added!! I didn’t have one in this recipe because it was an extra recipe for the Chocolate Cupcakes. Gasp shock horror! Better fix it! 🙂
Hi Nagi, I am making this cake for my daughter’s birthday (have made numerous times, it is such a crowd pleaser!!) and would like the icing to be pink. Can I skip the cocoa powder and add some food colouring instead?
Hi Nathalie – see the vanilla buttercream here, all you need to do is add a couple of drops of colouring 🙂 https://www.recipetineats.com/my-very-best-vanilla-cake/ N x
Beautiful texture and yummy… I so appreciated you including how to adjust amounts for two-later cake! Enjoy many of your recipes, Nagi 🙂
Hello ! Can we replace the cocoa powder by cinnamon ?
Hi Myriam, you could use this buttercream recipe here and add a dash of cinnamon! https://www.recipetineats.com/my-very-best-vanilla-cake N x
Hi Nagi, I’m making this for my son’s birthday but want to make the cake and icing in advance and keep them separate until I’m ready to decorate (once he’s in bed so we can surprise him the next day!). Any tips for making and storing the icing until I’m ready to use it please? Thanks!
Hi Do I need to store the cake in the refrigerator after it’s done? Thank you
Hi Teresa, depends on how long you want to store it for and how hot it is where you are. You can store in the fridge, but I’d let it come to room temp before serving. N x
first time making chocolate buttercream frosting. I must say not bad. Where it called for .67 cups of cocoa for 16 servings I did 1/2 cup plus 2tbsp; where it called for 3.33 cups sugar i did 3 1/3 cups Taste good. Perhaps I will invest in a gram scale. Stand by for my results with the chocolate cake. I must say my KitchenAid mixer has come through once again. Definitely a life saver when it comes to beating the heck out of stuff. Thanks again for this recipe., Naji.
Hi Nagi, I followed your frosting and chocolate cake recipe and it was DELICIOUS; received so many compliments on it. I surely will be making it again, thank you!!!
Hi, for recipe chocolate buttercream frosting. Can i know 2 1/2 cups icing sugar is how many gram ? Or maybe u can give me recipe in gram. Thanks in advance.
i subbbed the milk with whipping cream and it turned out crumbly. Do i add milk or water?
Made this today…was delish! My new fav chocolate frosting! Thank you!!!!
Best chocolate cake recipe ever. Baked in 24cm springform tin. Took about an hour. Moist, not overly sweet with beautiful rich flavour.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it Elizabeth!! N x
Hey Nagi
Love this icing!!!!!! Its now not about thecake in my household its about the icing!!!
When I say “Ive made a cake” meeh But When I say “Ive made the Icing” !!!! All hell breaks loose LOL
Haha I love this Dee 😂 N x
Hi Nagi,
I’ve honestly never made a frosting (or baked a cake) before. Lockdown 2.0 has really inspired me haha. I don’t have a stand mixer, only a hand mixer with 5 speed settings and a turbo button. Will it be okay to use a hand mixer on speed 5 and beat it a bit longer (or maybe I should use the turbo setting?)?
Thank you!!
P.S.: I made ur Famous Byron Bay Cookies last weekend and it was amazinggg ur a godsend!! Boyfriend & I finished it in 4 days all by ourselves haha.
I discovered your chocolate cake and buttercream frosting last year and now my family only wants me to make them (no other flavors). Yesterday I made an “other” yellow cake with the chocolate frosting. My very adult daughter declared “you could put that frosting on a shoe & it would be delicious!”
😂 I love this Dayne!!! N x
Hi Nagi, this buttercream is heavenly. I made it for my sister’s birthday and everyone loved it
Is it possible to use thickened cream instead of milk? Thanks!
Hi Jessie, yes definitely – use 2 tablespoons of cream and 1 tablespoon of water in place of milk. N x
Thank you! Worked perfectly. Followed your instructions almost exactly . Nice and fluffy frosting
This may seem like a silly question, but if I wanted to make a vanilla buttercream, could I use this same recipe excluding the cocoa?
Hi Lucy, you can just sub the cocoa powder for more icing sugar 🙂 N x
But cocoa powder has no sugar in it. Seems like subbing sugar would make it too sweet. Any other subs?
I would try powdered milk.
Best frosting ever!!! Thanks
You’re so welcome Cori! N x
I’m making a tall 4 layer chocolate cake this week for my daughter’s birthday. Would you recommend using this frosting between layers or a firm chocolate ganache?
Hi Amy, it really depends on the cake you’re using to be honest! N x