Skip the store-bought frosting in favor of this easy recipe for the best Chocolate Buttercream Frosting that takes just 5 minutes to make.
I have a confession to make. Chocolate buttercream frosting has always been an item on my grocery list rather than a recipe in my baking repertoire.
Who has the time to make buttercream frosting when it takes all of 2 seconds to toss it into your shopping cart and call it a day? But after a reader emailed me asking for a fool-proof chocolate buttercream frosting recipe (to follow up on the vanilla variety), I knew it was time to wave goodbye to the store-bought stuff and finally go the DIY route.
Little did I know, 5 minutes into my recipe creation process I’d be licking a spatula slathered in the richest, creamiest, most chocolatey buttercream frosting to ever cross my lips. I repeat, 5 minutes.
No fancy preservatives. No seven-syllable ingredients. Simply butter, cocoa powder, sugar, milk, vanilla, and my secret ingredient, a pinch of salt. The salt helps balance out the sweetness and round out the flavors. Toss all of the ingredients into a stand mixer, and you too will be a confectionery convert.
A few tips for whipping up homemade chocolate buttercream frosting:
- Use good quality cocoa powder. The better the quality, the better the taste of your frosting.
- This recipe can be easily doubled for all my fellow chocoholics out there.
- Use the beater blade with your stand mixer (rather than the whisk). It’ll result in creamy frosting that lightens in color the longer it’s mixed.
- This stuff pipes like a breeze. So get your fancy pants on and check out my simple trick for piping two-tone swirled frosting.
One more trick of the food styling trade? Grab a small spoon and use the back of it to make luscious, deep swirls and create the perfect peaks and valleys for a shower of sprinkles in every color.
Ready to see this buttercream in action? Tune in to the video below then get ready to buttercream all of your favorite baked goods!
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Ingredients
- 6 Tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- 2 1/3 cups confectioners’ sugar
- 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/3 cup whole milk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter on medium speed until it is smooth, about 1 minute.
- Add the confectioners’ sugar and cocoa powder to the bowl and beat until combined. With the stand mixer running on low speed, slowly stream in the milk and vanilla extract then add the salt and continue beating until well combined, scraping down the sides as needed, about 2 minutes.
- Increase the speed to high and beat the frosting for an additional 2 minutes. Use the frosting immediately or store in an airtight container in the fridge. (If you refrigerate the frosting, you may want to re-blend it for a few seconds in the stand mixer before using it.)
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Recipe by Kelly Senyei of Just a Taste. Please do not reprint this recipe without my permission. If you'd like to feature this recipe on your site, please rewrite the method of preparation and link to this post as the original source.
This frosting is so creamy and delicious. And it was super easy to make!
I used plant-based milk (Almond milk) and plant-based butter, to make this a vegan frosting, and it was great. This recipe is a keeper, I’ll use it again and again. Thank you!
Love reading this, Joyce! I’m so thrilled you enjoyed the recipe!
Why can’t I pin this to Pinterest? I want to use it again! Thank you.
Hi Julie! If you hover your cursor over the top left corner of the image a red Pinterest button should appear. Please email me if you still have questions: kelly@justataste.com :)
This recipe was delicious. I did add another tablespoon of butter. The frosting is not overly sweet and it’s lighter than most frostings. I got great reviews from my entire team at work. Will be my new secret recipe
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I’m so thrilled you enjoyed the recipe, Kathleen!
How would this frosting turn out using a standard hand mixer?
Hi Taylor! A hand mixer works but it may not be as smooth. :)
best i ever had quick and easy love it
I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe, William!
best i ever had
This is a fabulous recipe! Not only is it fast and easy. It makes the smoothest most creamy frosting I have ever had. Tastes great. Not overly sweet. My go to chocolate frosting from now on! Do you happen to have any more recipes like this for different flavors other than chocolate.
Thank you so much for sharing.
You are so welcome, Terry! I’m thrilled you enjoyed the buttercream frosting. I also have a recipe for Easy Buttercream Frosting: https://www.justataste.com/video-easy-buttercream-frosting-recipe/ and Vanilla Bean Buttercream Frosting: https://www.justataste.com/vanilla-bean-cupcakes-buttercream-frosting-recipe/ :)
This icing is so delicious and was so easy to make! Thank you! :)
You are so welcome, Maria! I’m thrilled you enjoyed the recipe!
OMG it took literally 5min and OMG it was incredibly delicious and this is coming from someone who is not a frosting eater. This will be my go to recipe for now on, Yummmm!!!
Woohoo! This is what I love to read, Susan! I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe :)
Pretty quick and pretty tasty!
I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe, Stephanie!
I am making a birthday cake and will use this recipe to cover a large cake. Because I am not going to have much time to ice it at the last minute, how long could I leave it without refrigerating it which would dry the chocolate sponge?
Hi Eileen! A decorated cake with buttercream frosting can be stored at room temperature for up to 3 days. However, if it’s hot or humid where you live, store the cake in the fridge. :)
OMG!!! I have never had such fluffy frosting. And the chocolate flavor is spot on!
I’m thrilled you enjoyed the recipe, Julia!
Excellent basic butter cream, I put it on a gluten free chocolate cake and wow it finished off the desert very nicely. Everyone enjoyed even the dieting folks who sampled the cake & icing thought it was just sweet enough and a prefect topping.
I think the next time will add 1/4 tsp espresso powder to change it up kick up the chocolate flavour even more… this recipe is worth a try.
I love the idea of adding espresso powder, Lorraine! I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe!
Turned out great and so easy. Deep chocolate flavor, perfect. I would note that I made a layered cake and there was barely enough for it. Maybe I like more frosting than others do? LOL
I did do one thing that was not in the instructions, I sifted the sugar first so to make sure there were no lumps.
Amazing! I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe, Jo!