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.
Very yummy and easy to make
I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe, CJ!
Loved this frosting so quick and easy to make – delicious too. Is it suitable for freezing? If not how long can I refrigerate it for? Thanks in advance
Hi Gerry! The buttercream frosting can be stored in an airtight container and kept in the fridge for up to five days. When ready to use, allow it to come to room temp and mix with a spoon or electric mixer.
The cake turned out gorgeous but I halved the frosting recipe.
I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe, Vickie!
Will 2% milk work instead of whole milk?
Thanks
Hi Carol – Sure! But you might need to adjust the quantity since it’s a bit thinner.
Can I give this recipe to my church sisters including your name and website? I gave a sample of a whole wheat chocolate cake and used your frosting recipe. It was a delicious! Thank you.
Absolutely! Thanks so much for sharing the recipe! :)
Thank you!
Spectacular! Thank You!!
You are so welcome, Marilyn! I’m thrilled you enjoyed the recipe!
Just made this for the first time and it did not disappoint! So light and delicious and just the right sweetness. Before I added the milk and vanilla, I thought I had done something wrong because it looked almost dry. This will be my go to frosting. Thank you for a great recipe!
You are so welcome, Susan! I’m thrilled you enjoyed the recipe!
Although I’m an avid review reader, I don’t believe I’ve ever posted a recipe review until now. I’m not much on frosting, unless it’s the cream cheese variety. But my husband wanted a yellow cake with chocolate frosting, and although I cheated and used a mix for the cake, I definitely had to go with homemade frosting! Well, let me tell you, I FOUND THE RIGHT RECIPE! Not too sugary, and not like eating a stick of refrigerated butter (because who could really complain about the melted kind?!). It’s like my mom’s Christmas fudge, only better and beautifully spreadable. You’ve made a frosting and personal fan out of me. I can’t wait to make more of your delicious eats!
Love reading this, Roberta!
The best chocolate frosting! Super easy, creamy, chocolatey and DELICIOUS. Best of all, it doesn’t taste like sweetened butter. A winner for sure
I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe!
This recipe was easy to make and turned out just the right consistency! It also tasted very good! I used Ghirardelli cocoa powder and it had a deep rich flavor!
I’m thrilled you enjoyed the recipe, Joseph!
This was a bust! I followed the directions exactly!!!!! I used my stand mixer. I still found tiny chunks of butter after beating it for ten min. I think I need to go back to hand mixer for frosting. This did not work for me.
Hi Kathleen – Was your butter at room temperature?
OMG this was amazing. It was super easy, and a big hit at my daughter’s birthday! I’m super picky about frosting, but this… yummm! It was rich and fudgy but still light somehow.. I ate way too many cupcakes lol. A keeper for sure!
Yay! I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe, Traci!
Perfect. That’s all I need to say.
And the trick with the spoon. Need I say more. Suddenly I am a professional
Woohoo! I’m thrilled you enjoyed the recipe, Philip!