Chocolate Buttercream Frosting Recipe (2024)

Easy chocolate buttercream frosting recipe, requiring simple ingredients. Use this light and fluffy chocolate buttercream icing for piping cakes, cupcakes.

I am so excited to share my favorite chocolate buttercream frostingrecipe with all of you.

This LIGHT andFLUFFY chocolate buttercream frostingis different than the classic American chocolate buttercream icing.

This chocolate icingtakes a little longer to make and has 1 very unusual ingredient: FLOUR!

That's what makes it so soft and gives it a VELVETTY texture.

Some people also refer tothis recipe as "Cooked buttercream frosting" or "Ermine frosting."

Regardless of what it's called, this simple frostinggoes great with my chocolate cherry cupcakes or even my favorite vanilla cupcakes.

I have tried SO MANY chocolate frosting recipes...

I have made chocolate buttercream frosting with:

• Heavy cream
• Milk
• Half and half
• Cocoa powder
• Shortening
• Butter
• Cream cheese

After all those experiments, I came up with the BEST chocolate buttercream frosting recipe ever that I hope you enjoy as much as me!

Use this chocolate buttercream frosting for:

• Cupcakes
• Layer cakes
• Cookies
• Crumb coating
• Piping
• Cake decorating
• Fondant cakes

How do you make chocolate buttercream frosting? How to make chocolate buttercream frosting?

Start off by adding flour, cocoa powder, granulated sugar, milk and vanilla extract in a saucepan and cook on medium heat, while constantly whisking. When you have a smooth and thick mixture, allow the mixture to cool down completely in the fridge. Next, in a microwave-safe bowl,add chocolate chips and heat them at 15 second increments until they have completely melted. Let the chocolate cool down. In a separate bowl, cream together shortening and butter. Then, add the flour mixture, melted chocolate, powdered sugar and meringue powder (optional) and mix until fluffy. Chill frosting for about 45 minutes so that it's firm and easy to use on cakes and cupcakes.

When the chocolate and the flour mixture have cooled down, we can put everything together. In a deep bowl, add shortening and butter and mix until they are properly blended.

Can you make chocolate buttercream with melted chocolate?

Yes, you can do this.

Can you add cocoa powder to buttercream frosting?

Yes, you can do this.I make my chocolate buttercream with cocoa powder AND melted chocolate.

How to thicken chocolate buttercream frosting?

• Refrigerate for longer
• Add more powdered sugar and cocoa powder

How to color chocolate buttercream frosting?

Use gel food coloring because it is thick and concentrated and won't affect the consistency of the icing.

How to store chocolate buttercream frosting?

It should be stored in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 1 week or frozen in sealed/ air-tight containers/bags for up to 1 month.

Can you add melted chocolate to buttercream frosting?

Yes, you can do this.

What does chocolate buttercream frosting taste like?

It has a smooth and creamy texture with a very strong chocolate fudge flavor.

Does chocolate buttercream frosting need to be refrigerated?

Yes, it needs to be refrigerated because milk is used and the frosting can go bad at room temperature.

Can you free chocolate buttercream frosting?

Yes, it can be frozen in sealed air-tight Ziploc bags. It's best to use freezer bags. It can be frozen up to 1 month.

Here are some flavor variations you can try with this homemade chocolate buttercream frosting:

• For chocolate Oreo buttercream frosting, add ½ cup Oreo crumbs.
• For chocolate orange buttercream frosting, add 2 tablespoon orange zest and 1 teaspoon orange extract.
• For mint chocolate mint frosting, add 1-2 teaspoon mint extract.
• Depending on the type of chocolate chips you use, you can make milk chocolate buttercream frosting or dark chocolate buttercream frosting.

Here are some TIPS for making chocolate buttercream frosting from scratch:

• Use UNSALTED butter and vegetable shortening.
• Both, shortening and butter are required. DON'T replace one with the other.
• Milk or heavy cream can be used but I believe chocolate buttercream frosting with heavy cream is much richer and better.
• Meringue powder is optional but it's generally added to enhance stability to your icing.
• REFRIGERATE this icing for 40-45 minutes prior to frosting your cakes and cupcakes. The frosting should still be soft and "pipe-able" and not be be firm/ hard.
• If you find the frosting to be too THIN after taking it out of the fridge you can always add some more powdered sugar to THICKEN it. I have only ever had to add additional powdered sugar on insanely hot days!
• If your frosting is too THICK after removing it from the fridge, let it sit on the countertop for 20 minutes and then whip it and it will become SOFT again.
• I usually add a little bit of brown gel coloring to darken the color. Keep in mind that the color of your frosting will darken the longer it sits.
• This frosting is enough to ice one 8x3 round cake or pipe 24 cupcakes.

If you liked this simple frosting, your may like some of these other frosting and icing recipes too:

Seedless Strawberry Buttercream Frosting

Blackberry Buttercream Frosting

Royal Icing

Best Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

Seven Minute Frosting

Cooked Flour buttercream (Ermine frosting)

Mango Frosting

Healthy Coconut Cream Chocolate Frosting

American Buttercream Frosting

Mocha Frosting

Well, that's all for today.

Until next time, tata my lovelies!