Irresistible Chocolate Buttercream for All Your Baking Needs

One of the most beloved recipes on this site is my homemade buttercream frosting. It’s a breeze to make, and the resulting frosting is incredibly fluffy and delicious, boasting hundreds of rave reviews!

A frequent question I receive is how to transform that delightful vanilla buttercream into a chocolate buttercream frosting.

After experimenting with various methods—from adding cocoa powder to incorporating melted chocolate—I have perfected the ultimate chocolate buttercream recipe.

This creation utilizes two forms of chocolate: cocoa powder and melted chocolate, ensuring double the chocolatey delight. The flavor is rich and robust, while the texture remains light and fluffy, just like the original.

For any chocolate aficionado, this frosting is simply irresistible!

This recipe yields a decadent chocolate frosting with the light, airy texture that everyone adores in a good buttercream. Even though it’s rich, it strikes a perfect balance of sweetness, making it an ideal companion for cakes or cupcakes.

The secret behind the flavor-packed frosting lies in the combination of cocoa powder and melted dark chocolate.

Cocoa powder acts like supercharged chocolate—if we only used melted chocolate, we wouldn’t achieve the desired fluffy texture. Adding cocoa powder enhances the chocolate flavor without weighing down the frosting.

I recommend using unsweetened cocoa powder for this recipe. If you’d like to learn more about the types of cocoa powders, my Cocoa Powder 101 post has you covered.

The second form of chocolate used is melted dark chocolate. Even if you typically prefer milk chocolate, I urge you to try it in this recipe.

The dark chocolate infuses an abundance of rich flavor without making the frosting excessively sweet. With enough powdered sugar in the mix, any bitterness from the dark chocolate is beautifully balanced.

All you’ll experience is pure chocolate bliss!

If you’ve never tried making one of my frosting recipes before, you’re in for a surprise! Whipping up homemade frosting is not only easy, but also quite enjoyable.

Once you make this chocolate buttercream, you’ll never settle for store-bought again.

Ingredients You’ll Need

To create this delightful chocolate buttercream, gather the following ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups room-temperature unsalted butter
• 5 cups powdered sugar
• ⅔ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• A pinch of fine sea salt
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 (3.5-ounce) melted and cooled Ghirardelli dark chocolate bar (60% or 72% cacao)
• 4-5 tablespoons heavy cream or whole milk

Ensure your butter is at room temperature before starting the frosting. If you forget to set it out, refer to my tips on how to quickly soften butter.

For measuring powdered sugar and cocoa powder, adopt the fluff, scoop, and sweep method typically used for measuring flour.

Unsweetened cocoa powder is my choice for this frosting, sometimes referred to as natural cocoa powder. If you opt for Dutch-process cocoa, just know that the flavor and final frosting color might differ slightly.

My favorite chocolate bar for this recipe is Ghirardelli. Their products are exceptional (I’m also a fan of their brownie mixes!), and I can truly taste the difference in the flavor of this chocolate buttercream when I use a quality chocolate bar.

Making This Frosting

Similar to my whipped cream frosting or brown butter frosting, you’ll need either a stand mixer or electric mixer to achieve the ideal texture for this chocolate buttercream.

If using a stand mixer, attach the paddle attachment and follow these steps:

1. In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the butter on medium-high speed for 6-7 minutes, scraping down the sides as needed.
2. Sift the powdered sugar and cocoa powder together in a separate bowl.
3. With the mixer on low, slowly add the sifted mix to the butter and continue mixing until fully incorporated. Remember to scrape the bowl often.
4. Add the salt and vanilla, mixing to combine. Then add the melted and cooled dark chocolate, mixing on low speed until no streaks remain. Add 3 tablespoons of milk or cream and mix until combined, scraping the bowl as needed.
5. Switch the mixer to medium-high speed and beat for an additional 6-7 minutes for a fluffy texture.
6. If your buttercream is too thick, add more milk or cream, one teaspoon at a time until the desired consistency is achieved.

You can now pipe or spread the frosting onto your cake or cupcakes, or store it for later.

This chocolate buttercream can be prepared a few days in advance, making it convenient for parties or holidays.

Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. When ready to use, bring the frosting to room temperature and beat it for about 5 minutes until smooth. You may need to add a splash of cream or milk to restore its consistency before piping or spreading.

Freezing Chocolate Buttercream

Leftover chocolate buttercream can also be frozen for longer-term storage.

Transfer the frosting to a freezer-safe airtight container. Sometimes, I add a layer of plastic wrap on top for extra protection. It can be frozen for up to a month.

To thaw, place it in the refrigerator overnight. Before using, allow it to reach room temperature and mix for about 5 minutes with your mixer to restore its smoothness. Add a splash of milk or cream if necessary.

Chocolate buttercream frosting is fabulous on various cakes and cupcakes. This recipe yields enough to frost 24 cupcakes or a 9-inch layer cake, giving you countless opportunities to enjoy it!

For an ultra-indulgent chocolate experience, pair it with black magic cake or the best chocolate cake. It’s also a heavenly complement to chocolate cupcakes made from my doctored cake mix recipe.

For a delightful flavor contrast, try it on homemade yellow cake, vanilla cupcakes, funfetti cupcakes, or even strawberry layer cake.

It can even be used as a filling for cookie sandwiches crafted with easy sugar cookies.

Whether it’s for birthdays, anniversaries, or just a casual weeknight treat, this chocolate buttercream is the go-to recipe for satisfying all your chocolate cravings.