We're sharing the secret to our homemade chocolate buttercream recipe. Our chocolate buttercream can elevate any dessert or cake to a new level of deliciousness.
Our chocolate frosting is made completely from scratch. No pre-made mixes or shortcuts. Blend each ingredient until it reaches the perfect silky texture and decadent taste.
Made with simple ingredients and easy steps, this recipe results in a rich and creamy chocolate buttercream frosting that's absolutely delicious and will take your baking game to the next level.
This luscious frosting is the perfect partner for our chocolate fairy cakes and is enough to fill a large cake or top 12 single cupcakes.
Jump to:
How to Make Chocolate Buttercream
We've made a handy video tutorial to guide you through how to make the best chocolate buttercream frosting.
If you're the type who likes to dive right in
Jump straight to our recipe card for all the measurements and instructions.Or, continue reading for a more detailed walkthrough.
Equipment
You'll need a few basic kitchen tools to make our chocolate buttercream recipe. Having the right equipment on hand will ensure a seamless cooking experience:
Ingredients
Our homemade chocolate buttercream requires a few simple ingredients:
- 30 g butter
- 130 g icing sugar
- 15 g cocoa powder
- 1 tablespoon milk
Butter
We recommend using unsalted butter at room temperature for the best consistency and flavour to this buttercream icing. If you only have salted butter, that's fine too. Just bear in mind it will give a salty taste.
Icing Sugar
Also known as powdered sugar or confectioners sugar, this ingredient is key to creating the structure and sweetness of our buttercream frosting.
Cocoa Powder
We use cocoa powder to give that rich chocolate flavour. Just everyday cocoa powder from the supermarket is perfect for this chocolate buttercream frosting recipe
For the best chocolate frosting with a rich chocolate flavor try using dark chocolate or dutch processed cocoa powder.
We plan to share other chocolate frosting versions using melted chocolate and a chocolate ganache in the future.
Milk
A little milk helps to achieve the right consistency for your chocolate icing. Adjust the amount based on your preference. You can use double cream (heavy cream) or heavy whipping cream instead for extra richness.
Optional extras
To further enhance our easy chocolate buttercream recipe, consider these optional extras:
A teaspoon of espresso powder can intensify the chocolate flavour without making your frosting taste like coffee.
For a citrus twist, add in a teaspoon of finely grated orange zest to create a delicious chocolate-orange combination.
Add half a teaspoon of mint extract to your buttercream if you're fond of the classic mint-chocolate pairing.
Add a tablespoon of smooth peanut butter for an irresistible chocolate-peanut butter frosting.
Replace half the butter with cream cheese for a tangier and slightly less sweet version.
Mix in some salted caramel sauce for an indulgent twist on the traditional chocolate buttercream.
How much frosting?
This recipe makes enough frosting to cover 12 cupcakes with a small amount of icing. If piping larger amounts, you may want to double up the ingredients.
Instructions
Ready to whip up some delicious buttercream?
You can jump to the recipe card for all measurementsOr follow our quick run-through below, where we give you detailed instructions for both stand mixer or to mix by hand
Using a Stand Mixer
We recommend using a stand mixer fitted with a paddle or flat beater to make the best chocolate icing. If you only have a whisk attachment, that will work too.
Cream the butter until soft and fluffy.
Add icing sugar (powdered sugar) and sift in cocoa powder.
Combine slowly to prevent it from going everywhere, then increase the speed.
Add milk in small splashes as needed until you reach the right consistency.
Once well combined, remove it from the stand mixer.
By Hand
If you don't have a stand mixer, you can mix the ingredients by hand using a silicone spatula in a mixing bowl, following the same order mentioned above.
The final texture should be thick enough to stay on the spatula.
How to fix runny buttercream?
If your frosting is too runny, simply add more powdered sugar ( icing sugar) a bit at a time until the texture is correct.
How to fix firm buttercream?
On the other hand, if your frosting turned out to be firm and stiff, add small splashes of milk until it is back to the right consistency.
Keep it refrigerated, ensuring it's covered until you're ready to pipe or spoon it onto cakes. It'll firm up slightly in the fridge but will soon soften again when it reaches room temperature.
Serving Suggestions
Our chocolate buttercream is incredibly versatile and can be used in various ways. Here are some serving suggestions:
Top your chocolate fairy cakes with a generous dollop of chocolate buttercream.
Use it to frost our chocolate chip cupcakes for an extra burst of flavour.
Spread it between cake layers. Check out our decadent chocolate cake recipe - Chocolate Victoria Sponge recipe makes a great birthday cake!
Get creative and explore other delicious combinations with this delightful chocolate frosting.
How to use buttercream
Piping your chocolate buttercream can give your cakes a professional touch. Use a large nozzle on the piping bag to help achieve the best buttercream frosting result.
Find more piping advice on the Wilton Website
However, if you prefer a simpler approach, spoon and spread it onto your chocolate cupcakes like we have below. Either way, they will look and taste fantastic.
Time to eat cake! Here is our amazing recipe card with all the instructions for you to print and keep!
📖 Step by Step Recipe
Chocolate Buttercream
Equipment
Ingredients
- 30 g butter
- 130 g icing sugar
- 15 g cocoa powder
- 1 tablespoon milk
Instructions
- Cream 30 g butter until soft and fluffy.
- Add 130 g icing sugar and sift in 15 g cocoa powder
- Add 1 tablespoon milk at a time if needed to make the right consistency.
- Once well combined remove from stand mixer.
- It should be thick enough to not fall of the spatula
- Keep in the fridge until ready to pipe or spoon onto cakes.
Video
Nutrition
Now you know how to make the best chocolate buttercream let's talk about storage.
Storage
If you have leftover chocolate buttercream, store it in an airtight container in the fridge.
It will stay fresh for several days. If you want to keep it longer, you can freeze it. Before using, bring it to room temperature for a softer consistency.
If you have used this chocolate buttercream icing on cakes, they can be covered in an airtight container and kept at room temperature for 2-3 days.
More Cake Recipes
If you like baking, check out some of our best cake recipes from iced buns to madeira loaf cake.
Savita says
This Chocolate Buttercream Frosting is pure bliss! The rich cocoa flavor and the velvety texture make it an absolute delight for any dessert.
Luke and Kay says
Thank you for your glowing review, Savita! We are thrilled to know that our Chocolate Buttercream Frosting exceeded your expectations. We take great pride in creating the perfect balance of rich cocoa flavor and velvety texture for the ultimate indulgence. Thank you again for choosing our recipe and we hope to continue satisfying your sweet tooth in the future! 🙂
Jamie says
I love this recipe so much. In just a few ingredients you will have a delicious toppings for your favorite cakes or cupcakes!
Luke and Kay says
Hi Jamie,
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review on our chocolate buttercream frosting recipe! We're thrilled to hear that you loved it and found it easy to make. We agree, it's the perfect topping for any cake or cupcake. Thank you for choosing our recipe and we hope you continue to enjoy it in the future! 🙂
Amy Lui Dong says
Choc buttercream is a good flavor tbh, i want to make this when i bought the ingredients, thank you!
Luke and Kay says
Thank you for your positive review, Amy! We are thrilled to hear that you enjoyed our chocolate buttercream frosting. It's always a pleasure when our readers try out our recipes and find success in their own creations. 🙂
DK Park says
This recipe looks good, i'll try to make this later if i have time, thank you for sharing this!
Luke and Kay says
Thank you for your kind words and for choosing our chocolate buttercream frosting recipe! We're delighted to hear that you will be trying it out. We hope you enjoy the delicious results as much as we do. Thank you for taking the time to leave a review, we truly appreciate it. 🙂