Name: Easy Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Yield: 3
Ingredients: 1 cup unsalted sweet cream butter, softened; 4 cups powdered sugar; ¾ cup dark chocolate Hershey cocoa powder (or regular); 5 tablespoon heavy whipping cream; 3 teaspoons pure vanilla extract; Vanilla Cupcakes

When you taste this easy chocolate buttercream frosting recipe, you’ll wonder why you used anything different. This easy frosting recipe is a big crowd-pleaser and only takes a couple of minutes to make.

I have met and heard from so many people that the reason they don’t make their own frosting is because they think it has to be time-consuming. But this 10-minute recipe only takes 4 ingredients from your fridge and pantry!

Three frosted cupcakes with chocolate frosting next to a piping bag filled with chocolate frosting on a grey marble slab next to a whisk and a plaid towel against a kitchen backsplash. — This incredibly chocolatey frosting is so easy and simply impossible to resist.

RELATED READING: The Easiest Chocolate Cupcake Recipe

What You'll Find On This Page

Incredible Chocolate Buttercream Frosting

Here at Ruffles and Rain Boots, cupcakes are my love language. I’ve perfected the art of whipping up a batch between commercial breaks of my favorite tv shows or mad-dash cleaning the house because there is nothing like a tasty cupcake with homemade frosting.

We recently made a batch of my Lazy Girl’s Vanilla Cupcakes and topped them with this easy chocolate buttercream frosting. I took them to an event and everyone swore they were bought instead of being homemade (it felt great to get such a huge compliment).

If you need time to get your ingredients together, bookmark this page and come back to it when you are ready to make your frosting recipe.

A vanilla cupcake frosted with chocolate buttercream frosting with a piping bag full of frosting, a whisk and a vanilla cupcake next to it on a grey marble slab. — This easy chocolate buttercream frosting recipe is perfect for your cupcakes, cakes, and to top other desserts.

As an Amazon Associate, I could earn from qualifying purchases. There may be affiliate links within this post.

RELATED READING: Easy Marshmallow Frosting Recipe – So Good!

Why This Frosting Is Perfect for Your Recipe Box

The flavor in this easy recipe is absolutely incredible!

Although a bit more time is needed to prepare homemade frosting, it is tastier and less expensive than store-bought.

This chocolate frosting recipe is very simple and we walk you through each step, making it virtually fool-proof. We even include photos to pair with the instructions so you can compare what you are doing while you are following the recipe.

Two frosted cupcakes with chocolate frosting next to a piping bag filled with chocolate frosting on a grey marble slab next to a whisk and a plaid towel against a kitchen backsplash. — All your friends and family will think this rich and tasty chocolate buttercream frosting that came from a bakery!

Tips for This Easy Chocolate Frosting Recipe

If you want to give your frosting a more chocolatey flavor, whip up a chocolate ganache and include it in your recipe. To do so, just add 1/4 cup of mini chocolate chips and a teaspoon of heavy whipping cream in a small bowl. Heat at 50% power for 30 seconds. Stir until smooth and add to the frosting bowl.
This recipe is perfect for a cake or cupcakes. For a smooth look, add a crumb coat to a cake before making the final frosted cake.
If you find the buttercream frosting too thick to pipe through a smaller tip, add a teaspoon or so of heavy whipping cream, half and half, or milk.
Frosting a warm cupcake will lead to a melted, runny mess. Place the cupcakes on a cooling rack for 30 minutes or in the fridge for 15 or so minutes to cool them down.

Four frosted cupcakes with chocolate frosting next to a piping bag filled with chocolate frosting on a grey marble slab next to a plaid towel against a kitchen backsplash. — All you need are four simple ingredients, and you can complete the recipe in just four easy steps.

Ingredients For This Easy Buttercream

Below are the ingredients we used to make this homemade chocolate frosting recipe. Before you head to the store to stock up, check your fridge and pantry to see what you have on hand. If you want information on making this frosting even more chocolatey, read the tips section above.

Unsalted sweet cream butter softened
Powdered sugar
Dark chocolate Hershey cocoa powder
Heavy whipping cream
Pure vanilla extract
Already baked vanilla cupcakes

The ingredients for the easy chocolate buttercream frosting on a wooden cutting board on a black and white checked towel on a white background.

How To Make Cupcake Frosting Recipe

Each step for this buttercream frosting recipe is detailed below to make it easy for you. Keep this page open while you make your frosting. If you prefer a printable recipe, scroll down and select the print button.

Two sticks of butter in a large metal mixing bowl on a wooden cutting board and a black and white checked towel.

Using a stand mixer, place the butter into the mixing bowl.

Butter being beaten in a large metal mixing bowl of a stand mixer with a paddle attachment.

Using a paddle attachment, beat the butter for 2 minutes or until light in color and fluffy.

Cocoa powder, powdered sugar, vanilla, cream and butter in a large metal bowl of a metal mixing bowl of a stand mixer.

Gradually add in the powdered sugar, cocoa powder, heavy cream, and vanilla. Continue to beat on medium to low speed for about 2 minutes.

A large metal mixing bowl from a stand mixer and a paddle attachment mixing chocolate frosting.

Once the frosting is the consistency you want, spoon the frosting into a piping bag and frost the cupcakes. If you want to elevate your mini cakes, read these tips and tricks on how to decorate cupcakes.

Notes on This Recipe

We used dark cocoa powder for this recipe to give the frosting its rich flavor and color. If your grocery store doesn’t have the darker version, standard cocoa powder works well.
To give the frosting a richer flavor, you can add a teaspoon of instant coffee or of recently brewed coffee. You won’t taste the coffee, but you will get a deep chocolate flavor.
For a smooth and silky frosting, we recommend sifting not only the powdered sugar but the cocoa powder as well. This will get rid of virtually all the lumps.
You can easily over-mix buttercream frosting, causing air bubbles. Incorporate until just mixed together.

More Cupcake And Frosting Recipes You May Like

Dulce de Leche Cupcakes Recipe: This popular South American flavor is one that has become increasingly popular here in the US and you will love the sweet milky caramel flavor of the dulce de leche.
Milk and Cookies Cupcake Recipe: Chocolate cupcakes and vanilla frosting with mini chocolate chip cookies and a small pipette of milk to the frosting – amazing (and they look like a bakery made them).
Banana Cream Pie Cupcakes Recipe: These cupcakes have the flavor of the classic dessert and is so deliciously decadent.
Yummy Bananas Foster Cupcakes Recipe: These cupcakes are a unique version of the classic dessert. We even flambe the bananas to add as a topping to the frosting.

Please Save or Share

Your shares are how this site grows and I sincerely appreciate it. Please save this recipe to your favorite dessert or frosting board or share it on Facebook.

Two frosted cupcakes with chocolate frosting next to a piping bag filled with chocolate frosting on a grey marble slab against a kitchen backsplash. — You can easily use this on top of just about any cupcake and the results will be absolutely delicious.

Yield: Approximately 3 cups

Easy Chocolate Buttercream Frosting

This easy chocolate buttercream frosting recipe is perfect for your cupcakes, cakes, and to top other desserts. You can easily use this on top of just about any cupcake and the results will be delicious. We like to top our Internet-famous vanilla or chocolate cupcakes. All you need are four simple ingredients, and you can complete the recipe in just four easy steps. This recipe is chocolatey, smooth, decadent, and hard to resist.

Prep Time 5 minutes

Additional Time 5 minutes

Total Time 5 minutes

Ingredients

1 cup unsalted sweet cream butter, softened
4 cups powdered sugar
¾ cup dark chocolate Hershey cocoa powder (or regular)
5 tablespoon heavy whipping cream
3 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
Vanilla Cupcakes

Instructions

Using a stand mixer, place the butter into the mixing bowl.
Using a paddle attachment, beat the butter for about 2 minutes or until light in color and fluffy.
Gradually add in the powdered sugar, cocoa powder, heavy cream, and vanilla. Continue to beat on medium to low speed for about 2 minutes.
Once your frosting is the consistency you want, spoon the frosting into a piping bag and one at a time, frost your cupcakes.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 406Total Fat: 23gSaturated Fat: 14gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 54mgSodium: 144mgCarbohydrates: 49gFiber: 1gSugar: 46gProtein: 1g

All nutrition information is estimated. For accuracy, please calculate your exact brands and ingredients if accuracy is desired.

Sarah Nenni-Daher creator of Ruffles and Rain Boots in black shirt against greenery background.

Meet the Creator

Hi there, I’m Sarah Nenni-Daher. I’m a crafty gal and always have at least 14 projects going at once. I am a crafter, designer, DIYer, and pattern maker. I share my creations here and in the Ruffles and Rain Boots® Shop.

Here at Ruffles and Rain Boots®, you’ll find DIY gnomes, crafts, gifts, cupcakes, laser crafts, and so much more. I love sharing video tutorials over on YouTube and chatting with other crafters in my Facebook groups. We’d love to have you!