Whipped Chocolate Buttercream Frosting (Video!)

You NEED this easy, fluffy Whipped Chocolate Buttercream Frosting recipe in your back pocket for all of your delicious baked creations! Made with cocoa powder, it’s whipped up with heavy cream – making it the lightest, silkiest buttercream you’ll ever taste!

This post first appeared on Real Housemoms, where I am a contributor.

Do you have any idea how many frosting recipes there are in the world?

Everything from whipped cream to cream cheese to the various European buttercreams, cooked frostings, ganache you can whip, meringues…the possibilities and flavor profiles are nearly endless!

Today we’re making a homemade frosting…yep! Actually the BEST chocolate frosting you’ll ever have!

Light and fluffy and the PERFECT amount of sweetness!

Having grown up in a house that constantly had an array of sweets in it at any given time, I developed quite the sweet tooth.

As I’ve gotten older, I gravitate less towards baked goods, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t still lick the spatula after making a frosting – especially if it’s this homemade chocolate buttercream.

I just love the rich chocolate flavor!

This recipe is an American buttercream, which is a combination of fat (butter in this case, but shortening can also be used) and powdered sugar.

American buttercream is known to typically be overly sweet and sometimes slightly grainy.

That’s not how it has to be, though!

Balancing out the sugar and smoothness is really easy once you know the order and ratios – and I’ve cut out the guesswork here by telling you how I do it!

It’s such an easy recipe, and the result is a ridiculously fluffy, chocolatey buttercream that spreads beautifully on any cake, but holds up like a champ when piped on a batch of fresh cupcakes…or any other dessert you put it on!

It’ll soon be your favorite chocolate frosting recipe!

Grab these ingredients to make this fluffy stuff:

• butter – unsalted and softened; if you prefer using salted butter, simply omit the extra salt from the recipe
• unsweetened cocoa powder – use you favorite here, even dark chocolate powder will be delish
• powdered sugar – also known as confectioner’s sugar or icing sugar
• salt – kosher is best, but sea salt will work
• vanilla extract – you can also substitute vanilla bean paste here, or the seeds of a whole vanilla bean
• heavy whipping cream – known as double cream in Europe

What can I use whipped chocolate buttercream on?

• Just about ANY type of Cupcakes
• Triple Chocolate Cake
• Sandwich Cookies and Whoopie Pies
• Cookie Cups
• Cookie Cakes
• On top of Homemade Brownies
• Pumpkin Cake
• Eggnog Cupcakes (for the holidays!)
• Cake Pops
• As a Cookie or Cake Glaze (by adding some milk to a small amount)
• Birthday Cakes, wedding cakes, sheet cake, 2-layer cake – you get the idea

This creamy frosting just about can go on any baked good! Anything you’d typically put chocolate icing on or just eat it with a spatula.

Fun flavor twists

If you’re looking to switch up the flavor profile of your cake, cupcakes, or cookies, try one of these combos next time you’re in a baking mood:

• Add some hazelnut extract for a very Nutella-like twist
• A little bit of espresso powder can go a long way for coffee lovers
• Love those chocolate oranges? A little orange extract and zest will transform this buttercream
• Booze it up! Chocolate is delicious with rum, bourbon, and most other dark liquors and liqueurs
• Mint chocolate fan? Mint extract and a handful of mini chocolate chips will calm that craving

You can also swirl your chocolate buttercream with another frosting flavor! Raspberry buttercream is a delicious pairing, and so is a standard vanilla frosting. Try it with whipped cream cheese frosting for a real treat!

How to Make the BEST Chocolate Buttercream Frosting Recipe

The trick is in the mixing order and HOW LONG you whip it! It you follow my directions to a T, you’ll have the perfect chocolate buttercream frosting recipe. All of your friends will be asking for it!

1. First, place the softened sticks of butter and 1 cup of sifted powdered sugar in a large bowl. Using a whisk attachment, mix on low speed with an electric mixer (or in a stand mixer) until they’re just combined. Scrape the bowl and repeat with remaining powdered sugar, adding 1 cup at a time.
2. When the sugar has all been incorporated, turn speed up to medium-high and whip 4-5 minutes until the mixture is pale and fluffy. Turn off the mixer and scrape the bowl.
3. Next, add the sifted cocoa powder, vanilla extract and pinch of salt to the mixture. Blend it all together on low for 1 minute.
4. With the mixer on low, drizzle in the heavy whipping cream. Once the cream is added and the mixture is mostly combined, turn off the mixer and scrape down the bowl well.
5. Finally, turn the mixer up to medium-high and whip the buttercream for 4-5 more minutes. You’ll end up with frosting that is impossibly silky, light, and fluffy. Don’t worry about the air bubbles – they can be smoothed out when you use it.

As you can see there are no fancy ingredients, all of these simple ingredients you can get at your local grocery store. Following my method above you’ll create a delicious frosting – the best buttercream that all chocolate lovers will go crazy for!

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