This is my Go-To Favorite Chocolate Frosting
Updated! I have a NEW favorite chocolate frosting. The old version (below) is good, but requires actual chocolate. This one is a cocoa based frosting, but the addition of heavy cream and sour cream makes it so much better. Here it is on a special chocolate cake called Double Fudge Fanciffill (I love that name). And you can see it again in the top picture which is a Hershey’s Perfectly Chocolate Cake.
Favorite Chocolate Frosting
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The is my favorite frosting because it’s easy and tastes good. For the cocoa powder, I always use “natural” style like regular old Hershey’s or Scharffen Berger or Ghirardelli. Also, remember that frosting is a personal thing and that you should adjust the liquid and sugar to taste, so taste it as you go and use the recipe just as a guideline.
Author: Cookie Madness
Recipe type: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Serves: 12
Ingredients
- 8 tablespoons of unsalted butter, softened
- 1 1/2 tablespoons of sour cream, room temperature
- 3 cups confectioners’ sugar, sift or aerate before using
- 3/4 cup natural style cocoa powder
- 1 tiny pinch of salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 4 to 6 tablespoons of half and half or a mixture of cream and whole milk
Instructions
- Make sure all your ingredients are at room temperature. The butter should not be too cold, nor should it be melted.
- In a large mixing bowl or the bowl of a standing mixer, mix the butter, sour cream, cocoa, salt and 2 tablespoons of the half and half until it all starts to come together as a thick sludge.
- When everything is sticking together, add the vanilla. Increase mixer speed and beat until smooth, scraping bowl and adding more half and half (or milk and cream) as needed until you get your desired texture consistency. Spread over the cake.
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This is my old favorite icing. It’s good too, but it practically solidifies in the refrigerator, so keep that in mind. It will soften as it sits at room temperature.
Favorite Chocolate Frosting
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
This is one of my favorite chocolate frostings. It become firm when refrigerated, so make sure you bring your cake to room temperature before cutting. Also, make sure all ingredients are at room temperature.
Author: Cookie Madness
Recipe type: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Serves: 12
Ingredients
- 2 oz unsweetened chocolate
- 2 oz semisweet chocolate, chopped
- 2 sticks (8 oz) unsalted or salted butter
- 1/4 cup unsweetened natural cocoa powder
- 4 cups sifted powdered sugar (3 1/2 cups unsifted) or about 1 pound
- 1/4 cup milk plus more if needed — can use buttermilk or half & half
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- Pinch or two of salt if using unsalted butter
Instructions
- Melt both chocolates in microwave or double boiler. Set aside to cool for about 30 minutes.
- Beat the butter until creamy. Stir in the cocoa power and a cup of the powdered sugar.
- Add the cooled melted chocolate. Scrape sides of bowl and beat well.
- Add remaining powdered sugar, then add milk, vanilla and salt, beating and scraping creamy and smooth.
Notes
Make sure ingredients aren't too cool.
Anna says
November 9, 2016 at 1:32 pmGlad you like it, Sandra! Thanks for saying so :).
Sandra says
November 9, 2016 at 12:45 pmThis frosting is awesome! Thanks for sharing such a great recipe 🙂
Anna says
April 15, 2011 at 1:01 pmHi Jennifer, this is a great frosting for that cake! I hope you like it. Email me and let me know, because this is one of my favorites. It makes a lot of frosting and you *should* have enough for that size cake.
Just remember to keep you ingredients at room temperature. If you had cool butter to the chocolate mixture, the chocolate might lump up a little bit.
Jennifer says
April 15, 2011 at 12:33 pmAnna,
Hi. I’m going to make Shirley Corriher’s Magnificent Moist Golden Cake for Easter (decorated with yellow peeps to look like a sunflower.) And want to frost it with chocolate frosting. Do you think this recipe would be a good choice for that? I am going to make either 2 or 3 nine inch layers… Would I need to double the recipe?
Thanks,
Jennifer