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Favorite Chocolate Buttercream

Favorite Chocolate Buttercream

This Favorite Chocolate Buttercream is incredibly rich, creamy, silky, smooth, and easy to work with for decorating cakes and cupcakes!
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 2.5 cups
Calories 400 kcal

Equipment

  • Electric Mixer

Ingredients
  

Buttercream Ingredients

  • 1 cup unsalted butter softened to room temperature
  • 3.5 cups confectioners’ sugar
  • 0.5 cup unsweetened cocoa powder natural or dutch-process
  • 3 Tablespoons heavy cream or milk, at room temperature
  • teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Instructions
 

Preparation Instructions

  • With a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle or whisk attachment, beat the butter on medium speed until creamy, about 2 minutes. Add confectioners’ sugar, cocoa powder, heavy cream, salt, and vanilla extract. Beat on low speed for 30 seconds, then increase to high speed and beat for 1 full minute. Add ¼ cup more confectioners’ sugar or cocoa powder if frosting is too thin or another Tablespoon of cream if frosting is too thick. Taste. Beat in another pinch of salt if desired.
  • Use immediately or cover tightly and store for up to 1 week in the refrigerator or up to 3 months in the freezer. After freezing, thaw in the refrigerator then beat the frosting on medium speed for a few seconds so it’s creamy again. After thawing or refrigerating, beating in a splash of heavy cream or milk will help thin the frosting out again, if needed.

Notes

This recipe makes enough to frost 12–16 cupcakes or a thin layer on a 9×13-inch quarter sheet cake. For a 2-layer cake, follow the ratios from this chocolate cake. For a 3- or 4-layer cake, follow the ratios from this piñata cake.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cupCalories: 400kcalCarbohydrates: 50gProtein: 1gFat: 22gSaturated Fat: 14gCholesterol: 60mgSodium: 150mgSugar: 50gVitamin A: 500IU
Keyword buttercream frosting, cake decoration, chocolate buttercream, cupcake frosting, Easy Recipes, rich frosting
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