Julie Clark
Posted: Updated:
Easy Chocolate Frosting
The one easy chocolate frosting you need for all of your homemade desserts. This one has a touch of lemon and vanilla for fresh flavor.
Everyone needs an easy chocolate frosting in their recipe stash that they can whip up in minutes and that tastes delicious on many cakes, cookies, brownies and cupcakes.
This chocolate buttercream frosting recipe with a hint of lemon and vanilla extract is that frosting. It’s easy. It’s versatile, and you’ll be wanting to add it to all of the things. It beats store-bought frosting every day.
Butter Vs Shortening in Frosting
Which is better, butter or shortening? We prefer butter. It adds richness and flavor to frosting. However, butter is also slightly unstable. It will melt quickly in warm temperatures.
Frosting with shortening will be more stable and stand up to heat slightly more. If you choose shortening and think the frosting is too sweet, add a dash of salt. It will help cut down on the sweetness.
How to Make Easy Chocolate Frosting
- Make frosting by beating together butter, lemon juice and salt until light and fluffy, about 1 minute in a large bowl using an electric mixer or in the bowl of a stand mixer.
- Mix in ¼ cup heavy cream, cocoa powder and 1 cup powdered sugar (or confectioners’ sugar) and combine.
- Slowly add in the rest of the powdered sugar ½ cup at a time until all 3 cups have been incorporated.
- Turn your stand mixer on high and beat for the next 5 minutes until light and fluffy.
This frosting pipes well so you can make birthday cakes with pretty swirls.
How to Store Frosting
If you are eating this frosting within a day or two and have it on cake or cupcakes, it is fine to store at room temperature.
If you’re making it in advance we recommend storing it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Remove from the fridge a couple of hours before using it so it softens.
Can you freeze frosting?
Yes! Frosting freezes well. Store it in an airtight container in the freezer and freeze for up to 3 months. Allow it to thaw fully before frosting a cake. You can whip it again in the stand mixer after it defrosts in order to whip air back into the frosting.
What is this chocolate frosting good on?
Let’s be honest. This frosting with chocolate flavor is good on just about any chocolate cake. But here are a few options you may not have thought about:
- mayonnaise cake
- chocolate brownies
- cake mix cookies
- chocolate cupcakes
- chocolate layer cake
- homemade brownies
Looking for a chocolate frosting without lemon? Try our classic best chocolate buttercream frosting.
Homemade Chocolate Frosting Recipe
Easy homemade chocolate frosting for cakes, cupcakes, brownies and cookies.
Servings 12
Prep Time 10 minutes
Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter (softened)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- ¼ cup heavy cream
Instructions
- Make frosting by beating together butter, lemon juice and salt until light and fluffy, about 1 minute.
- Mix in ¼ cup heavy cream, cocoa powder and 1 cup powdered sugar and combine.
- Slowly add in the rest of the powdered sugar ½ cup at a time until all 3 cups have been incorporated.
- Turn your stand mixer on high and beat for the next 5 minutes until light and fluffy.
- Frost cake. Store any extra frosting in the refrigerator.
Notes
If the frosting is too thick, add a couple tablespoons of milk until the frosting is at the desired consistency.
The calories shown are based on the recipe making about 2 cups of frosting, with 1 serving being 3 tablespoons of frosting. Since different brands of ingredients have different nutritional information, the calories shown are just an estimate. **We are not dietitians and recommend you seek a nutritionist for exact nutritional information.**
Nutrition
Calories: 207kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 27mg | Sodium: 101mg | Potassium: 31mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 29g | Vitamin A: 309IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 8mg | Iron: 1mg
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