By Becky Hardin
Published Jun 24, 2020
Ditch the store bought chocolate frosting and whip up a batch of this easy and delicious Chocolate Buttercream Icing! Perfect for a fluffy crowning on cakes and cupcakes.
Chocolate Buttercream Frosting Recipe
This light and fluffy Chocolate Buttercream Icing the perfect way to top cakes! So easy and so delicious, it’s a chocolate frosting recipe that’ll blow your mind, perfect for piping on your favorite desserts .
Why you’ll love this Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
- An easy homemade frosting. Made in just 5 mins with 5 ingredients, simple and easy!
- Better than store bought. So easy and delicious, you won’t go back to packaged icing.
- A fluffy buttercream frosting. Light, fluffy and with the perfect level of creamy sweetness.
How to make this Chocolate Buttercream Icing
You can jump to the recipe card for full ingredients & instructions!
- Cream the butter: In a large bowl, use your hand mixer to cream butter until smooth, about one minute. Then add the vanilla extract.
- Add the dry ingredients: Sift in the dry ingredients. Then slowly add the milk.
- Mix: Mix on low for about a minute to achieve a light and airy icing.
How do I stop my Buttercream Frosting from being lumpy?
To ensure a lovely and smooth chocolate buttercream icing, measure then sift your confectioner’s sugar and cocoa powder to prevent lumps and achieve a smooth, grit free icing.
How do I store Buttercream Frosting?
This buttercream icing does not have to be stored in a fridge right away. But it should be stored in an airtight container in a cool dry area. It can be stored in the fridge for up to a week and in the freezer for two months.
What’s the best cupcakes for this Buttercream Icing?
This icing is especially delicious on yellow and chocolate cakes, it adds a rich and creamy topping to so many baked treats! These pictures are of Devil’s Food Cupcakes.
Can I add this frosting to warm cakes?
Allow your cakes or cupcakes to fully cool down before adding the Chocolate Buttercream Icing. This is because the recipe contains butter which will melt at higher temperatures.
Top Tips
- It takes butter 30-60 minutes to soften at room temperature.
- I’d avoid using the microwave to melt the butter. Even if you have a turntable, butter softens unevenly.
- Leave out the cocoa powder for a perfect classic vanilla buttercream icing.
- Confectioner’s sugar is another term for powdered sugar.
Prefer vanilla? Try this easy vanilla frosting recipe instead!
Equipment you’ll need
- Sifter
- Icing Bag
- Pastry Tip
More DeliciousCake Recipes
- Magic Chocolate Cake
- Best Banana Cake
- Velvet Chocolate Cake
- Blueberry Raspberry Coffee Cake
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 1 cup unsalted butter 226 grams, room temperature (2 sticks)
- ▢ 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 4 grams
- ▢ 4 cups powdered sugar 452 grams
- ▢ ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder 63 grams
- ▢ ¼ cup whole milk 57 grams, room temperature
Video
Instructions
- In a large bowl, using a hand mixer, cream the butter until smooth, about 1 minute 1 cup unsalted butter
- Add the vanilla extract, and beat to incorporate 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- Using a fine-mesh sieve, sift in the powdered sugar and cocoa powder, then mix until well combined 4 cups powdered sugar, ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- Slowly add the milk, 1 tablespoon at a time, to reach desired consistency. ¼ cup whole milk
- Mix on low for about 1 minute to achieve a light and airy icing
- Use a piping bag and tip ( Ateco # 828 – Open Star Pastry Tip .63’’ ) or other icing tool to decorate your cooled cakes.
Equipment
- Kitchen Scale (optional)
- Hand Mixer
- Fine Mesh Sieve
- Piping Tip Set
Becky’s Tips
- This recipe yields 3 cups (48 tablespoons) of frosting. A serving is 2 tablespoons.
- It takes butter 30-60 minutes to soften at room temperature.
- I’d avoid using the microwave to melt the butter. Even if you have a turntable, butter softens unevenly.
- Leave out the cocoa powder for a perfect classic vanilla buttercream icing.
- Confectioner’s sugar is another term for powdered sugar.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Chocolate Buttercream Frosting Recipe
Equipment
- Kitchen Scale (optional)
- Hand Mixer
- Fine Mesh Sieve
- Piping Tip Set
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter 226 grams, room temperature (2 sticks)
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 4 grams
- 4 cups powdered sugar 452 grams
- ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder 63 grams
- ¼ cup whole milk 57 grams, room temperature
Instructions
- In a large bowl, using a hand mixer, cream the butter until smooth, about 1 minute 1 cup unsalted butter
- Add the vanilla extract, and beat to incorporate 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- Using a fine-mesh sieve, sift in the powdered sugar and cocoa powder, then mix until well combined 4 cups powdered sugar, ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- Slowly add the milk, 1 tablespoon at a time, to reach desired consistency. ¼ cup whole milk
- Mix on low for about 1 minute to achieve a light and airy icing
- Use a piping bag and tip ( Ateco # 828 - Open Star Pastry Tip .63’’ ) or other icing tool to decorate your cooled cakes.
Video
Notes
- This recipe yields 3 cups (48 tablespoons) of frosting. A serving is 2 tablespoons.
- It takes butter 30-60 minutes to soften at room temperature.
- I’d avoid using the microwave to melt the butter. Even if you have a turntable, butter softens unevenly.
- Leave out the cocoa powder for a perfect classic vanilla buttercream icing.
- Confectioner’s sugar is another term for powdered sugar.
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
