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A chocolate cupcake with swirled chocolate buttercream frosting and sprinkles on a small stand.
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5 from 1 vote

Buttercream Chocolate Frosting

Chocolate Frosting (aka buttercream chocolate frosting) spreads beautifully for cake decorating, holds its shape, and tastes amazing.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time0 minutes
Total Time15 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: chocolate buttercream, chocolate cake frosting, chocolate frosting
Servings: 36
Calories: 141kcal
Author: Lisa Hatfield

Equipment

Ingredients

cake frosting

  • 1 cup salted butter (2 sticks, room temperature)
  • ½ cup vegetable shortening
  • 5 cups powder sugar (confectioners sugar)
  • ½ cup hot water
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • ¼ teaspoon almond extract
  • 1 cup unsweetened cocoa

Instructions

make frosting

  • Beat soft butter and shortening in a mixer on high until creamy for 5 minutes.
  • At low speed, add powder sugar 1 cup at a time until smooth.
  • On high speed, mix in vanilla, almond extract, and ½ cup hot water for 5 minutes until fluffy and smooth. You can add more hot water 1 tablespoon at a time, till the frosting mixes fluffy and smooth. Dry hot days, will make it not as smooth.

cake decorating tips

  • Place a dollup of frosting on a small piece of cardboard or a tray, and set the cake on top. This keeps the cake from sliding around while decorating.
  • Frost cakes using a small offset spatula. Smooth out the buttercream as best you can all over the top and sides of the cake. This recipe is so easy to spread, you won't have to clean your spatula while decorating.
  • To fill a large piping bag with frosting, set the bag in a tall sturdy mason jar glass. Push the chocolate buttercream down inside, then when ¾ full push the it inside the bag toward the tip. Fold the top down and decorate your cake.

Video

Notes

frosting

This frosting recipe is SOOO fluffy and easy to spread at room temperature. But it firms up nicely when chilled in the fridge, so decorate your cake with room temperature frosting. You can freeze any leftover frosting, and use it for another dessert.
For larger cakes or ones with layers, you will want to double this recipe.

decorating

A small offset spatula makes it really easy, but you can use a butter knife too. 
 

Nutrition

Calories: 141kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 14mg | Sodium: 46mg | Potassium: 39mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 158IU | Calcium: 5mg | Iron: 1mg