Easy Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting
This Easy Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting is perfect for various desserts: Silky, chocolaty, and tangy. It holds shape and has a velvety texture. Make it to frost cupcakes, birthday cakes, and more in ten minutes!
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I love chocolate desserts and creamy milk chocolate ganache is usually my frosting of choice. However, this chocolate-flavored cream cheese frosting is my new favorite alternative because it is quick to make, tastes delicious, is spreadable, and firms up nicely when chilled. It is the best cream cheese frosting for chocolate cake!
If you like this recipe, you will love my fluffy cream cheese frosting and strawberry cream cheese frosting recipe. Both are flavorful and have a wonderful texture.
Why You Should Try This Recipe
- It has a smooth and silky texture, which makes it great for cake decorating.
- You only need six ingredients to make it.
- Make it in less than 15 minutes.
- The ingredients are budget-friendly.
- It can be paired with lots of different desserts.
Ingredients
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
- Unsalted butter: It should be at room temperature for easy mixing.
- Cream cheese: Use full-fat cream cheese to ensure it has softened and is at room temperature before mixing.
- Icing sugar: Has a powder-like texture, making it great for frosting. Make sure you sift it before mixing it for a smooth texture.
- Unsweetened cocoa powder: Use good quality cocoa powder for this recipe and sift it before mixing.
- Pinch of salt: To balance out the sweet flavor of the frosting.
- Vanilla extract: For more flavor.
Tips and Substitutions
- Room temperature: The cream cheese and butter must be at room temperature for this recipe. This helps the ingredients to combine properly and will give the frosting a smooth and spreadable texture.
- Sifting: Don't skip this step! Sift the icing sugar and cocoa powder to remove lumps. If you don't, your frosting may have a lumpy texture.
- Setting: Once you have frosted your chocolate cake or cupcakes, leave them to chill in the fridge for 30 minutes. The frosting should be firmer once you remove the dessert from the refrigerator. This chocolate cream cheese frosting tastes great with Christmas Chocolate Reindeer Cupcakes.
- Chocolate: There are different ways to make this frosting. For example, it can be made without butter or cocoa powder. Some people also prefer to use melted chocolate instead. It all depends on your preference.
How to Make Easy Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting
- Add room-temperature unsalted butter and softened cream cheese to a bowl.
2. Whisk for 2-3 minutes or until combined.
3. Add (one-third) of sifted icing sugar to the bowl. Mix the icing sugar with the butter and cream cheese mixture using a spoon or spatula to prevent it from spilling.
4. Then use a whisk and mix until just combined. Repeat the previous step with the remaining icing sugar. Whisk for 2-3 minutes or until the mixture is smooth.
5. Then, add a pinch of salt, sifted unsweetened cocoa powder and vanilla extract to the bowl.
6. Whisk for 2-3 minutes or until spreadable.
7. Finally, get ready to frost your favorite desserts like this Easy Terry's Chocolate Orange Cake, Healthy Chocolate Banana Bread with Chocolate Chips or the Moist Marble Banana Bread with this easy chocolate cream cheese frosting!
Recipe FAQs
To flavor it differently, unsweetened cocoa powder or freeze-dried strawberries can be added to cream cheese frosting.
If you want to save this frosting for later, add it to a ziplock bag or airtight container and refrigerate for up two weeks. Whisk the frosting for a few minutes once you are ready to use it. Freeze the frosting in a ziplock bag or airtight container for up to a month. Defrost by letting it thaw in the fridge, then whisk it for a few minutes before use.
More Tasty Frosting Recipes
Easy Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting
Equipment
- 1 Weighing scale
- 1 Stand or hand-held whisk
- 1 Sieve
- 1 Spatula
- Measuring spoons
Ingredients
- 100 g unsalted butter
- 160 g cream cheese
- 420 g icing sugar
- 50 g cocoa powder
- Pinch of salt
- ½ teaspoon of vanilla
Instructions
- Add unsalted butter and softened cream cheese to a bowl. Whisk for 2-3 minutes or until combined.
- Then, add one-third of icing sugar to the bowl. Mix the icing sugar with the butter and cream cheese mixture using a spoon or spatula to prevent it from spilling. Then use a whisk and mix until just combined. Repeat this step with the remaining icing sugar. Whisk for 2-3 minutes or until the mixture is smooth.
- Then, add a pinch of salt, sifted unsweetened cocoa powder and vanilla extract to the bowl. Whisk for 2-3 minutes or until stiff peaks form.
- Finally, get ready to frost your favorite desserts with this luscious chocolate frosting!
Video
Notes
- Room temperature: The cream cheese and butter must be at room temperature. This helps the ingredients to combine properly and will give the frosting a smooth and spreadable texture.
- Sifting: Sift the icing sugar and cocoa powder to remove lumps. This will ensure that your frosting has a smooth texture.
- Setting: Once you have frosted your chocolate cake or cupcakes, leave them to chill in the fridge for 30 minutes. The frosting should be firmer once you remove the dessert from the fridge.
This chocolate cream cheese frosting is silky sweet and decadent. It can be served with donuts, cakes and pies.