Name: Easy Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: 1 cup unsalted butter (softened); ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder; 3 cups powdered sugar; 5 tablespoons whole milk (room temperature); 1 teaspoon vanilla

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This easy chocolate buttercream frosting is the kind of recipe you’ll come back to again and again. It’s rich, chocolatey, and perfect for cupcakes, cookies, cakes, or pretty much anything that needs a little extra sweetness. The best part? You only need a few minutes and 5 simple ingredients.

frosting cake with piping along the outside with the chocolate buttercream frosting

Quick Look: Chocolate Buttercream Frosting

🕒 Prep: about 5 min
🍶 Ingredients (5): butter + cocoa + powdered sugar + milk + vanilla
❄️ Storage: refrigerate in airtight container; re-whip after bringing to room temp
🍰 Perfect for: cakes, cupcakes, cookies, brownies

I’ll be honest, there was a time when I was all about the store-bought frostings. But once I realized how easy it was to make frosting at home, I never looked back. Butter, milk, cocoa powder, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract is all it takes. And trust me, it tastes so much better!

You can spread this frosting on with a spatula for that cozy homemade look or grab a piping bag and swirl it beautifully onto cupcakes if you want to get a little fancy.

You will need a hand mixer for this recipe, and honestly, that’s half the fun. One of my sweetest childhood memories is licking the beaters after my mom finished making icing. It feels like such a rite of childhood and now my kids love doing the same thing.

Ingredients and substitutions

ingredients in individual bowls for the chocolate buttercream frosting

Unsalted butter: You want it to be room temperature/softened to whip easily.
Unsweetened cocoa powder
Powdered sugar
Whole milk: I prefer the extra fat content in whole milk, but you can swap for another milk.
Vanilla extract: You can omit this, but I love the flavor it adds.

How to make chocolate buttercream frosting

Step 1: Start by whipping the butter with a hand mixer until it’s light and fluffy.

Step 2: Next, pour in the milk and vanilla and give it a good stir. Pour in the powdered sugar and cocoa powder.

chocolate buttercream frosting being scooped out of a bowl

Step 3: Mix on low speed until everything comes together. Try not to lick the beaters… just kidding, go ahead – it’s that good!

🎥 Don’t miss the video at the bottom of this post where I walk you through every step of making this easy chocolate buttercream frosting.

photo of lexi who is the owner of this food blog

Why you will love this frosting

– Ready in minutes
– Uses simple pantry ingredients
– Delicious on cakes, cupcakes, cookies, brownies, and more
– Easy to spread or pipe
– Rich, chocolatey, and fluffy

FAQ

What is a buttercream frosting?

A buttercream frosting uses butter as its main source of fat in the icing. It is rich, creamy, and so delicious.

Can you prepare chocolate buttercream frosting ahead of time?

Yes, you can prepare it ahead of time and store in the refrigerator covered. When ready to use, rewhip with a hand mixer so its light and fluffy.

How to store

Refrigerator: Store it in an airtight container. Before using, let it come to room temperature and re-mix with a hand mixer.

Tips for Success

Start with softened butter – This makes all the difference. If your butter is too cold, the frosting won’t whip up smooth and fluffy.
Use room temperature or slightly warm milk – Cold milk can cause the butter to firm back up, which makes the frosting harder to mix smoothly.

What to use the chocolate buttercream frosting on

Spread this butter cream frosting on Eggless Cookie Bars or on top of these Eggless Sugar Cookies or Double Chocolate Cookies (Eggless).

More frostings and icings

A vanilla alternative to this frosting is this Easy Vanilla Frosting. Check out this royal icing (eggless) perfect for decorating cookies with. I am also a HUGE fan of this Easy Cream Cheese Glaze.