This easy 5 minute Chocolate Frosting recipe is a staple for cakes and cupcakes for every celebration! It’s chocolatey and easy to work with.

For years, I bought frosting. Then I realized it was ridiculously easy to make your own and tastes so much better! If you are making a delicious cake, why not make some homemade chocolate frosting!

This easy 5 minute chocolate frosting recipe is a staple for cakes and cupcakes for every celebration! it’s chocolatey and easy to work with.

This chocolate frosting recipe is absolutely PERFECT on a chocolate layer cake or my kids’ personal favorite, vanilla cupcakes.  

It takes a whopping 5 minutes to put this recipe together. All of the ingredients you can read too, since it isn’t full of all of the preservatives that store bought frosting has.

Just 5-ingredients make up this chocolate frosting: milk, butter, powdered sugar, cocoa and vanilla extract.

How to make Chocolate Frosting

Be sure to scroll down to where I have a full printable recipe for you with instructions and ingredients.

Here is what you need: 

• hand or stand mixer 
• a large bowl 
• unsalted butter, room temperature
• cocoa powder
• powdered sugar
• whole milk
• vanilla extract

If you have a stand mixer, use that, along with the paddle attachment. If not, make your chocolate  frosting in a large bowl and use a hand mixer.

1. Mix the butter and cocoa powder in a large bowl until well blended.
   
2. Add the powdered sugar and mix on low-speed until all of the sugar is combined.
   
3. Stir in milk and vanilla extract.
4. Add additional milk, 1 tablespoon at a time to reach desired consistency.

DONE! Use your frosting immediately on a cake or cupcakes or you could even make it ahead of time and store it in an airtight container in the freezer. If you store in the freezer, just be sure to let your frosting come to room temperature for about an hour before using.

Depending on the size of the cake or the amount of cupcakes (more than 2 dozen) you are making, you may want to double this recipe.

If you read the comments from my readers about using my chocolate frosting recipe, you will see: 

• It holds its shape
• It’s easy to work with 
• Perfect to use with a piping bag
• It’s nice and fluffy
• It’s rich and decadent

Also, when it comes to cocoa powder, quality matters. Since this IS chocolate frosting, you do want it to taste high quality and chocolatey! I’ve linked my favorite cocoa powder in the full recipe below!

What is the difference between Frosting and Icing? 

There is a huge difference. Frosting is generally thick, fluffy and used for coating the outside and/or the inside of cakes and cupcakes. 

Icing on the other hand, is more for coating or decorating, such as sugar cookies. Icing has a shine and is usually a much thinner consistency. 

How do I Thicken My Chocolate Frosting?

If you find that your chocolate frosting is not thick enough, add 1-2 tablespoons of powdered sugar at a time until you reach your desired consistency. Chances are you added too much liquid initially and you need to offset that. 

Of course, chocolate frosting and chocolate cake go hand-in-hand, so be sure to head over to my chocolate cake recipe. My chocolate cake recipe is very easy and fudgy.