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    TaraTeaspoon » Recipes » Frosting, Icing, and Toppings

    The Best Frosting for Chocolate Cake

    Published: Jul 16, 2022 by Tara T. · This page contains affiliate and sponsored links. See my full disclosure

    Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe
    The Best Frosting for Chocolate Cake
    The Best Frosting for Chocolate Cake
    The Best Frosting for Chocolate Cake

    An easy ganache frosting is the best frosting for a chocolate cake. Whether you use a cake mix or homemade recipe, you'll love this combination.


    I am a huge fan of homemade frosting, so when it comes to icing a chocolate cake, I'm never going to reach for the pre-made stuff.

    frosting chocolate cake layers with sprinkles

    Homemade frosting is easy, super delicious, and makes cakes from scratch, as well as cake-mix cakes taste amazing.

    I'm sharing a recipe for semisweet whipped ganache, but you can try some of my other amazing frosting recipes too.

    chocolate frosting on a chocolate cake layer
    Jump to:
    • What is the best frosting for chocolate cake?
    • Ganache Frosting with Chocolate Cake
    • What chocolate cake should I use?
    • Tools needed
    • How to make the best frosting for a chocolate cake
    • Is this recipe gluten-free?
    • Dark chocolate frosting
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments
    best frosting for chocolate cake in a bowl

    What is the best frosting for chocolate cake?

    This is up for debate! I am partial to a silky, whipped chocolate ganache frosting like the recipe in this post, but I have so many frostings that are great on chocolate cake.

    More to choose from:

    • The best Peanut Butter Frosting for chocolate cake.
    • A Milk Chocolate Frosting for cake and cupcakes.
    • Cream Cheese Frosting for chocolate cake.
    • Absolute best White Frosting for chocolate cake, it's a Swiss meringue.
    • Try this Fluffy Vanilla Frosting for chocolate cake, it's American buttercream.
    • Creamy Caramel Icing great for chocolate cake mix.
    • Silky Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting.

    Ganache Frosting with Chocolate Cake

    My classic Whipped Ganache Chocolate Frosting is perfect on a chocolate cake. I've simplified the recipe in this post so you can use chocolate chips right from the bag.

    Check out the recipe below for easy instructions to make whipped ganache frosting with just two ingredients!

    If you want to pipe the frosting, please use the original Whipped Ganache recipe that includes confectioners' sugar for stabilization.

    whipped chocolate ganache in a bowl

    Mrs. Milman's Chocolate Frosting

    When I worked at Martha Stewart magazine we would often make Mrs. Milman's frosting for our chocolate cakes. Mrs. Milman was the style editor Hannah's mother, and Hannah had shared the recipe with Martha Stewart.

    The recipe has been published in magazines and online for years. It's an easy, go-to, chocolate frosting that is made with chocolate chips. It's kind of a cheater's ganache.

    I'm all about that kind of cheating, and now make my own version of this recipe. You'll find it below!

    You can leave out the corn syrup if you want, but it doesn't hurt to put it in if you have it. It helps stabilize the chocolate and cream mixture.

    whipping chocolate frosting in a bowl

    What chocolate cake should I use?

    I vote cake mix! Honestly, your favorite chocolate cake mix pairs perfectly with this silky frosting.

    You could make a homemade chocolate cake. If you do I prefer the Secret Chocolate Cake found in my cookbook Delicious Gatherings. Or you can use a standard One Bowl Chocolate Cake.

    Really any chocolate cake will taste delicious with this homemade frosting made from chocolate chips!

    stirring chocolate frosting in glass bowl

    Tools needed

    You can make this frosting in the microwave or on the stovetop. Skip the saucepan and use a microwave safe bowl to heat the cream if you do.

    You can also use a stand mixer instead of a hand mixer.

    • Small saucepan for heating the cream.
    • Mixing bowl for combining the hot cream and chocolate.
    • A large bowl for an ice bath.
    • A hand mixer for whipping the cooled mixture.
    • Offset spatula for spreading the frosting.
    cake mix chocolate cake layer on plate

    How to make the best frosting for a chocolate cake

    • Heat the heavy cream to just simmering, but not boiling.
    • Pour cream over chocolate chips in a large bowl.
    • Let cream and chocolate sit for 5 minutes to melt the chocolate.
    • Gently stir the chocolate until a smooth mixture forms.
    • Set the bowl over a large bowl filled with ice and water (an ice bath).
    • Stir mixture occasionally until cooled.
    • Whip the mixture with a hand mixture until frosting has fluffed and lightened.

    Is this recipe gluten-free?

    Yes! This ganache style frosting is gluten free. Please make sure to double check your chocolate chips to make sure there are no rogue ingredients in them!

    The entire cake will not be gluten free unless you use a gluten-free cake mix or your own gluten-free recipe. If it's homemade I suggest Cup4Cup gluten free flour.

    Dark chocolate frosting

    You can swap the semisweet chocolate chips in this recipe for bittersweet chocolate chips to make a dark chocolate frosting.

    The dark chocolate frosting will be very intense in flavor.

    chocolate cake layer with frosting

    Rate this recipe! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

    Scroll to the bottom of the page to rate and comment on this recipe. Leaving comments, questions, and ratings helps other too!

    📖 Recipe

    best frosting for chocolate cake layers

    Best Frosting For Chocolate Cake

    Tara Teaspoon
    This fluffy ganache frosting is the best tasting, and most silky frosting, perfect for a chocolate cake.
    4.72 from 14 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Work Time 15 minutes mins
    Cook Time 5 minutes mins
    Total Time 45 minutes mins
    Course Dessert
    Servings 4 cups

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 cups heavy cream
    • 1 pound (16 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips
    • 1 teaspoon corn syrup

    Instructions
     

    • Heat cream in a saucepan or in the microwave, just to a simmer. Remove from heat and pour over chocolate chips in a mixing bowl. Let sit 5 min, then whisk until smooth. Stir in corn syrup.
    • Set the bowl of ganache over another bowl filled with ice and water (an ice bath), and allow mixture to cool, stirring occasionally. (Stir until ganache is cold to the touch, 5 to 15 minutes.)
    • Whip ganache in a mixer until lighter in color and just barely fluffy or aerated (don't over whip or ganache will curdle). Use immediately.
      whipping chocolate frosting in a bowl

    Notes

    Use bittersweet chocolate chips for a darker chocolate frosting. 
     
    Nutrition facts: are for 1 cup of frosting.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 1068kcalCarbohydrates: 65gProtein: 10gFat: 86gSaturated Fat: 52gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 24gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 141mgSodium: 45mgPotassium: 756mgFiber: 9gSugar: 47gVitamin A: 1806IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 149mgIron: 7mg
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    Tara Teaspoon

    I’ve been in food publishing for over 25 years, creating recipes & food-styling for magazines, books, television, food brands, & advertising. With two cookbooks under my belt and thousands of my recipes at your fingertips, I hope you'll be inspired to spend more time in the kitchen!

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    Comments

      4.72 from 14 votes (12 ratings without comment)

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    1. Jeff the Chef @ Make It Like a Man! says

      November 29, 2022 at 10:28 am

      I love a whipped ganache on a cake. Thanks for reminding me of how delicious it is!

      Reply
    2. Vickie Fulmer says

      February 07, 2023 at 7:53 pm

      I’m always looking for a chocolate frosting and this one doesn’t disappoint Thank you for satisfying my cake addiction.

      Reply
    3. T says

      December 02, 2024 at 1:05 pm

      I know my way around a kitchen and have been baking for 35 years. I was looking for a new fun recipe and came across this. To the point, TOO MUCH HEAVY CREAM for the amount of chocolate chips….it will not come together as an icing in these proportions…..I had to add Powdered sugar to it to become usable and it was still bitter. Cut the amount of heavy cream in half and as more if needed….melt ur chips in a microwave to start. Use milk chocolate if u don’t like the bitterness.

      Reply

    Hi, I'm Tara Teaspoon!

    I’ve been sharing my original ideas for years. What began as a passion, turned into a publishing career as Food Editor at Martha Stewart Living and Ladies’ Home Journal magazines.

    Now I write cookbooks, and share delicious recipes and expert cooking tips with you here! Thanks for stopping by Tara Teaspoon!

    More about me →

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