Milk Chocolate Frosting makes the perfect chocolaty swoops and swirls on your cakes and cupcakes. I’ve got a tip that will guarantee a rich chocolate flavor every time!
I love chocolate. It happens to be an integral part of my favorite food: Chocolate Chip Cookies. So, naturally, when it comes time to frost a cake I typically go to chocolate.
Of course, a good dark chocolate ganache or borderline bitter chocolate glaze is always a dream, but sometimes I need a little milky creaminess in my life. Milk Chocolate Frosting is just the thing.
How to make milk chocolate frosting:
I have made versions of chocolate frosting where I simply sift the cocoa together with the confectioners’ sugar and blend it all with butter and milk – however, that’s not as flavorful as this version. The cocoa creates the most flavor when it is heated with butter, oil or water. So, I set out to make my frosting more chocolaty. I use the same ingredients but I’ve changed the method slightly. This is my hack for how to get really rich chocolate frosting!
I melt the butter and cocoa together first. Melting the cocoa into butter activates all the chocolaty flavor (and I add the milk too to save a step). Besides enhancing the flavor, this quick step also creates a smooth chocolate mixture so, when I mix it in with the other ingredients, my frosting won’t have cocoa lumps. The best part is you don’t need to sift it! (I really hate sifting.)
To get a richer flavor in your chocolate frosting, melt the cocoa and the butter together first.
Finally, blend this flavorful sauce into butter and confectioners’ sugar. Just watch that luscious Milk Chocolate Frosting come together.
This recipe makes enough to frost a 2 or 3 layer cake, or a lot of cupcakes. If you have some left over, don’t worry. It freezes well and of course, any leftovers make tasty graham cracker cookies! You know the ones. Sandwich this delicious frosting in between two graham cracker squares and enjoy. I could eat a dozen!
Use Milk Chocolate Frosting:
Here are some delicious ways to use this milk chocolate frosting.
Classic Yellow Cake with Chocolate Frosting
What is buttercream frosting?
This recipe is a cocoa version of classic buttercream frosting. A frosting that uses butter and sugar to make a fluffy, swirling topping.
This milk chocolate variation is just one of my great frostings. My Fluffy Vanilla Frosting is the most popular post on my blog. Why, you may ask? Everyone needs a perfect confectioners’ sugar buttercream in their recipe book. It’s a classic topping for cupcakes, cakes and cookies. I use it on my soft sugar cookies too. It is very similar to this milk chocolate frosting in that it uses a confectioners’ sugar base. The powdered sugar gives the frosting a sweet but grainy texture that melts to a smooth cream on your tongue.
Milk Chocolate Frosting makes the perfect chocolatey swoops and swirls on your cakes and cupcakes. I've got a tip that will guarantee a rich chocolate flavor every time!
- 3 sticks unsalted butter softened
- ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa
- ½ cup milk 2% or whole
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 8 cups confectioners’ sugar
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In the microwave or on in a saucepan, melt together ½ cup of the butter (1 stick) cocoa and milk and stir until smooth. Cool slightly.
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In another large bowl, beat remaining butter and vanilla together, then add cooled cocoa mixture. Add confectioners' sugar 1 cup at a time, blending with each addition, until frosting is smooth and creamy.
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For a stiffer frosting for piping use all 8 cups of sugar, and for a softer frosting for swooping on a cake, use 7 cups confectioners' sugar.
- Melting the cocoa and butter together activates the chocolate flavors in the cocoa. It also helps make the frosting smooth and creamy.
I’ve been searching for a chocolate frosting recipe for a long time. I just made this tonight and love it! This will be my new go-to, Tara. Thank you!
Oh good Jen! I’m so glad it’s a hit.
This one is a keeper! Love it!
Yummy frosting Tara!
I made this frosting as a filling for my grandson’s chocolate cakes for his birthday. I have made so many cakes & cupcakes for birthdays, weddings etc & countless batches of frosting & this chocolate frosting is far & away the VERY BEST!
Oh Robin I’m so happy to hear it. It’s really a staple and one of my favorites. It’s great to know you love it now as well. Happy Birthday to your grandson!