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    You are here: Home / Frosting / Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting

    Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting

    July 23, 2018 By Sam 327 Comments

    This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read my disclosure policy.
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    Chocolate cream cheese frosting

    How to make chocolate cream cheese frosting! This recipe is made with cocoa powder and is simple, fool-proof, and richly chocolaty.

    It’s creamy and smooth but is still sturdy enough for piping and would be the perfect complement to your favorite cake or cupcake recipe!

    Chocolate cream cheese frosting on a cupcake

    Due to popular demand (and a persistent sweet tooth), I’ve been trying to amp up my frosting section on the blog recently.

    So far I’ve covered some of my favorite frostings, including a decadent, silky smooth (but not too-sweet) chocolate frosting and a classic (and perfect, it’s literally my favorite) cream cheese frosting, and today I’m marrying these two favorites together into this chocolate cream cheese frosting recipe.

    Despite my afore-mentioned sweet tooth, buttercream frostings were always too sweet for me growing up, so as soon as I discovered cream cheese frosting my mom switched over to icing and decorating my birthday cakes exclusively with classic and chocolate cream cheese frosting. While many cream cheese frostings don’t stand up well to piping or decorating (too many are too soft and runny), this recipe is stiff enough for decorating and, as you can see in the above picture, works perfectly for piping on top a cupcake.

    Ingredients for chocolate cream cheese frosting

    Chocolate cream cheese frosting only requires 6 ingredients and for my recipe I always use cocoa powder (rather than melted chocolate) to give my frosting a rich chocolaty flavor.

    Take a good look at your cocoa powder before adding it in to your mixer, and if it looks particularly clumpy I recommend running it through a sifter with your powdered sugar so that you don’t have any lumps when you go to pipe the frosting — there’s nothing more annoying than ruining that perfect chocolate swirl because your piping tip has a lump of cocoa powder or powdered sugar jamming up the flow.

    Another tip for silky smooth frosting: Make sure that your cream cheese and butter are softened before beating them together. Cream cheese that’s still cold can also cause lumps in your frosting. I always recommend beating the cream cheese and butter together with an electric mixer first until both are well-combined and lump-free, and then adding your other ingredients.

    creamy chocolate cream cheese frosting in a bowl

    Alright, I think that’s all I have to say about today’s super simple frosting recipe. I’m also just back from vacation and recovering from a crazy/wonderful week of sunny days and late 2AM nights with 29 of my favorite family members, so hopefully everything I just typed came out as coherently as possible 😉

    Enjoy!

    And if you’re wondering about the cupcakes in this picture, I just made my favorite vanilla cake recipe, added a handful of sprinkles, and baked into cupcakes. My funfetti cake or chocolate cupcakes would also work nicely!

    How to Make Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting

    Chocolate cream cheese frosting on cupcake

    Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting

    This chocolate cream cheese frosting recipe will cover either one 2-layer 8" or 9" cake, 24 cupcakes, or generously frost (as much frosting as in the photos) 12 cupcakes.
    4.97 from 108 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Frosting
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Total Time: 10 minutes
    Servings: 24 cupcakes or 1 8" or 9" 2-layer cake
    Calories: 139kcal
    Author: Sam Merritt

    Ingredients

    • ½ cup unsalted butter softened (113g)
    • 8 oz cream cheese softened brick-style, not spreadable (226g)
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • 3 ½ cups powdered sugar* (440g)
    • ½ cup natural cocoa powder (65g)
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Combine the butter and cream cheese in a large bowl and, using an electric mixer or a stand mixer to beat until creamy, well-combined, and lump-free.
    • Add vanilla extract and salt and stir well to combine.
    • With mixer on low, gradually add powdered sugar until completely combined.
    • Add cocoa powder and beat until well-incorporated into the frosting -- be sure to scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl so that all ingredients are well-combined.
    • Frost completely cooled cake or cupcakes.

    Notes

    *If you plan to pipe the frosting with a small tip, I recommend sifting the powdered sugar and cocoa powder (after measuring) to remove any lumps. The cupcakes in these photos were frosted using an Ateco 848 tip.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1/24 batch | Calories: 139kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 21mg | Sodium: 56mg | Potassium: 42mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 245IU | Calcium: 13mg | Iron: 1mg

    Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered an estimate only. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods, cooking method, portion sizes, and more.

    Tried this recipe? Show me on Instagram!Mention @SugarSpun_Sam or tag #sugarspunrun!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Cheryl

      May 04, 2022 at 12:26 am

      5 stars
      This is the very best chocolate frosting recipe EVER! So glad I tried it! Thank you!

      Reply
    2. Kelsey L.

      April 09, 2022 at 5:00 pm

      5 stars
      I used this frosting on my daughter’s birthday cake today and it’s a huge hit. So easy and so good! My daughter doesn’t like the buttercream frosting because it’s too sweet but this frosting is just right.

      Reply
    3. Kayla

      April 03, 2022 at 3:26 pm

      5 stars
      I love this recipe. Getting ready to make it for the second time 🙂 excited to share it with my loved ones tonight. Thanks

      Reply
      • Emily @ Sugar Spun Run

        April 04, 2022 at 9:08 am

        Wonderful! We’re so happy our recipe is such a hit for you, Kayla. Enjoy ❤

        Reply
    4. Louise

      March 22, 2022 at 2:40 pm

      5 stars
      Best chocolate cream cheese frosting ever! This is absolutely delicious! Thanks so much.

      Reply
    5. Cynthia Pastula

      January 31, 2022 at 9:32 am

      5 stars
      I cut the recipe amounts in half to make a small batch of frosting for my brownies. Not only was the frosting fluffy and creamy, it wasn’t overly sweet…I’m guessing this was due to the cocoa. My brownies went from the baked standard box mix to what looked and tasted like bakery quality! A yummy transformation! Thank you for this delicious recipe.

      Reply
      • Emily @ Sugar Spun Run

        January 31, 2022 at 10:13 am

        Sounds delicious, Cynthia! Thanks so much for commenting 😊

        Reply
    6. Nilu

      January 06, 2022 at 10:27 am

      Hi! Could I exactly halve the ingredients to produce a smaller batch of frosting which is equally delicious?

      Reply
      • Emily @ Sugar Spun Run

        January 06, 2022 at 10:44 am

        Yes! Enjoy 😊

        Reply
    7. Laurakat

      December 13, 2021 at 11:23 am

      5 stars
      This frosting is fabulous! I’ve only made a few frosting recipes for from scratch, but this will be my new go-to recipe! It was easy to make with ingredients I had on-hand – and the taste and consistency were both perfect! It spread beautifully on my cake and set up nicely in the fridge. Thanks for sharing another fabulous recipe!

      Reply
      • Emily @ Sugar Spun Run

        December 13, 2021 at 11:26 am

        We love hearing that! Thanks so much for coming back to comment and let us know how it worked for you. Enjoy ❤️

        Reply
      • Ania

        April 16, 2022 at 7:43 am

        Can this be Made night prior to frosting cupcakes? Same question for the vanilla recipe. And once made and on cupcakes should it be refrigerated?

        Reply
        • Sam

          April 17, 2022 at 9:28 pm

          Hi Ania! If you make it in advance you’ll want to store it in an air tight container in the refrigerator. You will want to let it sit at room temperature for a few minutes before trying to use it to soften it up a bit. It’s always safest to store a cream cheese frosting in the refrigerator. 🙂

    8. Jeann

      December 08, 2021 at 9:03 pm

      Hi what cocoa powder you use? And does it matter?

      Reply
      • Sam

        December 09, 2021 at 10:18 am

        Hi Jeann! I like to use natural unsweetened cocoa powder. Dutch-process cocoa would work instead but the frosting will have a more intense flavor.

        Reply
    9. Emma Fulk

      November 25, 2021 at 6:18 pm

      5 stars
      I have never commented on a recipe before but I had to for this one because it is so incredible! I am obsessed with this frosting, I could eat it out of the bowl. I normally don’t like homemade frosting and prefer the store bought kind, but this is seriously the best I’ve ever had and is 1000x better than what comes in a tub.

      Reply
      • Sam

        November 25, 2021 at 9:41 pm

        I’m so glad you enjoyed it so much, Emma! Thank you for taking the time to leave a review. 🙂

        Reply
    10. Layla

      November 25, 2021 at 4:27 pm

      4 stars
      I am not an beginning baker but I generally try to make simple recipes with good quality ingredients. I make a basic chocolate cake sometimes with ganache on it, and I was asked to bring it to Thanksgiving this year as it seems to be hit. I had to double the recipe for two single layer cakes or one two layer cake. I was looking for a nice frosting for it. I didn’t want to have to do a crumb coat, so I wanted something thick. And I love cream cheese frostings. So when I came across this recipe with it’s 6 ingredients and thicker consistency I knew I had found the recipe I wanted to try.

      I made two adjustments to the recipe in the end. I increased the vanilla to 1 tablespoon and it wasn’t chocolatey enough for me so I added another 1/4 up of cocoa and that was just right. I usually have to decrease the sugar in frostings but I was very happy to find I didn’t have to. It’s sweet, but not saccharine. Just right.

      I still used the the ganache as the filling of the cake. And I am glad I did because while this made the right amount to cover both 8 inch layers, since I was going for a no-crumb coat thicker rustic finish (I know my limitations), I needed all of the frosting for the exterior.

      This was my first layer cake. And I am happy to say it will be a hit. This frosting was exactly the right addition to dress my basic cake up for the holidays. And it came together quickly. Thank you.

      Reply
      • Sam

        November 25, 2021 at 9:42 pm

        I’m so glad everyone enjoyed it so much, Layla! 🙂

        Reply
        • Layla

          November 25, 2021 at 11:45 pm

          t was a huge hit. I didn’t even get to bring a piece home. Thank you again.

    11. Patricia

      November 17, 2021 at 1:59 am

      I’ve like to know if could use mascarpone instead of cream cheese. I’m looking forward to try it but it had happened many times that my frosting curdled after adding cocoa powder.
      Thanks for your reply .
      Patricia

      Reply
      • Sam

        November 17, 2021 at 10:14 am

        Hi Patricia! Mascarpone can be very finicky and can curdle, like you are mentioning. I recommend sticking with the cream cheese but if you do try it I would love to know how it goes. 🙂

        Reply
    12. Myra

      November 10, 2021 at 3:44 am

      Hi, can i use this as a filling for a red velvet and chocolate cake layer? And will this stay in the room temperature overnight? Thnk you in advance.

      Reply
      • Sam

        November 10, 2021 at 10:56 am

        Hi Myra! This frosting will work just fine for your cake! Personally I have left it out overnight without issue, but being a cream cheese based frosting I would advise that you refrigerate it. 🙂

        Reply
    13. Tracy

      October 31, 2021 at 8:59 pm

      5 stars
      Fantastic frosting recipe!!

      Reply
      • Emily @ Sugar Spun Run

        November 01, 2021 at 9:10 am

        Thanks so much for letting us know how you liked it, Tracy! 😊

        Reply
    14. Jenny

      October 05, 2021 at 8:12 am

      5 stars
      Delicious recipe. Thank you

      Reply
      • Emily @ Sugar Spun Run

        October 05, 2021 at 9:00 am

        Thanks for letting us know how you liked it, Jenny! Enjoy ❤️

        Reply
    15. Tansy McPherson

      September 08, 2021 at 7:28 pm

      5 stars
      Great recipe, will definitively be making it again.👍🏾

      Reply
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    The author (Sam) in blue shirt holding donut Hi, I'm Sam! I'm dedicated to bringing you sweet, simple, and from-scratch dessert recipes. My life may or may not be controlled by my sweet tooth. Send help (or chocolate). Read more about me.

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