This easy chocolate cream cheese frosting uses only 6 ingredients and has 10 minute prep time, so whip up a batch of this delicious pipeable frosting for your cakes and cupcakes today!
1/2cupunsalted butterroom temperature, see notes for salted butter
8ozblock full-fat cream cheeseroom temperature
2.5cupspowdered sugarup to 3 cups for firmer frosting
1/2cupsunsweetened cocoa powder
¼tspsaltomit if using salted butter
1tspvanilla extract
Instructions
Sift together powdered sugar and unsweetened cocoa powder. Set aside.
Using a hand held mixer with a large bowl, or a whisk attachment in a standing mixer, beat butter and cream cheese until thoroughly combined, about 2-3 minutes, scraping down sides of the bowl as necessary.
Slowly add chocolate sugar mixture, about ½ -1 cup at a time and mix on medium low, scraping down the sides and bottom of the bowl as necessary.
Add vanilla and salt and remix until combined. If piping, chill for 20 minutes in the fridge to get the perfect piping consistency. Otherwise, it’s ready to use on your favorite dessert.
Notes
You can use salted butter, just omit the added salt or only add a pinch.
Make sure both the butter and cream cheese are room temperature so they will combine properly and you don’t have any unmixed butter or cream cheese pieces.
Use full-fat block cream cheese. Low fat cream cheese or cream cheese in a plastic container can turn the cream cheese frosting runny due to the increased water content. You can read more about why and how to prevent it in this classic Cream Cheese Frostingrecipe.
If using a standing mixer, be sure to use a whisk attachment and not the beater attachment. The beater attachment can lead to runny frosting.
Still have issues with runny or lumpy frosting? Check out this poston why this happens and how to prevent it.
This recipe makes 2.5-3 cups of frosting, which is enough for 18-24 cupcakes or a 9x13 inch sheet cake. It can easily be halved or doubled.
It will keep in the fridge for 3-5 days or in the freezer for 2 months.