This is a simple chocolate frosting recipe that you’ll use over and over again. Chocolate Frosting with Cocoa Powder and Powdered Sugar is ready in minutes with ingredients your more-than-likely have on hand.
This is not a mind-blowing original recipe. I’ve been making it for years and years. It is a basic Chocolate Frosting recipe that you need to have in your arsenal. Plus, it’s my favorite. If I could, I would eat spoonful after spoonful of it straight from the pan….oh, wait, I did do that!
Chocolate Frosting with Cocoa Powder and Powdered Sugar is my go-to basic chocolate frosting recipe. I use it for my Chocolate Coca-Cola Cake and on my Famous Rocky Road Brownies. This frosting is great on donuts, over ice cream, and on a classic white cake.
This recipe is also easily adaptable. If you have a large sheet pan of brownies, you may want to double the recipe. For just a few cookies, you may want to half the recipe.
It really is a delectable 5-minute frosting that goes great on cakes and cupcakes. Add an additional 2 tablespoons of milk to make it into an easy pouring sauce for ice cream and bread pudding.
Chocolate Frosting with Cocoa Powder and Powdered Sugar
One tip you must remember when making this icing recipe is to sift your sugar. Otherwise, you’ll have lumps and will have to stir A LOT, to get them out. I find that lumps are near impossible to get out once the sugar is stirred into the mixture.
Another tip, ok, I know this is two, is to use real butter. Margarine really doesn’t work well because it’s mostly oil. Use real butter at room temperature.
*The calorie count is for the whole recipe.
Chocolate Frosting with Cocoa Powder and Powdered Sugar
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup butter salted or unsalted, I use this
- 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder I prefer this brand
- 1/3 cup milk whole or 2%
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract preferred brand
- 3 and ½ cup confectioners sugar sifted
Instructions
- Sift sugar.
- Heat butter in a small pan on medium heat, do not let butter get brown.
- When butter is melted, whisk in cocoa, milk, and vanilla. Add sugar 1/2 cup at a time, whisking after each addition.
- Remove from heat, after all the sugar has been added.
- Whisk until smooth.
- Immediately pour over cake.
- If icing is too thin, add additional sifted sugar 1/4 cup at a time until desired thickness or sit it in the refrigerator a few minutes. Take it out and whisk it until creamy again.
- Frosting will thicken as it cools, but it'll be harder to spread.
Notes
Nutrition
You can also find great recipes at my recipe index or at Meal Plan Monday or Weekend Potluck.
This post contains affiliate links. If you click the link and make a purchase I will receive a small commission at no cost to you. Visit all my recommended products at Paula’s Picks on Amazon. Read my entire Privacy Policy here.
Linda says
Easy and fast and great tasting. My go to recipe for chocolate cake icing and I have used a lot of different recipes.
Sweet6th says
Is it really THAT good? Cause I’m using this for business Wednesday let’s see how my costumers like it!
Joey says
My mother made this, she’d make 2batches at one time. One for her and one for the cake! So happy to see the recipe hasn’t been list
Melissa Schaub says
Is the butter in your recipes salted butter or unsalted butter? Thanks!
Paula says
I use salted, professional bakers recommend using unsalted. It reacts the same in the cake so it basically comes down to which you like the taste of better. Using unsalted just tastes bland to me.
Anna says
I have always had difficulty making icing for my cakes. Spreading it was always done badly. This recipe was easy to make, easy to pour over the cake, looked decorative and tasted great! I had planned to scrape out the pan later, but someone beat me to it. Next time I am including a spoonful of instant coffee! Thank you!
Gil Ferguson says
OMG…this is the best frosting and so quick and easy…Thank You so much
Cherie Lynn Benoit says
First time for everything.
Great with white cake or brownies
Cherie
Jiei says
Mine came out hard as it cools. Not good! ((Sigh!) Maybe I shouldnt heat everything from the ingredients next time. Just mix all the ingredients together. Well, maybe!
Robbi says
How come u have to heat it, cant u just melt butter an mix together?
Steve Howland says
Why can’t you just use plain granulated sugar for this ? Does it help in the thickness to use powdered sugar ?
Paula says
Granulated sugar would be ‘gritty’
Diane Rosen says
This was the easiest frosting to make. I used it to frost a bundt cake. My kids loved it.
Paradigm says
Can I coat toffee with this, if so will it harden?
Paula says
No, you will need melting chocolates for toffee. I like https://amzn.to/2JX8UKf or https://amzn.to/2JSU5YP also info> https://www.callmepmc.com/how-to-melt-chocolate-call-me-pmc/
Andrea says
Mine came out a little harder d not really creamy. Did I overlook?
DeeDee says
Looking for coffee cake chocolate frosting. Have you ever tried a bit of coffee in this?
Paula says
I have not, but it would be delicious. Replace some of the liquid with cold coffee depending on how strong of a coffee flavor you want.
Diane Barker says
This recipe is exactly what I was looking for. My mother used to make this icing with coffee, and I forgot all about it. I made it with 1/2 milk and 1/2 brewed coffee, so it has a faint coffee taste. And yes, it is delicious!
Paula says
oh gosh! Coffee sounds great!
Kari Taylor says
I’m looking for a chocolate frosting that’s cooked stove top. Pour it over the cake, It cools to a slightly hardened (crack) stage. Old church sister used to make it all the time. That’s all I remember of it. I regret I never got the recipe from her.
Kari Taylor says
From the looks of the picture, I think I found it in your post for “Chocolate Coca-Cola cake” or “Diet Dr Pepper® Texas Sheet Cake”. I’ll try both!😊
Nikt says
I make this kind of frosting. Pour over and it hardens as it cools.
Sonya says
My grandmother used to make that kind of frosting. I have been looking for it for years. I remember cocoa, Crisco, Milk and sugar…. But I remember her putting it on the cake really quick because it would get hard, like a fudge stage hard..OMGoodness. On yellow cake was the best. I hope this is it 🙂
Sandy says
My mother made the same kind. Regretfully, i didnt get her recipe before she passed away. I’ll try this one.
Gloria says
Isn’t that the same as gnache?
hannah grayboff says
How long will this frosting last in the fridge? It’s delicious, just made it. First time ever making frosting. I hope the cake turns out well
Paula says
4 or 5 days
Tracy says
Thanks for the recipe. My grandma (who died at age 103 in 2010) used to make the best little chocolate cake with a frosting like this. I’m looking online for comparable recipes because although my cousin and our grandma wrote these recipes down, they aren’t necessarily accurate – she grew up on a farm in North Dakota where everything was done literally by hand and by feel – from the pie crust dough to the oven temp. My mom and i attempted this cake and frosting 15 years ago… it’s time for me to try again!
Paula says
I understand!! My Granny was the same way. She made a dessert she called a Peach Roll that was absolutely amazing and I can’t get it right for the life of me.
Polly Fullrt says
Can I use a hand mixer instead of a whisk ?
Paula says
Yes you can
Sheryl says
Linda, We made this when I was a child. Mother always called it 3,6,9 icing. It is great stuff especially if you are lucky enuf to get to lick the pan clean. Thanks for putting it online….fond memories (this is great on Mayonnaise Cake)
Valerie Mcabee says
I don’t have any milk but I have sweetened condensed milk. Can I use it in place of regular milk?
Paula says
Yes, you can
emma says
Hi. Ive would love to try your frosting recipe but im wondering, if i dont have butter or dairy product. Is there anything else i can substitute with?
Paula says
you can sub sweetened condensed milk, 1%, 2%, almond milk, coconut milk for the milk.
You can use margarine or butter
Barbara says
Can I save cocoa, confectioner’s sugar water and vanilla frosting in the refrigerator?
Paula says
yes
GWENDOLYN B WILLIAMS says
I have a recipe for a made from scratch yellow cake with a “hard” fudge like icing. If you would like it please e-mail me. IT IS KILLER!! I begged a neighbor for the recipe for 2 years before she finally gave it to me.
Paula says
Yes, please, I would like it.
Ingrid says
Looks amazingly easy and practical. If I make it ahead of time, can I reheat gradually and use on cake when ready to use?
Paula says
Yes, you may need to add a little more liquid
Helen Johnson says
I’m excited to use this recipe this Saturday, Oct 21st for my husband’s bday cake… Mississippi mud! I will let you know how it goes. He is very picky about the frosting. Thank you for sharing this recipe.
Jill Bieghler says
I don’t have anything to sift the sugar…is it necessary?
Paula says
It helps, but you can stir it really good with a whisk to remove any lumps.
Lela says
Made this today after searching for a recipe that was easy & that I had all the ingredients for..and it is amazing. I just poured it over a sheet cake and the family gobbled it up in celebration to my son’s 15th birthday!!! Thank you for sharing.
Melena says
Going to try this today for a father’s day cake! Do you have a recipe for a chocolate frosting that sets up hard? My mother made some once when i was young and it was delicious! Unfortunately she can’t remember how she did it (i think she may have just messed up). It was a rich dark chocolate and she poured it over cake in a sheet pan. It set up about a 1/4 inch thick. Any ideas would be great!
Paula says
No this is only one I use. You can make it stiffer by adding more sugar, or glaze consistency by adding less.
Terri Street says
Would this work if I only used half the cocoa that’s called for? My husband wants a chocolate icing that is very, very light in the chocolate flavor, and I have tried many recipes that all are too chocolate-y for him. Will it be too thin if I don’t use all the cocoa, or is the cocoa not a factor in the thickness of the frosting?
Paula says
I think using less cocoa will make it less chocolatey. It shouldn’t affect the thickness of it, but you may want to hold off on adding all the liquid. It’s easier to add it later.
Debra says
I just tried making your recipe for frosting and spreed it on my homemade cake. I must say I absolutely love it!! Very easy to make and taste soooo delicious. This was my first time making homemade frosting and I will never buy store bought again. My family and I thank you.
Paula says
Thank you. This is my favorite frosting as well. It’s so versatile too.
Marvalee Singleton says
What if i only have regular sugar?
Paula says
You need to cook it long enough for the granulated sugar to melt. I recommend waiting until you can get powdered sugar.
Karron Troil says
Is this a hard frosting when cooled? I’ve been looking for a hard frosting recipe.
Thanks,
Karron
Paula says
It sets up and isn’t runny, but I wouldn’t say it’s ‘hard’. It is more like a birthday cake frosting.
Kari Taylor says
I also asked the same thing. From looking at the pictures, I think I may have found it in her post for “Chocolate Coca-Cola cake” or “Diet Dr Pepper® Texas Sheet Cake”.
Paula says
https://www.callmepmc.com/chocolate-frosting-with-cocoa-powder-and-powdered-sugar/
This is the basic chocolate icing I always use. You can put nuts into on or top if you want too.
Lorie Ann says
Wow this recipe is the absolute best it turned out perfect I couldn’t have made a better frosting thanks for the great recipe!
Sarah@bakingwithmom says
I love making homemade frosting. The kids love using homemade frosting on graham crackers. Well, I do too!
jennai says
The recipe is nice I love to try it today
Linda says
Paula, this reminds me of chocolate frosting we made at home. Nothing fancy – but oh so chocolaty! Thanks for the reminder. New and improved isn’t always better. 🙂
Wishes for tasty dishes, Linda
Paula says
Thanks, Linda! This is the first frosting I ever made and I’ve used it for (ahem) a lot of years now 🙂
Patricia Mastro says
Paula, do you ever make a boiled chocolate frosting with ‘granulated’ sugar! My Mother did and it was wonderful! I haven’t made it for a while so I can’t give a guarantee until I have made it and can comment on the results. Curious what you have to say!
Paula says
I have not, this one is so simple it’s my go to
Abby says
Hi,
Is this a thick spreadable frosting or more like a thin icing ? I would love to try it today on some goodies I’m making.
Thanks
Paula says
I use it as both. As the recipe is written, it’s thick and can be used on a layer cake. When I want to ice sugar cookies, I add 1 to 2 tablespoons of milk to the above recipe and it’s thinner.