Rich and creamy chocolate cream cheese frosting recipe is a simple cream cheese chocolate icing that takes just minutes to make.
This weekend was an exciting weekend for our family.
My youngest son made an early appearance and joined our family, and we couldn’t be happier.
Not that that has anything to do with this frosting recipe, but I’m just so excited that I wanted to share the news.
This chocolate cream cheese frosting is a variation on my chocolate buttercream frosting. It’s incredibly easy to make, but there are a couple tips that ensure that it comes out well.
Tips to make chocolate cream cheese frosting
First, the butter and cream cheese should be soft, but you don’t want the butter to be so soft that it’s melting.
Second, if your cocoa powder and powdered sugar are lumpy, sifting them will give you a smoother frosting.
Third, the frosting may seem a little soft as you are piping it. It will set up quite a bit once it has been refrigerated, so don’t worry if it it’s not very stiff as you are piping it on.
Recipes that go well with chocolate cream cheese frosting
I like to use this cream cheese chocolate frosting when I make pumpkin cupcakes. The combination of cream cheese, chocolate, and pumpkin just goes so well together!
This rich chocolate cream cheese icing also pairs really well with basic chocolate, white, or yellow cakes.
More frosting recipes!
- Peanut Butter Frosting
- Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
- Salted Caramel Buttercream Frosting
- Cream Cheese Frosting
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Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting
Rich chocolate cream cheese frosting recipe
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter at cool room temperature*
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- 3-3 ½ cups powdered sugar
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- With an electric mixer (either hand or stand), beat butter and cream cheese together until well-combined, about 3-4 minutes on medium.
- Scrape down the bowl.
- Add 3 cups powdered sugar, cocoa powder, and vanilla.
- Mix on low until powdered sugar and cocoa powder are incorporated.
-
If the frosting is too wet or tart, add powdered sugar 2 tablespoons at a time until it reaches desired consistency and sweetness.
Recipe Notes
*I like to use salted butter. If you prefer to use unsalted butter, just add a pinch or so of salt to the frosting.
**Nutrition facts are estimated.
Crystal says
Hi, can I substitute powdered sugar for regular sugar
Kate says
Hi! I haven’t tried it, so I’m not sure how it will work. If you try it, please let me know how it comes out!
Año says
This is delicious! I only used one cup of sugar and it tasted great
Kate says
Thank you! I’m so glad thta you liked it! =)
Candy says
Frosted a 9×13 Banana Cake. Absolutely yummy!! Thank you!
Kate says
Thank you! I’m so glad that you like the frosting. Thanks for commenting! =)
Patricia Chavez says
I made this last night and put it on a strawberry cake and it came out soo great! Definitely giving this 5 stars! ?
Kate says
Thank you so much! Strawberry cake sounds like a great match for this frosting. Glad you enjoyed it! =)
Megan Richardson says
This frosting is awesome! My mixer is down for the count right now, so I ended up using a potato masher (? not the best tool for the job I know), but it still turned out great. It will probably be even better when the mixer can get it even more light and fluffy. Thank you so much for sharing this!
Kate says
How creative! I love that you came up with a way to make it work! I’m glad you liked it, and thank you for coming back to comment! =)
Randy Reed says
Simply delicious ? I used your frosting to ice a 9″ x 1 3″ pan of chocolate brownies. Your portions made twice what I needed, so I intend to halve it in the future. Garnished it with mini- chocolate chips. Received many positive compliments. Thank you very, very much.
Kate says
Thank you so much! I’m glad that you liked it, and it sounds like it was a big hit. =) Thanks for coming back to comment!
Kate says
Hi there, will this make enough to frost a 9 inch double layer cake? Thank you so much.
Kate says
Hi! I don’t think that you’ll have enough to frost a 9-inch double layer cake. I would either do 1 1/2 batches or a double batch depending on how much frosting you like.
George Taylor says
I used it on a two layer 9 inch cake with some left over but I used a vanilla buttercream as the filling. Depending on the icing thickness, you should be ok.
Kate says
Thank you! It’s always so helpful to hear from people who have tried it! =)
Heather says
One of the best frostings I ever had. Found myself eating it with a spoon,lol. and I dont usually even like frosting.
Kate says
Thank you so much! I’m glad you liked it, and I take that as a big compliment! =) Thank you for coming back to comment.
Beth Rader says
Soo good I ate it with a spoon!!!!
Kate says
Thanks! I’m so glad that you liked the frosting! Thanks for coming back to comment. =)
Anthony says
Great frosting
Kate says
Thanks! I’m glad you liked it! =)
Emily says
Love! This frosting was so good, it was perfect with chocolate cake. Thanks!
Anne Fitz says
It was really good. I made it with a chocolate cake and they went together perfectly
Kate says
Thank you so much! I think pumpkin and chocolate are my two favorite cake flavors to use with this frosting. =)
Amy says
So good! I used this frosting on a chocolate cake and it was great. Thanks!
Kate says
Thank you! So glad you liked the frosting! =)
Reshma says
Hi kate….
Looking to the comments the recipe seems perfect…will be trying it but one query …if i want to serve the cupcakes the next day of making….how to do the frosting…should it be the next day or the day before and how to store the cupcakes with the frosting in the fridge….will the frosting get hard in the fridge…
Reshma
Kate says
Hi! It will set up a bit in the fridge, but I haven’t found it to be a problem. I just store them in a large container and loosely cover them. Also, even though the frosting does set up a bit, it softens back up as it sits out. Hope that helps!
Jess says
So yummy!! This frosting is amazing!
Kate says
Glad you liked it! Thank you!
Annie says
Love this recipe!
I only put the 3 cups of powdered sugar because my husband doesn’t like a really sweet taste. It turned out light, fluffy and delicious!
Thanks for sharing the recipe!
Kate says
Yay! I’m so glad you liked it! Thank you for taking the time to come back and comment!
Kentuckylady717 says
Congratulations on your new baby boy….will you be showing us pictures soon ? :)
I have always heard that coffee makes chocolate taste so much better….if I wanted to add some coffee, approx. how much would I add and what do I use less of , and how much ?
Rating this a 5* because I know it is good :) Thanks for posting this recipe…..
Kate says
Thank you so much!! I’ll have to share a picture in an upcoming post. =)
In order to keep the thicker consistency, I usually use a flavor or extract with frostings. I’ve seen coffee flavor at my local grocery stores alongside vanilla and other extracts. I’m not sure how strong it is, so I’d start off with 1/4 or 1/2 teaspoon and then add more as needed. Good luck, and thank you for your kind comment!!
Deb says
Kate, congratulations to you and your family on the birth on of your baby son!! How exciting for you!! Thanks for sharing this chocolate cream cheese frosting it looks absolutely heavenly!
Kate says
Thank you so much!! We are over the moon about our newest addition. I really appreciate your kind words!