• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Chef Dennis
  • Recipe Index
  • On the Road
  • About
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipe Index
  • About
  • Contact
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipe Index
    • About
    • Contact
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Recipes

    Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting

    Published: Apr 7, 2023 by Chef Dennis Littley

    81 shares
    • Facebook30
    • Email
    5 from 31 votes
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Pinterest image for chocolate cream cheese frosting.

    Made with simple ingredients, my rich and creamy Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting will elevate your cakes to the next level of deliciousness. My easy, foolproof recipe makes a super chocolaty frosting for your favorite cakes and cupcakes, turning them into extra special treats.

    chocolate cake with chocolate cream cheese frosting

    My chocolate cream cheese frosting recipe makes a delicious and decadent frosting. It’s creamy, smooth and has a tangy twist from the cream cheese that adds another dimension to the frosting.

    You might also hear my homemade frosting referred to as chocolate cream cheese buttercream frosting. But whatever you call it, I guarantee you’ll be calling it delicious!

    Whole chocolate cake frosted and decorated with chocolate cream cheese frosting.

    I used my chocolate cream cheese frosting on the Best Chocolate Cake Recipe I shared on my blog. It gives this cake even more of a delicious chocolate flavor! It’s also the perfect frosting for your favorite yellow cake.

    It’s easy to look like a professional baker when you add this creamy chocolate cream cheese frosting to a piping bag and make a simple decorative border around the outside and top of the cake.

    Ingredients for Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting

    ingredients for recipe.

    Let’s start by gathering the ingredients we need to make this delicious frosting. In Chef Speak, this is called the “Mise en Place,” which translates to “Everything in its Place.”

    Not only does setting up your ingredients ahead of time speed up the cooking process, it also helps ensure you have everything you need to make the dish.

    Just six simple ingredients

    • full-fat cream cheese
    • unsalted butter
    • powdered sugar (confectioners sugar)
    • unsweetened cocoa powder
    • vanilla extract
    • whole milk

    How to make chocolate cream cheese frosting

    collage showing how to start recipe.
    • Add the softened butter and room-temperature cream cheese to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or a large bowl using an electric mixer with beater bars).
    • Beat for 3-4 minutes until light and fluffy on medium speed. Stopping as needed to scrape down the bottom and sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula.
    • Add the cocoa powder and vanilla extract to the cream cheese mixture.
    • Beat until just combined (about 45 seconds)

    *Make sure the butter isn’t too soft. It should be soft enough that your finger will make an imprint with no resistance but not so warm that the butter looks shiny or greasy.

    *I like to use dark cocoa to make my frosting, it has a deeper chocolate flavor. But whatever cocoa you use, just make sure it’s unsweetened.

    collage showing how to finish making recipe.
    • Add the powdered sugar to the mixture, one cup at a time on the lowest setting of your mixer.
    • Whip the frosting continuously during the process. Your mixer should be on a lower setting as your adding the confectioner’s sugar.
    • Add one tablespoon of milk at a time to the frosting to get the desired spreadable consistency. If you like a thicker frosting, add less milk.
    • Whip until smooth and creamy.

    *Remember that the frosting will achieve a thicker consistency as it gets colder. If the frosting thickens up too much as it gets cold, re-whip it to soften it up.

    view of cut chocolate cake

    I’ve had a lot of cakes in my life, and this is definitely the best chocolate cream cheese frosting I’ve ever had. This might even be my favorite frosting, it’s just that good! I know after one taste, you’ll agree.

    This frosting is versatile and can be used on just about any type of cake you like to make. It’s the perfect topping for a sheet cake, cupcakes, or a bundt cake. It’s so much better than store-bought frosting (if you can even call those cans of sugary fat frosting) and will elevate your homemade or box cakes to a whole new level of deliciousness.

    Recipe FAQ’s

    Does chocolate cream cheese frosting have to be refrigerated?

    Yes, any type of cream cheese frosting needs to be refrigerated. Otherwise, it may spoil. Cream cheese frosting can be left at room temperature for up to two hours, so you don’t have to serve your guest cold cake.

    Can I make chocolate cream cheese frosting ahead of time?

    Yes, you can. Chocolate cream cheese frosting can be made ahead of time and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Before using it, allow it to come to room temperature and re-whip it briefly to make it smooth and creamy.

    Can I freeze chocolate cream cheese frosting?

    Yes, you can freeze chocolate cream cheese frosting for up to 3 months. Place it in an airtight container and freeze it. Before using it, allow it to thaw in the refrigerator overnight, then let it come to room temperature and re-whip it briefly to ensure it is smooth and creamy.

    More Recipes You’ll Love!

    • overhead image of cream cheese frosting in a glass bowl
      Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe
    • chocolate cake with chocolate cream cheese frosting
      Best Chocolate Cake Recipe
    • slice of flourless chocolate cake being taken. out of whole cake
      Flourless Chocolate Cake Recipe
    • slice of chocolate mousse cake being taken out of whole cake
      Best Chocolate Mousse Cake

    Did you make this? Please RATE THE RECIPE below!

    Please SUBSCRIBE and FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST!

    chocolate cake with chocolate cream cheese frosting
    Print Recipe Save Saved!
    5 from 31 votes

    Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting

    My easy, foolproof Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting recipe makes a super chocolaty frosting for your favorite cakes and cupcakes, turning them into extra special treats.
    Prep Time10 minutes mins
    Cook Time0 minutes mins
    Total Time10 minutes mins
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Servings: 36
    Calories: 189kcal
    Author: Chef Dennis Littley

    Ingredients

    • 12 ounces butter softened softened
    • 8 ounces cream cheese softened
    • 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
    • 7 cups confectioner’s sugar
    • ½ cup milk
    • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Add the softened butter and cream cheese to the bowl of a stand mixer and beat for 3-4 minutes until light and fluffy. Stopping as needed to scrape down the sides and bottom of the mixing bowl.
    • The butter and cream cheese should be softened but not too warm; the butter needs to be firm to whip properly. The rule of thumb is that you can push a finger into the butter without a lot of resistance, but there still should be some resistance.
    • Add the cocoa powder and vanilla extract to the cream cheese mixture and beat until just combined (about 45 seconds)
    • Add the powdered sugar to the mixture, one cup at a time, continuously whipping the frosting during the process. Your mixer should be on a lower setting as your adding the confectioner’s sugar.
    • Add as much of the milk as necessary to get the desired spreadable consistency. Remember that the frosting will contine to thicken as it gets colder.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 189kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 27mg | Sodium: 83mg | Potassium: 53mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 23g | Vitamin A: 326IU | Calcium: 16mg | Iron: 0.4mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @askChefDennis or tag #askChefDennis!

    More Recipes

    • banana chocolate chip muffins on a white plate
      Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins
    • roasted eggplant dip in a white bowl with lemons and a piece of bread dipping into the mixture.
      Roasted Eggplant Dip
    • baked manicotti on a white plate.
      Best Cheese Manicotti Recipe
    • sloppy joes on bun on a white plate.
      Best Sloppy Joes Recipe

    About Chef Dennis

    Picture of Chef Dennis

    Chef Dennis Littley is a classically trained chef with over 40 years of experience working in the food service industry. In his second career as a food blogger he has made it his mission to demistify cooking by sharing his time-tested recipes, knowledge, and chef tips to help you create easy-to-make restaurant-quality meals in your home kitchen. Let Chef Dennis help you bring the joy of cooking into your home. For more details, check out his About page.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Comment Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




      This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    1. Carole Holmes

      May 19, 2023 at 8:48 am

      5 stars
      This chocolate cake with the cream cheese frosting sounds absolutely decadent and can’t wait to make it.

      Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Pinterest image for chocolate cream cheese frosting.


    My name is Dennis Littley or “Chef Dennis” as I’m known both at work and across the blogosphere. As a classically trained chef with 40+ years of experience in the kitchen, I share my time-tested recipes, knowledge, and chef tips to help you create easy-to-make restaurant-quality meals in your home kitchen.

    More about me →

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

    Fan Favorites

    • loaf of homemade artisan bread on a wooden cutting board
      Almost No-Knead Artisan Bread Recipe
    • 2 Maryland crab cakes on a white plate
      Baked Maryland Crab Cakes Recipe
    • chicken parm with pasta on a white plate
      Chicken Parmesan Recipe
    • seasoned crispy chicken legs on a foil wrapped tray
      Best Baked Chicken Legs {Drumsticks}
    • side view of slice of bee sting cake being taken out of full cake
      German Bee Sting Cake (Bienenstich) Recipe
    • Tiramisu with a fork on a white plate
      Best Tiramisu Recipe {step by step}
    • overhead view of barbecued half racks of baby back ribs on a white platter
      Easy Oven Baked Baby Back Ribs
    • overhead view of veal parm and linguine on a white plate
      Restaurant Style Veal Parm Recipe

    Featured In

    logos of all the places chef dennis has been featured

    Popular Posts

    • crispy seasoned chicken leg quarters on a white platter
      Best Baked Chicken Leg Quarters
    • cropped-Gunniess-Beef-Stew-13.jpg
      Authentic Guinness Beef Stew Recipe
    • overhead shot of baked crab imperial on a white plate with sauteed greens and roasted potatoes
      Maryland Style Jumbo Lump Crab Imperial
    • close up of half a chicken salad sandwich on a white plate
      Best Chicken Salad – Deli Style
    • oysters rockefeller with a slice of lemon on a bed of rock salt on a white platter
      How to Make Restaurant Style Oysters Rockefeller
    • sliced dry rub roasted brisket with cilantro and tomatoes on on a white platter
      Easy Oven Baked Beef Brisket Recipe
    • rack of pork with end cut off
      Oven Roasted Rack of Pork {Pork Rib Roast}
    • sliced meatloaf with the rest of meatloaf on a white platter
      Classic Meatloaf Recipe with Zesty Glaze

    Footer

    Pinterest image for chocolate cream cheese frosting.

    ↑ back to top

    INFO

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclosure Policy
    • Cookie Policy
    • Accessibility Policy

    SUBSCRIBE

    Sign Up Today and start getting my easy-to-make restaurant-quality recipes!

    CONTACT

    • About
    • Contact
    © 2009-2023 · Ask Chef Dennis ·

    Proud Member of:
    Mediavine Publisher Network