This ultra-creamy chocolate cream cheese frosting is simple to make with just five ingredients. It’s perfect for cakes, cupcakes, and more.
This is a foolproof chocolate cream cheese frosting recipe you’ll return to again and again. The combination of butter and cream cheese creates a light, fluffy texture. Powdered sugar and unsweetened cocoa powder (I prefer Dutch-process for a richer chocolate flavor) provide sweetness and depth, while a touch of vanilla rounds it out.
Below you’ll find tips, step-by-step guidance, and photos to make the process easy. I used this frosting on my triple chocolate cake.
Tips for making chocolate cream cheese frosting
Follow these tips to get smooth, fluffy frosting. This batch covers 12 cupcakes; double for a full-layer cake.
- Tip 1: Make sure the butter and cream cheese are the same room temperature. If the cream cheese is colder, the frosting can split.
- Tip 2: Beat the butter first for about 2 minutes, then add and beat the cream cheese for 1 minute. Mixing them separately produces a lighter texture than combining them at once.
- Tip 3: Sift the powdered sugar and cocoa powder together. This prevents a gritty texture and keeps the frosting silky smooth.
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Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting
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Ingredients
- 1 cup Unsalted butter, room temperature
- 8 oz Cream cheese, room temperature
- 1 3/4 cup Powdered sugar, sifted
- 1/3 cup Unsweetened cocoa powder, use dutch process
- 1 tsp Pure vanilla extract
Instructions
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Bring the butter and cream cheese to the same room temperature. If the cream cheese is even slightly cold, the frosting can split.
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Sift the powdered sugar and cocoa powder together into a bowl and set aside.
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In a large bowl, beat the butter on high speed for 2 minutes, scraping the bowl as needed. Add the cream cheese and beat on high for 1 minute until light and fluffy.
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Add half of the sifted powdered sugar and cocoa on low speed until just combined. Then add the remaining sugar mixture and mix until combined.
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Scrape the bowl, add the vanilla, and beat on high until the frosting is creamy and smooth. The frosting is now ready to use.