Chocolate buttercream frosting recipe with cocoa powder is the perfect fudgy topping for cupcakes, cookies or cake.
Keeping a canister of cocoa powder in your cupboard means you'll always be just a few minutes away a spoonful of this fluffy chocolate buttercream.
This cocoa powder frosting is the perfect topping for piped Italian butter cookies.

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You're going to love this chocolate frosting, it's delicious and creamy.
If you're looking for a cupcake recipe to slather this frosting all over. I've got a basic holiday cupcake recipe here. You might also like this simple cookie frosting.
More cake recipes include Butterscotch Cake, Lemon Blackberry Cake and Lemon Poke Cake.
Ingredient Photo

Ingredients
- Unsalted room-temperature butter
- Powdered sugar (spooned and leveled)
- Vanilla extract
- Salt
- 100% cocoa powder (spooned and leveled)
- Heavy whipping cream
See recipe card for ingredient amounts
How to Make Chocolate Buttercream with Cocoa Powder
- Beat room temperature butter until lighter in color and fluffy.
- Add vanilla extract and kosher salt and mix to combine.
- Pour in cocoa powder and blend.
- Add confectioner's sugar and beat until combined with butter.
- Pour in cream and beat until frosting is fluffy.





Storage and Make Ahead Tips
Chocolate Buttercream can be made a week ahead stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Or, freeze buttercream for up to three months.
Store any leftover frosting in the refrigerator. Be sure to keep the buttercream covered so it doesn't dry out.

Homemade Chocolate Icing Tips
This recipe uses butter.
But, if you only have margarine, use margarine.
If you're going to the trouble, although it isn't much work, of making your own chocolate frosting, you want to use the best cocoa powder possible, right?
Cook's Illustrated rated cocoa powders and recommends Droste.
I like Hershey's Natural Unsweetened Cocoa Powder and I've also used Ghirardelli successfully.
If you're icing cookies and want a frosting that will harden, this cookie icing will eventually harden enough to stack and package cookies.
You'll need to leave the cookies to rest for an hour or two while that icing dries completely.

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Recipe
Fluffy Chocolate Buttercream Frosting Recipe with Cocoa Powder

Chocolate Buttercream frosting made with cocoa powder is the perfect topping for cupcakes, cookies or cakes.
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted room-temperature butter
- 3-½ cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup 100% cocoa powder
- ⅓ cup heavy whipping cream
Instructions
Beat the butter on medium speed in a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment until fluffy and lighter in color.
With the mixer on low speed, slowly add the powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time. Ensure each cup fully incorporates before adding the next. Stop to scape down the sides and bottom of the bowl as necessary.
Add the vanilla extra and salt and mix on medium speed.
Slowly add the cocoa powder while mixing on low speed.
Slowly add the heavy whipping cream, and mix on low speed until incorporated.
Increase the speed to medium and whip until light and fluffy.
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Nutrition Information
Yield 12 Serving Size .25 ounceAmount Per Serving Calories 251Total Fat 18gSaturated Fat 11gTrans Fat 1gUnsaturated Fat 5gCholesterol 48mgSodium 168mgCarbohydrates 22gFiber 1gSugar 18gProtein 1g
Recipes to Use Up Cocoa Powder
How about Double Chocolate Chunk Shortbread cookies?
These Rich Chocolate Mint Thumbprint Cookies are also amazing.
You might also like Double Chocolate Butterscotch Toffee Cookies.
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