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Chocolate Buttercream

Making a silky smooth and rich chocolate buttercream is easier than you might think. With just a few ingredients and some basic equipment, you can create a professional-quality frosting that will elevate any baked good.
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Total Time 10 minutes
Ingredients Equipment Method Video Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 3/4 cup unsalted butter 1.5 sticks
  • 1/4 cup vegetable shortening
  • 4 cups powdered sugar
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/4 cup heavy cream

Equipment

Method
 

  1. Mix butter and shortening together until smooth.
  2. Add powdered sugar
  3. Sift cocoa powder into the bowl and mix
  4. Add cream and vanilla.
  5. Beat on high until frosting is thick and smooth.

Video

Notes

You can omit the shortening and use 1 cup butter. Adding shortening helps stabilize the icing so
it doesn’t melt in warmer climates.
Sifting the cocoa powder is a MUST so that the icing isn’t lumpy and will be smooth enough to
spread.
This is a piping consistency buttercream that holds its shape but is still easy to spread on a
chilled cake.
Milk, half in half or coffee creamer may be used in place of cream but you will need to slowly
add it since they are much thinner consistency.

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