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Bittersweet Chocolate Frosting

By America's Test Kitchen

Published on September 4, 2018

Time

25 minutes

Yield

Makes 3 cups

Bittersweet Chocolate Frosting

Ingredients

20 tablespoons (2½ sticks) unsalted butter, softened1 cup (4 ounces/113 grams) confectioners' sugar ¾ cup (2¼ ounces/64 grams) Dutch-processed cocoa powder Pinch salt ¾ cup light corn syrup 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 8 ounces (227 grams) bittersweet chocolate, melted and cooled slightly

Before You Begin

Let the chocolate cool to between 85 and 100 degrees before adding it to the butter mixture. This frosting can be refrigerated, covered, for up to three days. Let it stand at room temperature for 1 hour before using.

Instructions

  1. Process butter, sugar, cocoa, and salt in food processor until smooth, about 30 seconds, scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Add corn syrup and vanilla and process until just combined, 5 to 10 seconds, scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Add chocolate and process until smooth and creamy, 10 to 15 seconds. (Frosting can be held at room temperature for up to 3 hours.)
Bittersweet Chocolate Frosting
Photography by Keller + Keller. Styling by Catrine Kelty.

Bittersweet Chocolate Frosting

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By America's Test Kitchen
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Time

25 minutes

Yield

Makes 3 cups

Ingredients

20 tablespoons (2½ sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1 cup (4 ounces/113 grams) confectioners' sugar
¾ cup (2¼ ounces/64 grams) Dutch-processed cocoa powder
Pinch salt
¾ cup light corn syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
8 ounces (227 grams) bittersweet chocolate, melted and cooled slightly

Ingredients

20 tablespoons (2½ sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1 cup (4 ounces/113 grams) confectioners' sugar
¾ cup (2¼ ounces/64 grams) Dutch-processed cocoa powder
Pinch salt
¾ cup light corn syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
8 ounces (227 grams) bittersweet chocolate, melted and cooled slightly

Ingredients

20 tablespoons (2½ sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1 cup (4 ounces/113 grams) confectioners' sugar
¾ cup (2¼ ounces/64 grams) Dutch-processed cocoa powder
Pinch salt
¾ cup light corn syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
8 ounces (227 grams) bittersweet chocolate, melted and cooled slightly

Why This Recipe Works

For an easy chocolate frosting recipe that required no special equipment, we used both cocoa powder and melted chocolate, which produced a deep chocolate flavor. Confectioners' sugar and corn syrup made our chocolate frosting smooth and glossy. Mixing the frosting in the food processor instead of a stand mixer prevented it from separating and turning greasy.

Before You Begin

Let the chocolate cool to between 85 and 100 degrees before adding it to the butter mixture. This frosting can be refrigerated, covered, for up to three days. Let it stand at room temperature for 1 hour before using.

Instructions

  1. Process butter, sugar, cocoa, and salt in food processor until smooth, about 30 seconds, scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Add corn syrup and vanilla and process until just combined, 5 to 10 seconds, scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Add chocolate and process until smooth and creamy, 10 to 15 seconds. (Frosting can be held at room temperature for up to 3 hours.)

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