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Creamy Chocolate Frosting

By America's Test Kitchen

Published on February 24, 2011

Time

30 minutes

Yield

Makes about 2 1/4 cups

Creamy Chocolate Frosting

Ingredients

⅓ cup (2 ⅓ ounces/66 grams) granulated sugar 2 large egg whites pinch table salt 12 tablespoons (1 ½ sticks) unsalted butter, softened and cut into 1-tablespoon pieces6 ounces (170 grams) bittersweet chocolate, melted and cooled (see note)½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Before You Begin

Cool the chocolate to between 85 and 100 degrees before adding it to the frosting. If the frosting seems too soft after adding the chocolate, chill it briefly in the refrigerator and then rewhip it until creamy. The frosting can be made up to 24 hours in advance and refrigerated in an airtight container. When ready to frost, place frosting in a microwave-safe container and warm briefly on high power until just slightly softened, 5 to 10 seconds. Once warmed, stir until creamy.

Instructions

  1. Combine sugar, egg whites, and salt in bowl of stand mixer; place bowl over pan of simmering water. Whisking gently but constantly, heat mixture until slightly thickened, foamy, and registers 150 degrees on instant-read thermometer, 2 to 3 minutes.
  2. Place bowl in stand mixer fitted with whisk attachment. Beat mixture on medium speed until consistency of shaving cream and slightly cooled, 1 to 2 minutes. Add butter, 1 piece at a time, until smooth and creamy. (Frosting may look curdled after half of butter has been added; it will smooth with additional butter.) Once all butter is added, add cooled melted chocolate and vanilla; mix until combined. Increase speed to medium-high and beat until light, fluffy, and thoroughly combined, about 30 seconds, scraping beater and sides of bowl with rubber spatula as necessary.
Creamy Chocolate Frosting

Creamy Chocolate Frosting

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By America's Test Kitchen
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Time

30 minutes

Yield

Makes about 2 1/4 cups

Ingredients

⅓ cup (2 ⅓ ounces/66 grams) granulated sugar
2 large egg whites
pinch table salt
12 tablespoons (1 ½ sticks) unsalted butter, softened and cut into 1-tablespoon pieces
6 ounces (170 grams) bittersweet chocolate, melted and cooled (see note)
½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Test Kitchen Techniques

Ingredients

⅓ cup (2 ⅓ ounces/66 grams) granulated sugar
2 large egg whites
pinch table salt
12 tablespoons (1 ½ sticks) unsalted butter, softened and cut into 1-tablespoon pieces
6 ounces (170 grams) bittersweet chocolate, melted and cooled (see note)
½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Test Kitchen Techniques

Ingredients

⅓ cup (2 ⅓ ounces/66 grams) granulated sugar
2 large egg whites
pinch table salt
12 tablespoons (1 ½ sticks) unsalted butter, softened and cut into 1-tablespoon pieces
6 ounces (170 grams) bittersweet chocolate, melted and cooled (see note)
½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Test Kitchen Techniques

Why This Recipe Works

For a refined chocolate frosting recipe to complement our chocolate cupcakes, we opted for a cooked buttercream frosting of the Swiss meringue variety, where egg whites and granulated sugar are heated over a double boiler, then whipped with knobs of softened butter. This gave us a creamy chocolate frosting recipe that crowned our chocolate cupcakes perfectly.

Before You Begin

Cool the chocolate to between 85 and 100 degrees before adding it to the frosting. If the frosting seems too soft after adding the chocolate, chill it briefly in the refrigerator and then rewhip it until creamy. The frosting can be made up to 24 hours in advance and refrigerated in an airtight container. When ready to frost, place frosting in a microwave-safe container and warm briefly on high power until just slightly softened, 5 to 10 seconds. Once warmed, stir until creamy.

Instructions

  1. Combine sugar, egg whites, and salt in bowl of stand mixer; place bowl over pan of simmering water. Whisking gently but constantly, heat mixture until slightly thickened, foamy, and registers 150 degrees on instant-read thermometer, 2 to 3 minutes.
  2. Place bowl in stand mixer fitted with whisk attachment. Beat mixture on medium speed until consistency of shaving cream and slightly cooled, 1 to 2 minutes. Add butter, 1 piece at a time, until smooth and creamy. (Frosting may look curdled after half of butter has been added; it will smooth with additional butter.) Once all butter is added, add cooled melted chocolate and vanilla; mix until combined. Increase speed to medium-high and beat until light, fluffy, and thoroughly combined, about 30 seconds, scraping beater and sides of bowl with rubber spatula as necessary.

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