Name: Floofy Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 10 min
Ingredients: 8 ounces (225 g) cream cheese, softened to room temperature; 8 tablespoons (113 g) lightly salted or unsalted butter, softened to room temperature; 1 cup (100 g) powdered sugar; ½ teaspoon vanilla extract; ⅛ teaspoon salt if using unsalted butter; 4 ounces (about ¾ cup / 115 g) chopped bittersweet chocolate (or chocolate chips); 5 tablespoons cocoa powder (I use dutch-process, but natural should work too)

This chocolate cream cheese frosting can be made with melted chocolate OR cocoa powder – I tested it both ways to work with whichever ingredient you have on hand. Chocolate turns out a silky-smooth frosting, while cocoa adds a velvety richness that takes just minutes to whip up.

Spread or pipe this creamy, balanced chocolate frosting over chocolate zucchini cake, coconut flour chocolate cake, or just nom it straight from the bowl – I won't judge!

swirls of chocolate frosting look silky and luscious — Make this floofy frosting in 10 minutes using either melted chocolate or cocoa powder.

If you love my community-favorite less-sweet cream cheese frosting AND chocolate recipes, let me introduce you to your new frosting BFF: CHOCOLATE CREAM CHEESE FROSTING.

I created this recipe to top this gluten-free chocolate zucchini cake. I tested it with both cocoa powder and melted chocolate, and they both work great! Melted chocolate makes this frosting extra silky-smooth, while cocoa gives it a velvety texture. Both add rich dark chocolate notes.

Two bowls show the difference between frosting made with cocoa powder and melted chocolate — Make this frosting with either melted chocolate (bottom) or cocoa powder (top) – both work beautifully!

This luscious frosting is:

light & floofy
rich & creamy
tangy from cream cheese
balanced, not super sugary
loaded with chocolate

Spread this easy chocolate cream cheese frosting over your favorite cake and cupcake recipes – if you don't eat it all straight from the bowl first!

Ingredients

This frosting uses 6 ingredients:

Cream cheese forms the base. Be sure to use a block of cream cheese that has some gums in it which keeps it smooth. My favorite brand is Organic Valley which has a clean, fresh flavor and can be found at most major grocers.
Butter adds richness. Be sure to use fresh butter that tastes delicious. I like Straus, Organic Valley, and Vermont Creamery brands.
Powdered sugar sweetens the frosting.
Salt and vanilla deepen the flavors.
Melted chocolate (or cocoa powder) adds rich chocolate notes. The chocolate version takes a little longer to make but it has an especially silky texture. The cocoa version is quick and easy to make, but the texture is a touch heavier on the palate. Both are delicious!

chocolate cake is topped with luscious cocoa cream cheese frosting — Chocolate cream cheese frosting is perfect for piping or swirling over your favorite cake recipes, like this gluten-free cocoa zucchini cake.

Method

This recipe makes about 2 cups of frosting, enough for an 8-inch square cake, 9-inch single layer cake, or 6 cupcakes. Double the recipe for a 9x12-inch sheet cake, or triple it for an 8- or 9-inch layer cake. It takes about 5 minutes to whip up if using cocoa powder, or about 10 minutes if using chocolate.

You can make it in a small stand mixer such as the KitchenAid Mini (affiliate link) fitted with the paddle attachment, or in a bowl with an electric beater (or a spoon and your strong arms!)

butter and cream cheese have been beaten in a stand mixer — Beat together the softened butter and cream cheese until smooth.

powdered sugar, salt, and vanilla have been added — Add the powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt.

frosting has been beaten until fluffy — Beat until smooth, then increase the mixer speed and beat to incorporate some air - this makes is floofy!

chocolate is in a saucepan — If using chocolate, melt it in a small saucepan set over the lowest possible heat, stirring constantly.

chocolate has been melted in the pan — Remove the chocolate from the heat and let cool to warm.

melted chocolate has been added to the frosting — Add the melted chocolate (or cocoa powder, if using) to the frosting.

chocolate is being stirred into the frosting — Stir until incorporated.

the finished frosting, swirled over chocolate cake — Swirl over your favorite cake recipes, or eat it straight from the bowl!

Pairings

Besides nomming it straight from the bowl, here are some of my favorite pairings for this cocoa cream cheese frosting:

If you make this frosting, please let me know what you use it on in the comments below!

Bojon appétit! For more Bojon Gourmet in your life, follow along on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest, purchase my award-winning gluten-free baking cookbook Alternative Baker, or subscribe to receive new posts via email. And if you make this cream cheese frosting with chocolate or cocoa powder, I’d love to know. Leave a comment and rating below, and tag your Instagram snaps @The_Bojon_Gourmet and #bojongourmet.

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