Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting

By
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
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Updated on 05/26/22
Chocolate Frosting
Martin Poole/The Image Bank/Getty Images
Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 3 mins
Total: 13 mins
Servings: 8 servings

This chocolate cream cheese frosting is the perfect finishing touch for almost any flavor cake. A combination of butter and cream cheese makes for a smooth, creamy texture, while the half-and-half gives the frosting the ideal spreadable consistency. This recipe uses unsweetened chocolate along with confectioner's sugar and vanilla to add just the right amount of sweetness.

For the best flavor, use full-fat cream cheese, and for the best texture, block cream cheese is a must; tub cream cheese will result in a runny frosting. You also want to be sure both the cream cheese and the butter are at room temperature before beginning the recipe so they can whip up easily and evenly. An electric mixer makes for a light and fluffy frosting. Simply beat the butter and cream cheese, and then add the remaining ingredients, mixing until the frosting reaches the right consistency.

Spread this chocolate cream cheese frosting on almost any flavored layer cake, or pipe it onto cupcakes or individual cake squares for a designer look. This frosting pairs well with a classic yellow cake, coconut cake, marble cake, chocolate cake, and peanut butter cake. Use it as you would a traditional chocolate frosting.

Ingredients

  • 3 ounces unsweetened chocolate

  • 1/4 cup (4 tablespoons) unsalted butter, softened

  • 8 ounces cream cheese, softened

  • 1 dash salt

  • 3 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted

  • 1/3 cup half-and-half

  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. To melt the chocolate, put it into a stainless steel bowl or the top of a double boiler and place it over simmering water (make sure the bottom of the pan or bowl is not touching the water). Heat, stirring, until melted. Set aside.

  3. In a mixing bowl with an electric mixer, cream together the softened butter and cream cheese until fluffy.

  4. Add the melted chocolate, salt, sifted confectioners' sugar, half-and-half, and vanilla extract.

  5. Beat until the frosting is smooth and spreadable, adding more half-and-half or confectioners' sugar, if necessary to reach the right consistency.

  6. Spread onto cakes or cupcakes and enjoy.

Tip

If using this frosting for cupcakes, place it in the piping bag and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Cream cheese frosting will hold its shape much better if it's piped when it is cold.

How to Store

The chocolate cream cheese frosting will keep in the refrigerator, covered well, for up to five days, or it will last in the freezer in an airtight container for three months.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
393 Calories
22g Fat
46g Carbs
4g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8
Amount per serving
Calories 393
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 22g 28%
Saturated Fat 14g 68%
Cholesterol 48mg 16%
Sodium 164mg 7%
Total Carbohydrate 46g 17%
Dietary Fiber 2g 6%
Total Sugars 42g
Protein 4g
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Calcium 51mg 4%
Iron 2mg 11%
Potassium 142mg 3%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)