The BEST Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
Chocolate buttercream frosting. Chocolate + butter + cream. What else in life do you need?
Well, perhaps a boatload of powdered sugar, a touch of pure vanilla extract, and dash of salt. And maybe some bourbon, if it's been that kind of day (or if you have three boys, like me). These things come together to make the most perfect, dashing, you had me at hello, chocolate buttercream frosting.
The key to incredible chocolate frosting is simple: high quality melted chocolate. And a lot of it. Whatever chocolate suits your fancy will do. Bittersweet (my personal favorite), dark, semisweet, milk, even white, as long as it's high quality you'll be as golden as a golden ticket in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
I recently watched Charlie and the Chocolate Factory with my boys. Haven't seen it in years. Why is it all the movies we watched as kids in the 80's are completely psychotic? Like the writers were on an acid trip psychotic? The Wizard of Oz, The Labyrinth, The Dark Crystal, The Neverending Story. Creepy. I grew up with them, so I love them. But creepy. How did our parents not notice? No wonder I had nightmares as a kid.
Watching Charlie and the Chocolate factory, while creepy, led to a serious chocolate craving, which led to mama whipping up some chocolate frosting for herself and the boys. We didn't need cake (and I was too lazy to make one), frosting our fingers was perfectly satisfying. That's what I love most about movie nights with my kids, they're too young and innocent to judge their mom while she's taking down frosting by the handful (also to understand how creepy Charlie and the Chocolate Factory actually is).
This Ah-mazing frosting will take any cake, cupcake, brownie, or movie night over the top. Just remember to use the best chocolate you can find. It's my absolute favorite!
The BEST Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
* Makes about 4 cups
- 2 cups unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 5 cups powdered sugar, sifted
- 10 oz good quality chocolate (choose your favorite), melted and cooled
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons bourbon (if it's been that kind of day or you have three kids, like me)
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- a pinch of salt to taste
- In a large bowl, with an electric mixer, beat the butter till light and creamy, about 1 minute.
- Slowly, add the melted, cooled chocolate. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
- Working with one cup at a time, add the powdered sugar. Mix till combined.
- Add the vanilla and bourbon (if using).
- Slowly add the heavy cream till frosting reaches desired consistency. I usually add all of it. If frosting is too thin add more sugar, if it's too thick add more cream. Or bourbon (if it's been that kind of day or you have three kids, like me).
- Add a pinch of salt to taste.
- Mix on medium-high speed for 2 to 3 minutes till light and fluffy.
