I always saw this chocolate fudge frosting on every baked good my mother would make. And she passed down the recipe to me. Now, my family and kid are in love with it!
The chocolate fudge frosting recipe I am about to share with you makes for a thick, rich, smooth, and chocolatey icing for any kind of sweet treats you make.
And by sweet treats, I mean cakes, cupcakes, brownies, cookies, and even bread. You can use this rich chocolate frosting on just about anything you want!
So, today, I am going to talk about what makes this frosting so special, some variations, what you can use it on, and so much more. And, of course, I will also be sharing the recipe with you so that you, too, can impress your family.
Why You’ll Love This Chocolate Fudge Frosting
- Thick, fudgy texture with a rich chocolate flavor
- Made with cocoa powder and semi-sweet chocolate
- Ready in about 10 minutes
- Perfect for spreading and piping
What Is Chocolate Fudge Frosting?
When it comes to this kind of homemade chocolate frosting, it is a lot different compared to the standard chocolate buttercream frosting you might have used before.
The chocolate fudge frosting is thicker and fudge-like with rich chocolatey flavor, and it works best on everything from cakes to brownies.
On the other hand, a chocolate buttercream frosting is more airy and spreadable compared to the fudge frosting.
Ingredients for Best Chocolate Fudge Frosting
- Semi-Sweet Dark Chocolate: Using chocolate means the silky frosting will harden a bit when it gets cold. But you will use butter, which will help with that.
- Butter: This will help make the glossy chocolate frosting richer in texture and flavor.
- Cocoa Powder: You can use either Dutch-process or natural cocoa powder for this chocolate fudge frosting. Dutch-process cocoa gives a deeper, smoother flavor, while natural cocoa has a slightly stronger cocoa taste.
- Powdered Sugar: This will help give you the sweet kick and help create a smooth, creamy frosting you need.
- Salt: Your easy chocolate frosting needs a bit of salt to balance the sweetness.
- Vanilla Essence: This will make the chocolate flavor come out richer.
- Coffee: If you use a bit of coffee, you’ll get a more flavored frosting for chocolate cake.
How To Make Chocolate Fudge Frosting Recipe
- First, place a saucepan over medium-low heat.
- Add the heavy cream and bring to a simmer; then add the cocoa powder, powdered sugar, instant coffee, vanilla extract, and salt. Whisk everything until mixed.
- Then add butter and chopped dark chocolate to the mix and whisk until melted completely.
- Remove from the heat and strain the mixture with a sieve into a bowl.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let it cool to room temperature.
- Refrigerate for 30 to 60 minutes, or longer, to achieve your desired consistency.
Frosting Consistency Guide
- The consistency of this chocolate ganache-style frosting is thick, which is great for layering cakes.
- This thick chocolate frosting for brownies and cupcakes is a great way to enhance the flavor of your cupcakes and brownies.
- A great thing about this softer frosting is that it goes well with sheet cakes.
- You need to do a spoon or spatula test to make sure the consistency is right.
Best Ways to Use Chocolate Fudge Frosting
- This fudge frosting is great for using on chocolate cakes, as well as vanilla cakes.
- You can use the frosting on your cupcakes and birthday cakes.
- Brownies and dessert bars pair well with this frosting.
- You can even use this chocolate fudge icing as a filling for sandwich cookies.
- This frosting is great for layering in jar desserts.
Storage, Freezing & Make-Ahead Tips
- If you want to store the frosting at room temperature or in your fridge, you need to place it in an airtight container.
- This frosting lasts about 2 to 3 days at room temperature, 1 to 2 weeks in the refrigerator, and 2 to 4 months if you freeze it.
- If you chill the fudge frosting, you need to keep it at room temperature before rewhipping.
- If you want to freeze it, you need to make sure you put it in an airtight and freezer-friendly container.
Variations You Can Try
- Espresso Chocolate Fudge Frosting: You can add a shot of espresso to make a coffee-flavored version.
- Dark Chocolate Version: Just add semi-sweet dark chocolate to make a dark chocolate version.
- Peanut Butter Swirl: Add a spoonful of peanut butter, instead of butter, to the recipe to make a peanut butter swirl version.
- Dairy-Free Adaptation: If you want a dairy-free version, use an alternative to heavy cream, like almond milk or Greek yogurt, which is much healthier.
- Extra Glossy Ganache-Style Version: You can add corn syrup or glucose to make it extra glossy.
Chocolate Fudge Frosting
Ingredients
- 200 grams Semi-Sweet Dark Chocolate
- 1 cup / 237 ml Heavy cream
- ½ cup / 115 g Unsalted Butter
- ⅓ cup / 28 g Cocoa powder
- 1 cup / 120 g Powdered sugar
- ½ tsp / 3 g Salt
- 1 tsp / 5 ml Vanilla Essence
- ¼ tsp / 0.25 g Instant Coffee
Equipments
- Saucepan
Instructions
- Put a saucepan on the stovetop at medium-low heat.
- Add heavy cream and let it simmer. Then, add cocoa powder, powdered sugar, instant coffee, vanilla essence, and salt. Stir continuously with a whisk.
- Add butter, chopped dark chocolate, to the mix and melt completely.
- Strain the mixture with a sieve into a bowl.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let it cool to room temperature.
- Refrigerate for 30 to 60 minutes, or longer, depending on your desired consistency.
Notes
- Frosting Too Runny: If your frosting is too warm or you used too much heavy cream, it might become runny. So, measure everything before using.
- Frosting Too Thick: Add more heavy cream or milk, or simply microwave the frosting to fix this issue.
- Grainy Frosting: You need to make sure all the ingredients are at room temperature when whipping up the frosting.
- Frosting Too Sweet: Add more salt or cocoa to lessen the sweetness.
Recipe FAQs
What Makes Chocolate Fudge Frosting Different from Chocolate Buttercream?
Chocolate fudge frosting is richer and thicker, with a deep chocolate flavor from melted chocolate and cocoa powder. Chocolate buttercream is lighter, fluffier, and sweeter, made mainly with butter and powdered sugar.
How Long Does Chocolate Fudge Frosting Last?
This frosting lasts for about 1 to 2 weeks in the refrigerator and 2 to 4 months if you freeze it.
What Cocoa Powder is Best for Chocolate Fudge Frosting?
Dutch-process cocoa powder is best for a deeper, smoother chocolate flavor, but natural cocoa powder works well too if you prefer a stronger cocoa taste.
How Do I Store Frosted Cake with Chocolate Fudge Frosting?
You need to put the frosting in an airtight and freezer-friendly container to store it.
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