This is my favorite fudgy chocolate frosting recipe! Made with melted chocolate, cocoa powder and sour cream, this is the most decadent chocolate frosting recipe I've tried. You only need 6 ingredients to make this frosting!
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I am a huge chocolate lover, and this fudgy chocolate frosting with sour cream is one of my favorite frosting recipes ever!
It's a take on a classic American buttercream, so it has a base of butter and powdered sugar. To make it extra chocolatey, it's got both cocoa powder and melted chocolate. Finally, to help bring a bit of tang and make the frosting not so sweet, it's got sour cream.
I've used this chocolate fudgy frosting so many times (chocolate and orange cake, banana cake, and small batch chocolate cupcakes to name a few!). I can't get enough of this simple chocolate frosting!
When I was testing this frosting recipe, I wanted a recipe that was as easy as American buttercream but wasn't overly sweet. While I love something fancy like a Swiss meringue buttercream, I know not everyone has the time or desire to make something like that.
This sour cream chocolate frosting is the perfect chocolate frosting for chocolate lovers who don't want something so sweet it's gonna hurt their teeth (you know what I mean!)
Ingredients Needed!
- Sour Cream: I don't recommend swapping out the sour cream for something else!
- Chocolate: I love to use dark chocolate or semisweet chocolate to make the frosting rich and not too sweet.
- Cocoa Powder: I recommend using dutch processed cocoa powder because it has a stronger flavor, but you can swap it out for natural cocoa powder if that's all you have on hand. Just note that the color of the frosting might not be as dark as mine is.
Let's Make Frosting!
Step 1: In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the chopped chocolate. I recommend melting it in 15-second increments, making sure you stir after each one. This helps the chocolate not burn! Let the chocolate cool slightly to the side.
Step 2: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or in a large bowl with a handheld mixer, beat the butter and powdered sugar together on low speed until combined. Then increase the speed to medium-high and beat for 2-3 minutes. Make sure you stop and scrape down the sides of the bowl so all of the butter is getting creamed.
Step 3: Add the cocoa powder and beat on low speed to combine. Once combined, beat on medium-high speed for 1 minute. It will start off looking dry but it will all come together!
Step 4: Add in the (cooled) melted chocolate, sour cream, and salt. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula, then mix again for 2-3 minutes on medium-high speed. You want the frosting to be super creamy and shiny. Use immediately!
My Top Frosting Tips & Notes
- Scrape the Bowl: keep stopping the mixer to scrape down the sides of the bowl. This makes sure that everything is getting combined evenly!
- Melted Chocolate: Let the melted chocolate cool slightly before using, it might melt the butter.
- Chop the Chocolate: Make it easier for the chocolate to melt by chopping it up before you place it in the microwave.
- Double It Up: This frosting recipe makes enough to generously frost a single-layer cake or 12 cupcakes. If you need to frost a two-layer cake or 24 cups, just double up the ingredients.
- Make Ahead of Time: Make the frosting and place in an airtight container in the fridge up to 2 days ahead of time. When ready to use, take it out of the fridge and let it come to room temperature. You may need to give it a mix with your mixer before using it!
Try these frosting recipes next!
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Thank you!
Ella
Recipe
Fudgy Chocolate Frosting with Sour Cream
Ingredients
Chocolate Frosting
- 110 grams (½ cup) unsalted butter room temperature
- pinch kosher salt
- 113 grams (1 cup) confectioners' sugar
- 42 grams (½ cup) cocoa powder dutch processed
- 60 ml (¼ cups) sour cream room temperature
- 85 grams (3 oz) dark chocolate chopped
Instructions
Make Frosting
- Melt your chocolate in a microwave, stirring every 10-15 seconds so it doesn't burn.85 grams (3 oz) dark chocolate
- In your stand mixer with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and confectioners' sugar on low speed until well combined110 grams (½ cup) unsalted butter, 113 grams (1 cup) confectioners' sugar
- Turn the speed to high for 2-3 minutes until light and fluffy.
- Add in your cocoa powder and beat on low, then increase the speed to medium for 1-2 minutes.42 grams (½ cup) cocoa powder
- Add your sour cream, melted chocolate and salt and mix once more.pinch kosher salt, 60 ml (¼ cups) sour cream
- Use your frosting and enjoy!
Save This Recipe! 💌
I'll email this recipe to you, so you can come back to it later!
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