Best Dark Chocolate Frosting Recipes

DARK CHOCOLATE FROSTING

Steps:

• Combine cocoa and the boiling water, stirring until cocoa has dissolved. With an electric mixer on medium-high speed, beat butter, confectioners' sugar, and salt until pale and fluffy. Reduce speed to low. Add melted and cooled chocolate, beating until combined and scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Beat in the cocoa mixture. If not using immediately, frosting can be refrigerated up to 5 days, or frozen up to 1 month, in an airtight container. Before using, bring to room temperature, and beat on low speed until smooth again.

DARK-CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH GANACHE FROSTING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter two 8-inch round cake pans; dust with cocoa, tapping out excess. Line bottom of each pan with a round of parchment paper; set aside. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; set aside.
• In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs and yolks, one at a time, beating well after each addition; beat in chocolate and vanilla. With mixer on low, alternately add flour mixture in three parts and buttermilk in two, beginning and ending with flour mixture.
• Divide batter between prepared pans; smooth tops. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center of a cake comes out clean, 40 to 45 minutes. Cool in pans 15 minutes; run a knife around edge of each pan, and invert cakes onto a wire rack to cool completely.
• Set a rimmed baking sheet upside down on a work surface. Place one cake on sheet, and spread top with 1/3 of ganache. Place second cake on top, and spread remaining ganache over top and sides of cake. Using two wide metal spatulas, carefully transfer frosted cake to a serving platter.

DARK CHOCOLATE SHEET CAKE WITH DARK CHOCOLATE FROSTING

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 10x15-inch rimmed baking sheet and line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper.
• Whisk flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt together in a bowl until thoroughly combined. Set aside.
• Beat brown sugar, white sugar, and butter together in a large bowl with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Mix in vanilla extract. Add in 1/3 of the flour mixture, and mix until just combined. Add in 1/2 of the coffee and buttermilk, and mix until just combined. Continue alternating additions of the flour mixture with coffee and buttermilk, mixing just until combined. Pour batter into the prepared pan; smooth into an even layer. Tap pan firmly on the counter several times to remove air bubbles.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out with a few moist crumbs, about 25 minutes. Do not overbake. Place cake on a wire rack and allow to cool completely.
• Meanwhile, make the frosting. Beat butter in a large bowl until completely smooth. Mix in cocoa powder, espresso powder, and salt until thoroughly combined. Mix in vanilla. Add in powdered sugar 1 cup at a time, mixing well after each addition. Pour in heavy cream and beat until frosting is light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. If frosting is too thick, add more heavy cream.
• Spread frosting over the cooled cake.

SALTED DARK CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH GANACHE FROSTING

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 8-inch round cake tins with parchment paper. Place the flour, cocoa, sugar, eggs, milk, butter, dark chocolate and vanilla in a large bowl and whisk until smooth. (You may need to use a spatula to start, but use a whisk once the ingredients begin to combine.) Divide the mixture evenly between the tins and bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow to cool in the tins for 10 minutes before turning out onto wire racks to cool completely.
• Make the ganache: Place the sour cream and melted chocolate in a large bowl. Whisk to combine and refrigerate for 10 to 15 minutes or until firm. Place 1 of the cakes on a cake stand or plate. Spread with half the ganache. Top with the remaining cake and ganache. Sprinkle with the salt to serve.

DECADENT DARK CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH GANACHE FROSTING

Steps:

• grease and flour pans. Combine dry ingredients. Add eggs, milk, oil and vanilla. Beat on medium for 2 minutes. Stir in 1 Cup boiling water. (batter will be thin) Pour into pans. Bake 30 minutes at about 350. cool and freeze cake.
• For the chocolate ganache frosting: combine chocolate chips and heated whipping cream and stir until smooth. Put over the frozen cake and the ganache will set faster. Store in the fridge.

DARK COCOA BUTTERMILK CAKE WITH CHOCOLATE CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

Steps:

• Cake:.
• Lightly grease bottoms of two 8x1-1/2-inch round cake pans. Line bottoms of pans with waxed paper. Grease and lightly flour bottoms and sides of pans. Set pans aside. Preheat oven to 350 degree F.
• In a medium mixing bowl, stir together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt; set aside.
• In a large mixing bowl, beat butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. In a small bowl, combine granulated and brown sugar. Gradually add sugar mixture, about 1/4 cup at a time, beating on medium speed until well combined (3 to 4 minutes). Scrape sides of bowl; continue beating on medium speed for 2 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla.
• Add flour mixture and buttermilk alternately to beaten mixture, beating on low speed just until combined after each addition. Beat on medium to high speed for 20 seconds more. Spread batter evenly into the prepared pans.
• . Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool cake layers in pans for 10 minutes on wire rack. Remove from pans. Peel off waxed paper. Cool thoroughly on wire racks.
• Frosting:.
• Place the cream cheese and butter in a large mixing bowl. Blend with an electric mixer on low speed until combined, 30 seconds. Stop the machine. Add the cocoa powder, extract, and confectioners' sugar and blend with the mixer on low speed until the ingredients are moistened, 30 seconds. Increase the speed to medium and beat until the frosting is fluffy, 2 minutes more.
• Use at once to frost your cake or cover and keep refrigerated till you are ready to frost.
• Enjoy!

MOCHA DARK CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH CAPPUCCINO FROSTING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350.
• Grease one 9x13 or two 9" round cake pans.
• Cake: combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cocoa.
• Add the molasses, mayonnaise, and vegetable oil. Mix well.
• While mixing, pour in the hot coffee.
• Add the vanilla and chocolate chips, stir until combined. Batter will be thinner than normal cake batters.
• Pour the batter into the pan(s). Bake for the 35 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. 9x13 pans usually need to go for a few more minutes.
• If you are layering the round cakes, cool them for ten minutes on a wire rack, run a knife gently around the edges, flip pans over, rest for 10 minutes, then remove cakes from pans. Don't worry if they break apart a little bit. You can "glue" them back together with glaze and frosting!
• Allow cakes to cool completely, even overnight, before glazing/frosting.
• Espresso/Coffee Glaze:.
• In a saucepan over medium heat, combine sugar and coffee/espresso. Stir until sugar is dissolved.
• Allow to cool to body temperature or lower.
• Cappuccino Frosting.
• Combine dry ingredients in a medium bowl.
• Combine butter and shortening in a seperate, large bowl or mixer. Beat until fluffy.
• Add vanilla to the butter/shortening mixture.
• To the butter mixture, add half of the dry ingredients, beat, then half of the espresso/coffee, beat some more, then the other half of the dry ingredients, beat again.
• Add the remaining coffee slowly, only until desired consistency is reached. For a frosted layer cake, you want it to be a bit thick, but still smooth and fluffy.
• Assembly:.
• Set up desired cake board with one of the round cakes. Brush the ckae entirely with the semi-cool coffee glaze.
• Allow the glaze about 5 minutes to set.
• Spread a generous layer of frosting on top and place the second cake.
• Glaze the second cake.
• If you have any leftover glaze, just keep brushing it on (resist the urge to sip it, if you can!).
• Frost the sides and top of the cake with remaining frosting.
• Store cake in the refrigerator until you need it, as that will set the frosting properly. Because of the shortening, it will sit out well in normal temperatures, once it's been chilled.
• Enjoy!

KAHLUA BROWNIES WITH WHITE & DARK CHOCOLATE FROSTING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Grease and flour a 13x9x2 baking dish and set aside (can use a mix of cocoa and flour to prevent white edges around finished brownies) In a big bowl (preferably by hand, NOT mixer), combine well the sugar, flour, cocoa, baking soda, salt and cinnamon.
• Add melted butter, eggs, vanilla, and Kahlua, and stir just until blended (do not overmix).
• Fold in chopped nuts, if you are using them.
• Put batter in prepared baking dish, evening out the batter with a spatula.
• Bake for 40- 45 minutes or until the edges of brownies begin to pull away from the sides of the dish.
• Remove from the oven and put dish on wire rack to cool.
• Immediately sprinkle dark chocolate chips over top of hot brownies.
• Lighly place a sheet of aluminum foil over dish to hold in and reflect heat.
• After about 5 minutes, when chips are melted, spread over the brownies with a spatula.
• Immediately sprinkle white chocolate over the frosting, and lightly cover dish with the foil again.
• After about 2 minutes, when chocolate is melted, gently swirl them into the dark chocolate to create a marbleized look.
• Let cool 2 hours before cutting.

EASY FROSTED DARK CHOCOLATE BROWNIES WITH MOCHA FROSTING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Combine sugar, eggs, and butter for the brownies.
• Beat in remaining brownie ingredients.
• Pour batter into an 8-inch greased and floured pan.
• Bake for 25-30 minutes.
• While the brownies are baking, combine frosting ingredients.
• Frost the brownies while they are still warm.
• Enjoy!

DARK CHOCOLATE CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

Steps:

• Melt the butter and chocolate chips in the microwave or in a double boiler until butter is almost melted.
• Stir until chips and butter is all melted.
• Add the powdered sugar 1 cup at a time alternating with the milk. Blend with mixer until light and fluffy.
• Add the cream cheese and blend. Let sit for a minute to cool the rest of the way.
• Use in your favorite way!

MINT BUTTERCREAM FROSTING WITH DARK CHOCOLATE GLAZE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream 1 1/3 cups sugar with 1/2 cup butter or margarine, and salt. Blend extract, 2 tablespoons milk, and remaining sugar into mixture. Gradually stir remaining milk into frosting until desired spreading consistency is reached.
• Melt and stir unsweetened chocolate and 2 tablespoons butter or margarine together in a microwave, or in a double boiler. Double this glaze if desired.
• Frost cake. Pipe a frosting scallop at the top edge of the cake to keep glaze from dripping down the sides of the cake. Pour the glaze over the top of the cake. Chill until glaze has set.

HEAVENLY DARK CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH PEANUT BUTTER FROSTING

Steps:

• Cake: Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour 2 9-inch round baking pans. In large mixer bowl, combine dry ingredients. Add buttermilk, eggs, oil and vanilla. Beat on medium speed for 2 minutes, Remove from mixer; stir in boiling water. Pour into prepared pans.
• Bake 30-35 minutes, or until wooden toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10-12 minutes, Remove from pans to wire rack. Cool completely.
• Frosting: Combine ingredients in a large bowl, mix until smooth.

RICH DARK CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH RED WINE CHOCOLATE FROSTING

Steps:

• Pre-heat the oven to 180°C Line two cake tins with parchment paper and grease.
• In a large bowl, mix together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, bicarbonate of soda, baking powder, salt and coffee granules (ie all the dry ingredients).
• Make a well in the middle and add all the liquid ingredients.
• Use a whisk to mix together until completely blended. Don't be alarmed at how runny it is - it's much thinner than a normal cake mix!
• Pour into the two prepared tins and place in the oven for 30-40 minutes, until cooked through - the longer you leave them, the drier they will be. I found 30 minutes to be fine for a light, moist cake, but it will depend on your oven. Use a skewer inserted into the middle to make sure the cake is cooked through. If it comes out clean, you should be fine.
• Turn the cooked cakes out onto a cooling rack and place to one side.
• While they cool, make the frosting: Put the butter, icing sugar and cocoa powder in a bowl and cream together until light and fluffy. Add the cream cheese and mix well. Then, add the red wine a little at a time until it gets a little runnier. Give it a taste; you want to just be able to taste the wine without it being overpowering. Place in the fridge for a few minutes to let it stiffen up slightly.
• When the cake has cooled, spread the frosting on the top of one layer and place the other on top.

DARK CHOCOLATE FROSTING ( FROM SPRINKLES/THE ORIGINAL CUPCAKE BAKERY)

Steps:

• 1. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the flat beater, beat the butter and salt of medium speed until light and fluffy, 2 minutes. Reduce the speed to low, gradually add the confectioners sugar and beat until encorporated. Add the vanilla and beat until smooth and creamy. stop the mixer and scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add the chocolate and beat on medium speed until incorporated, stopping the mixer occcasionally to scrape down the sides of the bowl. Do not overmix or the frosting will incorporate too much air; it should be creamy and dense, like ice cream. Add milk, 1 T at a time if frosting does not have spreadable consistency.

VEGAN DARK CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES WITH FROSTING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line muffin tin(s) with paper liners.
• In medium bowl, pour boiling water over cocoa, and whisk until smooth. Let mixture cool. Sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt; set aside.
• In a large bowl, cream margarine and sugar together until light and fluffy. Beat in the applesauce, then stir in vanilla. Add the flour mixture alternately with the cocoa mixture. Pour mixture into prepared muffin cups, filling each 2/3 full. (If making a cake instead of cupcakes, use 3- 9 inch pans, coated with non-stick spray.).
• Bake in preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes (or 25-30 mins for a cake). Allow to cool.
• Beat the shortening and margarine together until well combined and fluffy. Add the sugar and beat for about 3 more minutes. Add the vanilla and soy milk, and beat for another 5 to 7 minutes until fluffy. Adjust with more soy milk or confectioners' sugar if necessary. Frost cupcakes once they are completely cooled.

DARK-CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH GANACHE FROSTING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350. Butter two 8-inch round cake pans; dust with cocoa, tapping out excess. Line bottom of each pan with a round of parchment paper; set aside. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; set aside. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs and yolks, one at a time, beating well after each addition; beat in chocolate and vanilla. With mixer on low, alternately add flour mixture in three parts and buttermilk in two, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Divide batter between prepared pans; smooth tops. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center of a cake comes out clean, 40 to 45 minutes. Cool in pans 15 minutes; run a knife around edge of each pan, and invert cakes onto a wire rack to cool completely. Set a rimmed baking sheet upside down on a work surface. Place one cake on sheet, and spread top with 1/3 of ganache. Place second cake on top, and spread remaining ganache over top and sides of cake. Using two wide metal spatulas, carefully transfer frosted cake to a serving platter. For Ganache: In a large saucepan, bring 2 cups heavy cream, 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar, and 1/8 teaspoon salt to a boil. Remove from heat; add 1 pound bittersweet chocolate, roughly chopped, and let stand, without stirring, for 1 minute. Whisk just until combined. Refrigerate, stirring occasionally, until spreadable, about 1 hour.

DARK CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH WHIPPED CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees (350 degrees if not using non-stick or glass pans).
• Coat the bottom of two round cake pans with parchment paper, nonstick spray or butter.
• Combine cake mix, eggs, egg yolks, sour cream, cocoa and water in a large bowl and mix for 1 minute; add melted butter and mix for an additional minute.
• Divide the batter between the two prepared pans, and bake approximately 30 minutes.
• Test for doneness, then flip cakes onto a cooling rack and allow to cool completely.
• When cakes are cool, combine the frosting, cream cheese and vanilla in a large bowl; whip on high for 4 minutes, until almost doubled in volume.
• Frost cakes; top with chocolate curls or grated chocolate if desired.
• Refrigerate for at least one hour, if possible, before serving; store covered cake in refrigerator.

CHOCOLATE LAYER CAKE WITH DARK CHOCOLATE FROSTING

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease two 8-inch round cake pans, line with cutout parchment paper, grease again, and dust with a little cocoa powder.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, whisk together the flour mix, cocoa powder, xanthan gum, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
• Add the egg replacer, rice milk, canola oil, vanilla, and warm water and beat on medium-low speed until smooth, about 3 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary.
• Divide the batter evenly between the two pans.
• Bake in the center of the oven for about 45 minutes, rotating the pans halfway through. Bake until the cake is pulling away slightly from the sides of the pans and a skewer inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
• Let cool in the pans on a cooling rack for 30 minutes. Cover the cake pan with a large plate, flip, peel off the parchment paper, and flip the cake back onto the rack, right side up, to cool completely. Repeat with the other cake.
• Once the cakes have cooled completely, you may use a serrated knife to trim the tops to make them level. Frost with Dark Chocolate Frosting (or Vanilla Frosting, page 93, or Chocolate Buttercream Frosting, page 91). Once the frosting sets, store covered.
• Dark Chocolate Frosting
• Place the chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl. Melt in the microwave, stopping to stir every 30 seconds. It will take about 2 minutes to melt them. Stir until smooth, about 1 minute. Let cool to room temperature.
• Combine the cocoa powder and boiling water in a small bowl, stirring until smooth and the cocoa has dissolved completely.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the shortening, confectioners' sugar, salt, and rice milk, beating on medium speed for about 3 minutes, or until light and fluffy.
• Add the melted chocolate and beat on low speed for 2 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary. Add the cocoa mixture, and beat for about 1 more minute, or until combined.

DARK-CHOCOLATE MINT CUPCAKES WITH WHITE-CHOCOLATE MINT FROSTING

Steps:

• For cupcakes:
• Preheat oven to 325°F. Butter two 12-cup mini-muffin pans. Using on/off turns, blend first 4 ingredients in processor until walnuts are finely chopped. Whisk flour and baking powder in small bowl. Stir chocolate and butter in heavy small saucepan over low heat until melted and smooth. Cool slightly.
• Using electric mixer, beat sugar, eggs, and vanilla in large bowl until very thick, about 4 minutes. Gradually beat in cooled chocolate mixture. Stir in walnut mixture. Spoon 1 1/2 tablespoons batter into each prepared muffin cup.
• Bake cupcakes until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 15 minutes. Cool in pan on rack. Cut around cupcakes to loosen; turn out onto work surface. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover; store at room temperature.)
• For frosting:
• Bring cream and butter to simmer in heavy small saucepan over medium heat, stirring until butter melts. Remove from heat. Add white chocolate; stir until melted. Mix in crème de menthe. Transfer frosting to bowl; let frosting cool at room temperature until firm enough to pipe, stirring occasionally, about 2 hours.
• Spoon frosting into pastry bag fitted with medium star tip. Pipe frosting decoratively atop cupcakes.

MOCHA DARK CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH CAPPUCCINO FROSTING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350.
• Grease one 9x13 or two 9" round cake pans.
• Cake: combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cocoa.
• Add the molasses, mayonnaise, and vegetable oil. Mix well.
• While mixing, pour in the hot coffee.
• Add the vanilla and chocolate chips, stir until combined. Batter will be thinner than normal cake batters.
• Pour the batter into the pan(s). Bake for the 35 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. 9x13 pans usually need to go for a few more minutes.
• If you are layering the round cakes, cool them for ten minutes on a wire rack, run a knife gently around the edges, flip pans over, rest for 10 minutes, then remove cakes from pans. Don't worry if they break apart a little bit. You can "glue" them back together with glaze and frosting!
• Allow cakes to cool completely, even overnight, before glazing/frosting.
• Espresso/Coffee Glaze:.
• In a saucepan over medium heat, combine sugar and coffee/espresso. Stir until sugar is dissolved.
• Allow to cool to body temperature or lower.
• Cappuccino Frosting.
• Combine dry ingredients in a medium bowl.
• Combine butter and shortening in a seperate, large bowl or mixer. Beat until fluffy.
• Add vanilla to the butter/shortening mixture.
• To the butter mixture, add half of the dry ingredients, beat, then half of the espresso/coffee, beat some more, then the other half of the dry ingredients, beat again.
• Add the remaining coffee slowly, only until desired consistency is reached. For a frosted layer cake, you want it to be a bit thick, but still smooth and fluffy.
• Assembly:.
• Set up desired cake board with one of the round cakes. Brush the ckae entirely with the semi-cool coffee glaze.
• Allow the glaze about 5 minutes to set.
• Spread a generous layer of frosting on top and place the second cake.
• Glaze the second cake.
• If you have any leftover glaze, just keep brushing it on (resist the urge to sip it, if you can!).
• Frost the sides and top of the cake with remaining frosting.
• Store cake in the refrigerator until you need it, as that will set the frosting properly. Because of the shortening, it will sit out well in normal temperatures, once it's been chilled.
• Enjoy!