Mrs. Milman's Chocolate Frosting
This recipe for Mrs. Milman's Chocolate Frosting is one of our all-time favorites. Make it with our recipe for Moist Devil's Food Cake.
Martha Stewart Living, May 1997
415 Ratings
- 5 star values: 69
- 4 star values: 112
- 3 star values: 142
- 2 star values: 69
- 1 star values: 23
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: 5 stars
01/21/2018
I made this frosting with the moist devil's food cake for my son's 3rd birthday party. He loves chocolate! It was wonderful and everyone complimented the cake. For any experienced baker, follow the recipe, and use your baking knowledge - you won't be disappointed. The reviews that say it is runny were clearly from people who didn't follow the instructions. It takes time to firm up, but it does eventually get firm and is a wonderful consistency! Very light and chocolatey!
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
07/04/2017
I don't know why anyone would want to buy Nestle brand semisweet chocolate chips unless they don't know better. For a reality shock, buy a bag of Nestle semisweet chocolate chips, and a bag of Ghirardelli semisweet/bittersweet chocolate chips and do a taste comparison. Trust me, it's worth the extra dollar.
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
05/06/2016
Can I store this frosting? I'm making this as a birthday cake. I will not have time to make it the day of the birthday. Thank you.
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Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
07/12/2015
I have a question. Once it's set and you take it out of the freezer to use, does the consistency change? I mean does it melt??? Would really appreciate it if someone helped me out. Thanks!
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: 4 stars
05/17/2015
It took me two tries to get this right. The first time I didn't cook it long enough and it never set. You have to keep it on the burner on low heat until it steams and completely coats the spoon. It will still be soupy. It took me about 45 minutes to get there. Then I set my refrigerator to the coldest setting and after about two and a half hours, whisking every 15 minutes, it set. It's like magic. One second it is still soupy and the next it's perfect glossy frosting.
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: 4 stars
08/23/2014
It is worth watching the "Chocolate Cake, Part 1 & Part 2" videos. This recipe works. A few notes/tips: remove the heavy whipping cream from the fridge about an hour before start, this will cut down the cooking time; you can use non-Nestle morsels; chill a metal bowl and use for the cooling stage; be very patient, and whisk the mixture every 15 minutes until it sets, it will!; make sure your fridge is at the right temp (between 34-40F). My first attempt worked beautifully and set in 2h 20mins.
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Martha Stewart Member
Rating: 4 stars
07/23/2014
For everyone having trouble with this recipe coming out like "chocolate soup", you are not cooking it long enough. I had made this recipe twice and it turned out well, then two more times and I had soup, too. After consulting a very experienced cook (Mom - thanks), she said to try cooking it longer. So I did. I cooked it for about 45 minutes on a double boiler and let it reduce a little. The mixture has to be steaming and thicken before you refrigerate. Even worked with cheap choc chips.
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
04/09/2014
This was delicious! I added a little bit more powdered sugar because I knew the kids would be eating it too. They loved it! The only question I have is how much ahead of time can this recipe be made...in other words, can it be made in advance, and how long can it be kept, and should I leave out or refrigerate?
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: 5 stars
02/22/2014
I am sooo glad that the bad review on this frosting didn't scare me from trying it ... I followed the directions except for the chocolate morsels I went with a richer tasting brand. I stirred and cooled for the 2hrs as directed and it is DELISH creamy and RICH tasting. First time I have ever made a cake frosting from scratch and loved it! Cheers
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
12/19/2013
I love this frosting, it's is my favorite Chocolate frosting recipe. Nailed it on my 1st try. The cake was so light it shook like jello. Perfect with this frosting.
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
09/10/2013
I followed the instructions EXACTLY as they are written & I watched the video. The frosting DID NOT thicken. I chilled it in the fridge (like Mrs.Milman says) for 2 hours, stirring every 15-20 min. It was still too runny to spread. I put it in for 30 more min, runny. I freezed it for another 1.5 hours, stirring every so often, still runny! I'm thoroughly disappointed and hope it makes it through the night w/out melting & falling over! What a waste of my night. I could've made another recipe
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
09/02/2013
I made this frosting yesterday and everyone loved it. Yes, it is the most laborious frosting that I've made to date, but it is well worth the effort. So rich and decadent. I'm curious if I could try this with milk chocolate. Instead of the Nestle` morsels, I used an organic 42% cacao chocolate instead. It set up perfectly, so I think folks who had "soup" didn't cook it properly.
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
02/20/2013
LOVE THIS. I followed Mrs. Milman recipe per the video (no corn syrup). Slowly melted cream and chocolate on low about 40 minutes. 5 minutes more on Med. The frosting was quite thin. I then transferred the frosting in a stainless steel bowl that was chilling outside on my breezeway (winter here). I put the bowl of frosting back out on my breezeway til morning. I woke up to a bowl of thick, luscious, yummy frosting. I whipped it a bit by hand and frosted my giant cake. (box cakes). PERFECT. A+
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
02/07/2013
I used whole wheat flour and this cake was fabulous! Delicious!
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
01/29/2013
This was one of the best gourmet like cakes I've ever tried, and yes the frosting was a mystery but I persevered and claimed patience and voila beautiful frosting and delicious as well. Those of you that had no patience ended up with soup. as one of the other reviewers stated patience is the one thing you must have for this frosting.
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
09/26/2012
Chocolate Cake
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
09/26/2012
Chocolate Cake
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
07/30/2012
I just finished making this frosting. I was very sceptical after reading the reviews if it would turn out.
After putting a pan of choclate soup in the fridge I seriously had my doubts.
But 2 hours later it was a thick & creamy fluffy frosting! Amazing!
Upon doing a taste test it was much to bitter for our taste, Easily fixed by blending in 1 capfull of vanilla extract. Just perfect. Very pricey to make this. Makes to much, next time will cut reciepe in 1/2 so it's more cost effective.
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
05/28/2012
Watched the video of Mrs. Milman making the frosting on the show and followed her directions. I didn't add the corn syrup and stuck the pot in the fridge for about 12 hours. Not only did the frosting taste great but also had a wonderful texture.
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: 4 stars
05/18/2012
I made the mistake of using milk chocolate chips, but I stirred the mixture over low heat for 1.25 hours and also threw in a handful of semisweet chocolate chips after 45 mins. It did eventually thicken up nicely. Just remember to keep going, even if it takes a LONG time!
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
04/05/2012
This frosting was perfect! I made it the night before, followed the recipe exactly (without the corn syrup) and let it sit in the refrigerator overnight. It was PERFECT in the morning and I even had to let it warm up a bit because it was so thick. My family loved it and they have been asking me about it ever since.
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
03/16/2012
Followed the recipe. Don't think corn syrup is the issue. Made it in a metal saucepan, cooled at RT for 30min. Chilled 2hrs but later when it was still a thick soup, read reviews. Refrigerated it overnight. AM, thicker but still too liquid. Whipped w. mixer. It thickened to a mousse consistency. Compared it to N.Malgieri's ganache recipe. The difference: the heavy cream to chocolate morsel ratio & Malgieri's recipe calls for butter. I think certain things were changed in test kitchen. Thus FAIL.
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
03/16/2012
Followed the recipe. Don't think corn syrup is the issue. Made it in a metal saucepan, cooled at RT for 30min. Chilled 2hrs but later when it was still a thick soup, read reviews. Refrigerated it overnight. AM, thicker but still too liquid. Whipped w. mixer. It thickened to a mousse consistency. Compared it to N.Malgieri's ganache recipe. The difference: the heavy cream to chocolate morsel ratio & Malgieri's recipe calls for butter. I think certain things were changed in test kitchen. Thus FAIL.
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
02/28/2012
It helps to know that 24 oz of toll house semisweet morsels equals 4 c. There must be enough chocolate to make a spreadable instead of soupy frosting.
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
11/24/2011
This recipe never turns out for me. I have to doctor it up to make it work. The frosting is always too soupy. I looked at other ganache type recipes on the Martha's site and they do a ratio of 8 ounces of chocolate to cup of cream. Once I had in the extra chocolate then it seems to firm up enough for me to frost a cake.
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
11/22/2011
I have made this many times! I understand that it can be temperamental. May I suggest a few things:This is originally published in one of Martha's books and there the directions were elaborate.Check on it every 20 min. means whisk it every 20 min. Set a timer for 20 min. If you get distracted and go too long in between whisking it will not set. You MUST use a metal bowl that has been refrigerated. ( I spent 10 hours whisking only to realize that it will never set in corning ware or plastic.)
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
11/19/2011
This is a horrible recipe! I made not once, but twice and It still did not turn out. After the second batch sitting overnight it was still the same consistency - not frosting. The cake layers would slide off. Finally I put it in the fridge hoping it would be alright. I was suppose to take it to a Thanksgiving dinner (we have ours early) and had to go to the store and purchase a cake instead because I would have been too embarrassed to take it. Tasted awful too!
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: 5 stars
11/19/2011
continued: Also note that Mrs Millman suggests the cream sit out for an hour before melting with chocolate. She also keeps mixture in pot and puts that in fridge, so no need for a second bowl. Be patient. The texture and cosistency is perfect. I didnt really need to stir this am. It was just right. I will say that after the cooking it was still quite thin, and thats ok. Will set up. Give yourself time and make this ahead. Thanks Mrs Millman. The Family love this!
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: 5 stars
11/19/2011
I too was skeptical about this recipe. Glad I tried it. It is FANTASTIC. I watched the short video. The recipe is simple. I omitted the corn syrup(mrs millman doesnt use it). I stirred on very low for 30 min or so. Raised temp to med-low and stirred for 5-10 more min. The mixture is still very thin. Let stand for 30 at room temp to cool, then put in fridge in pot. Stirred every 30 for a few times, and went to bed. It was starting to thicken. Perfect this am. didnt need to stir even.
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: 5 stars
11/03/2011
I was really nervous making this recipe, I thought it would be a complete fail but it was the complete opposite!
I didn't make it with corn syrup,you don't need to either.
If you leave it in the fridge over night it will get really thick and perfect but I left it in the fridge for 2 1/2 hours and it was a great consistency. It was great and veryy yummy! Definitely a chocolate lover's dream!
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: 4 stars
10/09/2011
Thankfully I watched the video and got some good tips from Mrs. Millman- corn syrup and metal bowl not required.
Be super patient, I cooked mine over low heat for a good 35 minutes then medium low for 3 minutes. It did get thicker. I let it cool on the counter, stirring a couple of times. I then stuck it in the fridge and took it out the next day. Perfect, delicious frosting.
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
09/13/2011
I have made this on 4 other occasions and i can tell you that the first time i made this it was perfect. The 2nd time i vowed i would never make again lol and the last 2 times i fell in love with it again. I dont follow the Martha recipe to T because it just doesnt look like the consistency in the video. You need to spend the time stirring the frosting at a low setting for 45min then med low for the next 10min. I also let it cool at room temp. for 30min and then place in fridge to set Love this
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
09/08/2011
I've just made this recipe for the first time and it came out just fine. For those who said it is too liquidy, the key to this recipe is "be patient". I stirred the mixture constantly under low heat (at first it was watery) after 45 min it become thicker, once it is thick enough to set, then cooled for an hour in the fridge. You'll get the perfect frosting.
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
07/22/2011
We were worried about the frosting setting up, too, like other reviewers. We had the luxury of time to leave it over night in the fridge. It doesn't set up in 2 hours. We made it at 10pm and left it in fridge. At 8am it was set, if not a little bit too thick. I'm putting it on the cake now, at 3pm and it's a bit thick, but really just fine. Can't wait to eat it!
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
07/20/2011
I am also an experienced baker and I have to say, something is missing in this recipe. Does it need more corn syrup? Without the corn syrup, it is simply chocolate ganache. Help us out Martha! How do we produce it so that it is thick like the video?
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
07/17/2011
i agree with MTayl, the frosting did not set up and was too liquidy.
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
07/01/2011
I consider myself an experienced baker, but this recipe did not work for me. The frosting never set up to a spreadable consistency...it was more like a soft pudding than a frosting that could hold up to and support three layers of cakes.