Ultimate Chocolate Frosting

Rating: 3.27 stars
923 Ratings
  • 5 star values: 163
  • 4 star values: 202
  • 3 star values: 334
  • 2 star values: 167
  • 1 star values: 57

Add chocolate to everything from cupcakes to brownies with this handy chocolate frosting recipe. Fudgy frosting is the ideal accompaniment to Martha's Ultimate Chocolate Cake. With only five ingredients, this chocolate frosting recipe is so easy you'll want to spread it on every dessert.

Martha Stewart Living Television, Episode 6351

Gallery

Read the full recipe after the video.

Recipe Summary test

Yield:
Makes about 3 cups
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Ingredients

Directions

  • In a small bowl, sift together the confectioners' sugar and cocoa powder. Add butter, milk, and vanilla; stir until smooth and free of lumps.

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Reviews (29)

923 Ratings
  • 5 star values: 163
  • 4 star values: 202
  • 3 star values: 334
  • 2 star values: 167
  • 1 star values: 57
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: 1.0 stars
09/27/2020
Way too thin and literally slid down the sides of the cake. Terrible
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: 1.0 stars
09/27/2020
Way too thin and literally slid down the sides of the cake. Terrible
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: 2 stars
03/29/2018
The consistency was perfect; however, it was to bitter for me
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Martha Stewart Member
Rating: 5 stars
02/28/2018
THE RECIPE IS AWESOME. I NEVER LOVED BUTTERCREAM FROSTING DUE TO THEIR BUTTERINESS BUT THIS ONE IS DEFINITELY AN EXCEPTION. IT IS SO LIGHT AND CHOCOLATEY WITHOUT THAT BUTTER SMELL WHICH I HATE. QUANTITIES ARE PERFECT!!!LOVED THIS RECIPE.WONT LET GO OF THIS....
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: 5 stars
02/13/2018
Perfect Frosting!
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: 5 stars
07/31/2017
Love, love, love. I use Ghiradelli and everyone loves it! Very easy and quick to make as long as your butter is soft.( Valrhona was tried, but not our 1st choice).
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Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
06/12/2017
Loved this Frosting! It's so rich and chocolatey and the dark cocoa makes it almost black, perfect when you need black cupcakes!
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: 5 stars
05/21/2017
Years ago Martha would give credit on her show and website for this recipe being her neighbor's mother's recipe. It was called Mrs so and so's easy chocolate frosting. (I can't recall her name.) I searched for a long time to find this recipe. Shame on you Martha, for dropping her name from recipe. It's still great and my coworkers always ask me to make this when I bake a cake for them. Give the woman her just credit!!!
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
02/14/2017
Yum. Halved everything but used 3/4 of the cocoa powder. Came out beautifully! Used trader joe brand cocoa powder.
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
02/11/2016
Leave it to Martha to have a frosting recipe that EVERY baker is able to make!! Thanks!!!
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: 4 stars
12/25/2015
Lovely recipe. Easy to make and straight forward. I find it too sweet for our tastes so you may find yourself wanting to reduce the sugar a lot. I halved the sugar in the cake and the frosting, and it was still sweet. Tips: Make sure you mix the butters & eggs, etc., in the largest bowl. I halved the ingredients in the frosting and added 200ml of heavy cream to make a half buttercream/half whipped cream frosting. Just whip on a bowl of ice water to get the desired texture.
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
09/12/2015
It's a five-star IMO because of its ease, simplicity, and consistent result. Only spend the $ for the high-end cocoa if you're baking for truly discerning folks, because I used it and honestly could not tell the difference in the frosting from plain-old Hershey's and I'm a choc. snob. This goes well with Martha's one-bowl chocolate cake. My son is fourteen and I've been making that cake for his birthday since year one. Frost it with a messy effect in mind. Keeps well at room temp for 3 hrs
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: 4 stars
08/06/2015
This frosting was very creamy. You must use a large bowl. I used a hand mixer to blend it all together for about 2 minutes. Be mindful of the quality of cocoa powder you use; I used very high-end organic powder. 1 cup of the good stuff was too much as the icing wasn't that sweet. I will use 1/2 a cup next time. Overall this recipe is easy, creamy and fun to prepare.
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: 3 stars
05/11/2015
I made this frosting for my grandfather's birthday cake from Martha Stewart's Cakes book! My frosting came out well, however it was a bit grainy. I don't know why this happened although I made it the same way Martha did in the video! No one noticed at the party and they said it was delicious!
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
12/29/2014
Do I have to keep the cake in the fridge until cutting or can it be at room temperature?
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
03/09/2014
I love this recipe, it's so simple and so delicious. Just one note about the instructions: use a large bowl!
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
03/02/2014
This frosting is the ultimate! Very easy to make and so creamy!
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
08/08/2013
It came out wonderfully, but instead of milk I used chocolate almond milk.
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
03/02/2013
This is by far the best chocolate frosting I have ever made. I used Hersey's cocoa powder which was what I had in the house. Frosted a yellow cake with it for a b-day party tomorrow. Thank you, Martha
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
01/08/2013
Just made this with valrhona cocoa. Used stand mixer and beat it well. The best chocolate buttercream EVER. I used it on a yellow sheet cake and the amount was just right.
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
12/27/2011
You can use any cocoa powder that you like, keeping in mind that the final taste of the frosting will vary from brand to brand. I make this frosting with Ghirardelli and it is great. It's even better with Droste. Ghirardelli has a stronger, slightly sharper taste that is super for making hot cocoa, but I find that I prefer a mellower tasting cocoa for baking. My grocery store carries Ghirardelli , but I have to order the Droste and will use the Ghirardelli when out.
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
12/27/2011
You can use any cocoa powder that you like, keeping in mind that the final taste of the frosting will vary from brand to brand. I make this frosting with Ghriradelli and it is great. It's even better with Droste. Ghriradelli has a stronger, slightly sharper taste that is super for making hot cocoa, but I find that I prefer a mellower tasting cocoa for baking. My grocery store carries Ghriradelli, but I have to order the Droste and will use the Ghriradelli when out.
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
02/08/2011
Does anybody know if it can be done with any other brand of cocoa, such as Ghirardelli? thanks!
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
02/08/2011
Does anybody know if it can be done with any other brand of cocoa powder (ie. Ghirardelli). Thanks!
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
02/03/2011
You can get the Valhrona Cocoa powder at Amazon.com, in groceries and gourmet foods (a treasure trove of uncommon ingedients)
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
09/25/2010
The Baker's Catalog (KIng Arthur's Flour) will have Valrhona....online as well. or I would try Whole Foods if there is one in your area.
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
06/04/2010
Can one of you lovely folks please tell me where do I find this Valrhona cocoa powder? I have looked in all my local stores and no luck!! Please help a fellow choco-holich!!! Thanks, Diane Smith Gallatin,TN
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
01/09/2009
Oh my gosh! This frosting is the BEST! My husband doesn't like frosting very much and even he loves it. This will most assuredly be my "go to" recipe for chocolate frosting from now on. Thanks Martha!
Martha Stewart Member
Rating: Unrated
03/12/2008
This frosting is incredibly easy and delicious. My mother used to make a frosting similar to this, but with chocolate chips. That was a bit too sweet; this frosting tastes perfect, with just the right amount of chocolatey flavor.
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