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Killer Chocolate Frosting
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- #31539
The trick to this creamy frosting is the sweetened condensed milk. It makes a rich, smooth frosting that we love to use on sheet cakes or brownies.
serves/makes:
ready in:
2-5 hrs
2-5 hrs
35 reviews
5 comments
ingredients
1/2 cup cocoa powder
3/4 cup butter, melted and cooled
1 can (14 ounce size) sweetened condensed milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
directions
Sift the cocoa into the mixing bowl. With and electric mixer on medium-high speed, slowly add the melted butter to the cocoa in the bowl.
With the mixer still running add the sweetened condensed milk. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed. Add the vanilla and beat until combined and the frosting is thick.
Spread the frosting on cooled cake or cupcakes. Let stand for 2 hours for the frosting to set.
recipe tips
Sift the cocoa powder if it is lumpy.
If the frosting is too thick, add a tablespoon of milk or cream.
For a darker chocolate flavor, use Dutch-processed cocoa powder.
Let the melted butter cool before adding to prevent the cocoa from clumping and making the frosting too thin.
If using for a layer cake, make sure the layers are completely cool before frosting.
For a glossy finish, you can add a teaspoon of corn syrup with the vanilla and beat until thick and smooth.
You can use almond extract in place of the vanilla. Other extracts will work as well.
If frosting brownies or a cake in a pan, spread the frosting while they are still slightly warm for easier spreading.
Remember to let the frosted cake or cupcakes stand for 2 hours for the frosting to set properly.
common recipe questions
Can I use unsweetened cocoa powder for this recipe?
Yes, unsweetened cocoa powder is recommended for this recipe.
Is there a substitute for sweetened condensed milk?
There isn't a direct substitute that will give the same texture and sweetness. You can make homemade sweetened condensed milk and use that.
How do I know when the frosting is thick enough?
The frosting should hold its shape and not be runny when lifted with a spoon.
Can I add more vanilla for flavor?
Yes, you can adjust the vanilla to taste, but be cautious not to thin the frosting too much.
Is this frosting suitable for piping?
It's not very firm, making it better for spreading rather than intricate piping.
How long can this frosting be stored?
Store in the refrigerator for up to a week in an airtight container.
Can I freeze this frosting?
Yes, it can be frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator before using.
Can I make this frosting less sweet?
The sweetened condensed milk is integral to the recipe, so reducing sweetness is challenging.
Can I add other flavors to this frosting?
Yes, you can add a tablespoon of instant coffee or a splash of rum.
nutrition data
65 calories, 4 grams fat, 6 grams carbohydrates, 1 grams protein per tablespoon. This recipe is low in sodium.
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reviews & comments
March 7, 2025
Itâs delish but runny. You can simmer gently the sweetened milk in the unopened can for 1 hour. The milk will get thicker and still very tasty. This milk will make the frosting ideal. You can also add some home-ground roasted pecans or walnuts (200 g?) to thicken the frosting.
October 17, 2020
Hands down my favorite frosting! It always turns out. Sweet but not too sweet.
September 10, 2020
This frosting was just the right amount of sweetness for me - great on graham crackers for the grandkids - but my husband doesn't think it's sweet enough. (He's used to his mom's cooking; she always made things extra-sweet.) He prefers powdered sugar frosting. Still, I give it four stars, because who needs all that sugar and he is diabetic!!!)
June 24, 2020
Amazing recipe! Will definitely make it many more times!
June 3, 2020
Absolutely delicious! Very smooth and amazing. It was thin in the beginning but after letting it sit for about 10 minutes it was an incredible frosting. Thanks for helping me in a pinch!
April 13, 2020
Great recipe. So easy and delicious! Will definitely be making this rather than buying can frosting
April 1, 2020
I have used this recipe before and had forgotten how good, and easy it is, I serve it with fresh fruit to dip, and brownies...yum
February 23, 2020
Life saver. No milk for buttercream but had sweet and condensed milk. Use almond flavoring. Turned out great will use again.
February 11, 2020
OMG!!!!! This is now my favorite go to brownie frosting!!! The only thing I do differently from the directions, I do NOT wait on the brownies to cool before spreading it over the them in the pan (bc A: I never plan well enough to have time for that. & B I love to serve brownies fresh & hot!) Pouring it on them immediately makes the frosting kind of soak into the brownies more for extra delicious-ness!
February 8, 2020
This frosting was a real life saver. I thought the consistency is perfect, soft but spreadable. I wonder if others are maybe not whipping it long enough? The first time I stopped the mixer, it was definitely too thin. I kept whipping it for another minute or so, until the color started to lighten, and then it was perfect.
When I use cocoa powder in anything, all you taste is the cocoa powder. I used Hershey's. Should I use a different one?
Try a Dutch-processed cocoa powder.
October 9, 2019
Super
September 19, 2019
This frosting is amazingly good! Thank you for sharing. Incredibly good..5 stars baby!
August 31, 2019
This icing was a little soft for the cake I needed to ice so I added powdered sugar until it was just right. Tasted really yummy. I'll make it again. :)
July 16, 2019
It was great after I added 2 cups powdered sugar.
July 8, 2019
Delicious recipe but way to runny. I added 1/2 cup of powdered sugar and this helped thicken it some! Also tasted so much better after the powdered sugar was added!
July 3, 2019
Great flavor but too runny. I mix an extra 1/4 cup of cocoa powder so y can frost the cake. Is perfect if you just want to pour over a cake or cupcake, has a nice glossy finish but not to spread.
March 27, 2019
Super easy recipe, and it has a wonderful flavor. The only reason why I gave it 4 stars is because it was more runny than I would like. I was hoping I could let it sit a while, then frosting the cakes. I'm going to try that and see how it turns out.
March 6, 2019
Easy to make but very salty guess Iâll need to try unsalted butter next time because i didnât realize the one I had was salted and it ruined my cake, my fault but now I know
February 9, 2019
This was more of a glaze than a frosting for me, and I even added cream cheese at the end to thicken. It was delicious, but not really a frosting.
January 26, 2019
I loved the consistency but found that it was a bit salty for my tastes. I'm going to make it again using unsalted butter and see if that helps!
November 6, 2018
I made this frosting and it was amazing. Smooth and creamy. My new go to chocolate frosting.
November 4, 2018
This icing is AMAZING!!! With this icing who needs cake?!
Sounds great. Will have to try it.
July 8, 2018
Doesnt taste like anything. Can i add more condensed milk to make it sweeter?
If you add more sweetened condensed milk you'd have to adjust other ingredients as well so it wasn't soupy. Maybe try using a different cocoa powder? This frosting tasted plenty sweet and flavorful to us!
June 27, 2018
I was skeptical at first. I am not a fan of cooking. I do it because we need to eat on a budget. Had the items in pantry so decided to I tried it. I am hooked. One thing, I love cream cheese. Can anyone advise (a non-cook/baker) on how to add cream cheese to this recipe?
June 18, 2018
super easy and delicious
June 6, 2018
Your recipe was great. Turned out delicious.
January 25, 2018
I found this super easy, I melted the butter halfway, so it was just right spreadable when I added to my brownies,. Love it!
December 31, 2017
I panicked when I saw that I had no confectioners sugar to make frosting. I scrambled to find a recipe that fit the ingredients that I had to hand and consider myself saved by this recipe. Everybody raved!! Thank you.
October 31, 2017
Great recipe! Reminds me of making ganache - pour it on and devour!
September 4, 2017
Was a fail for me. Added cream cheese. Was like soup. Put bowl with frosting in fridge and only got less soupy. Never stiffened up. Ended up using canned frosting.
How can I make this thicker? For piping?
This isn't the kind of frosting used for decorating. It's a much softer frosting.
August 28, 2017
I made it exact recipe and everyone went nuts over it. I didn't have to spread the icing just poured it on. I'm sure it would have set up firm left in fridge
August 12, 2017
I love this chocolate icing just the way it is, not overly sweet!
Is it true that this frosting uses NO powdered sugar at all?
Yes, that is correct.
June 3, 2017
I added 4ozs of whipped cream cheese (1/2 of a tub) at the end of this recipe and mixed till blended. Refrigerated for 30 mins, then frosted cake. It was ready to eat then. I felt the icing was too thin before I added the cream cheese. Probably didn't have to refrigerate but I was waiting for the cake to cool. This was easy, quick and tasted very good. I will make it again with my tweek.
January 15, 2017
This made great frosting!
i'm sorry about this but whom ever did this need to read it over or i'm just a dumb blond it says 14 oz of vap milk it should say 1 can 4oz of vap milk right thanks alot for messing up my cake dmi
Oh my, you used evaporated milk? Well, there's your problem. This recipe calls for sweetened condensed milk, not evaporated. Big difference!
May 13, 2009
This was so easy! I added my own twist though, I dropped an 8oz. package of cream cheese in it and blended it all together. I was able to use it right away and it was absolutely delish!!