This chocolate cream cheese frosting is super silky, creamy, and rich, and holds its shape perfectly! It's ideal for everything from piping detailed designs to a simple spread over your favorite treat.

I recently used this frosting to layer and decorate my chocolate carrot cake, and I felt like it deserved it's own post because it's just so. SO. good!

what makes this chocolate cream cheese frosting so good?

firm enough for piping: While traditional cream cheese frosting often gets a bad rap for being overly soft and loose, this chocolate cream cheese frosting is firm enough to rival buttercream frosting - you can pipe super detailed designs or just spread it over your favorite treats as is!
smooth and creamy: It's got the most velvety texture you could ask for!
perfect flavor: Not overpoweringly cheesy, but still totally cheesy. It tastes almost like a chocolate cheesecake on top of your desserts!
quick & easy to make: It's probably one of the easiest frostings you could make! It's a 3 step process and ready in under 10 minutes!

chocolate cream cheese frosting in bowl of stand mixer

ingredients

• cream cheese: make sure to use block cream cheese! This is one of the most important tips to keep in mind! Cream cheese spread is no good for making frosting - it's waaaay too soft. Cream cheese sold in blocks are firmer and designed specifically for cooking and baking with!
• butter: this recipe includes a higher butter to cream cheese ratio to keep the frosting firm and sturdy! I also love a more subtle cream cheese flavor - so it balances perfectly with the chocolate flavor!
• powdered sugar: make sure to sift it! It's important for getting a velvety smooth frosting!
• cocoa powder: also super important to sift - cocoa powder loves to clump together!! I used unsweetened for this recipe, but Dutch-process cocoa works perfectly fine as well. You could also use black cocoa powder for a dark and spooky Halloween frosting - I love pairing it with this spooky black velvet cake!
• salt: helps balance out the sweetness!
• vanilla
• milk or heavy cream: now you may or may not need some added liquid for your frosting (depending on your brand of powdered sugar, it may absorb more or less liquid).

how to make chocolate cream cheese frosting

1. Cream together butter and cream cheese. You should be left with a lump free mixture.
2. Mix in powdered sugar until dissolved.
3. Mix in remaining ingredients until well combined, then whip until light, and fluffy! And you officially have yourself some chocolate cream cheese frosting.

chocolate cream cheese frosting butter, cream cheese, and powdered sugar combined in bowl of stand mixer

getting the right consistency

Cream cheese frosting is often on the softer side when compared to something like vanilla buttercream frosting. Chocolate cream cheese frosting has the added benefit of featuring cocoa powder, which SERIOUSLY helps give it some added structure (ideal for piping pretty designs).

If you find your frosting is...

too soft, my favorite solution is to pop it in the fridge for 30 minutes, or until firm enough to use!
too thick, the easy-peasy solution is just add some milk to thin it out.

There's really not a whole lot that can go wrong when making this frosting. Just make sure everything is room temperature and your dry ingredients are sifted, and you should be a-ok!

frosting storage

Keep your cream cheese frosting covered and in the fridge for up to 3 days. Set the frosting out at room temperature for about 30 to 60 minutes to soften slightly before using to frost your cakes, cupcakes, brownies, and more!

chocolate cream cheese frosting spread onto 2 layer cake on serving platter

what to pair with chocolate cream cheese frosting

• Red Velvet Brownies
• Chocolate Chip Red Velvet Cake
• Raspberry Chocolate Cake
• Sour Cream Vanilla Cupcakes

check out these other frosting recipes!

• Ermine Frosting (Less Sweet Buttercream Frosting)
• Fresh Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting
• Espresso Buttercream Frosting

close up of chocolate cream cheese frosting spread on cake with soft swirls

Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

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Prep Time: 10

Total Time: 10

Servings: cups frosting (approx.)

Ingredients

8 ounces (225g) block cream cheese, room temperature *see notes
1 cup (2 sticks / 225g) unsalted butter, room temperature
5 & ½ cups (715g) powdered sugar, sifted
¾ cup (60g) unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted
½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 to 2 tablespoons milk or heavy cream as needed

Instructions

In a large bowl, combine cream cheese and butter. Using an electric mixer fitted with the whisk or paddle attachment, cream together until well combined and smooth (about 1 to 2 minutes on medium speed). You can do this by hand, but it's much MUCH easier with the mixer.
8 ounces (225g) block cream cheese,, 1 cup (2 sticks / 225g) unsalted butter,
Add powdered sugar and mix together on low until fully dissolved. Add cocoa powder, salt, and vanilla, and mix again on low until combined.
5 & ½ cups (715g) powdered sugar,, ¾ cup (60g) unsweetened cocoa powder,, ½ teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Whip the frosting for 3 to 4 minutes on high speed, or until light and fluffy. If the frosting is too thick, add 1 to 2 tablespoons of milk, or until you reach your desired consistency. If the frosting is too soft, chill for 30 minutes or until firm enough to use.
1 to 2 tablespoons milk or heavy cream

Notes

* Make sure to use cream cheese sold in blocks and NOT cream cheese spread. The block cream cheese is much more sturdy and ideal for making frosting. Cream cheese spread is too soft and can throw off the consistency of your frosting.

Tried this recipe?Tag me @eatsdelightfulblog or use #eatsdelightful! I love seeing what you're baking!

Enjoy!