Semi-sweet Chocolate Frosting
Inspired by techniques from America's Test Kitchen.
Melted semi-sweet chocolate and cocoa powder are beaten into butter and cream until the frosting turns pale, light and fluffy, giving it a deep chocolate flavour without being overly sweet. It whips up quickly in a stand mixer and spreads smoothly over a cooled cake or cupcakes.
Always check the labels of the products you use.
Method
- 1
Melt the chocolate. Melt the chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over barely simmering water, or in short bursts in the microwave, stirring until smooth. Set aside to cool to room temperature.
- 2
Cream the butter. In a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat the butter, cream, vanilla, salt and melted chocolate on medium-high speed until combined.
- 3
Add the sugar and cocoa. Reduce the speed to medium-low. With the mixer running, slowly add the icing sugar and cocoa powder and mix until smooth, 1-2 minutes.
- 4
Whip until fluffy. Increase the speed to medium-high and beat the frosting until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes.
Storage
Store airtight in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, or freeze for up to a month; bring to room temperature and beat briefly before using.
EU nutrition claims
- Low salt: 0.23 g salt per 100 g (limit ≤ 0.3 g)
Per 100 g of the finished dish, worked out from the nutrition per serving and the lowest likely cooked weight (about 57 g a serving), so the true values are, if anything, lower. Thresholds from the Annex to EU Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006. How we decide
Free sugars
20.8 g per serving
41.6 % of the 50 g daily maximum · 83.2 % of the ideal 25 g
Free sugars under 50 g a day, ideally about 25 g, based on WHO free-sugar guidance (not endorsed by WHO). The share shown is the share of one serving. WHO
Equipment
- heatproof bowl
- small saucepan (for a double boiler) or microwave
- stand mixer with whisk or paddle attachment
- rubber spatula
Nutrition per serving (estimated values)
| Per serving | Amount |
|---|---|
| Energy | 290 kcal |
| Protein | 1 g |
| Carbohydrate | 31 g |
| of which sugars | 28.7 g |
| of which free sugars | 20.8 g |
| Fat | 19.8 g |
| of which saturates | 12.2 g |
| Fibre | 1.2 g |
| Salt | 0.13 g |
Protein per 100 kcal
0.3 g High Protein needs ≥ 5 g (20% of energy)
Calculated from USDA FoodData Central ingredient values
