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chocolate frosting recipe Glossy Dark Cocoa With Strawberry Shards
- Total Time: 54 minutes
- Yield: 16 servings 1x
- Diet: General (with Vegan, Dairy-Free, Sugar-Free options)
Description
This chocolate frosting recipe features a rich, dark cocoa flavor with the bright sweetness of fresh strawberry shards, perfect for impressive homemade desserts. It’s an easy win for birthday cakes or simple weekend treats.
Ingredients
- 1 cup (226g) unsalted butter, softened (or use dairy-free stick butter for a vegan alternative)
- 0.75 cup (65g) unsweetened Dutch-processed cocoa powder
- 4 cups (450g) powdered sugar (confectioners’ sugar), sifted
- 4–6 tablespoons (60-90ml) milk or heavy cream (use unsweetened almond milk or oat milk for a dairy-free option)
- 1 teaspoon (5ml) pure vanilla extract
- 0.25 teaspoon (1g) fine sea salt
- 1 cup (150g) fresh ripe strawberries, for shards
Instructions
- Soften and Cream Butter: Allow butter to come to room temperature, about 30-60 minutes. In a large mixing bowl or stand mixer, beat the softened butter on medium speed until it is light and creamy, approximately 2-3 minutes. Use a standard 9-inch rubber spatula to scrape down the sides of the bowl.
- Incorporate Cocoa: Gradually add the sifted cocoa powder to the creamed butter, beating on low speed until fully combined and no dry streaks remain. This helps create the base for your chocolate frosting.
- Build the Frosting: Alternately add the sifted powdered sugar and milk/cream to the bowl, beginning and ending with powdered sugar. Beat on low speed until just combined, then increase to medium-high speed. Beat until the frosting is light and fluffy, about 3-5 minutes. Add the vanilla extract and salt during the last minute of beating. Beating it a full 5 minutes on medium-high really develops that airy, glossy texture.
- Prepare and Fold in Strawberry Shards: Wash, hull, and thinly slice the fresh strawberries. Pat them very dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture. Gently fold the strawberry shards into the prepared chocolate frosting just before serving. This prevents the berries from bleeding their color or making the frosting watery.
Notes
For quick-prep hacks, using a stand mixer simplifies the beating process, and sifting powdered sugar ahead of time prevents lumps. Ensure all ingredients are at room temperature for a smooth, homogenous frosting. If the frosting is too thick, add milk or cream one teaspoon at a time. If too thin, gradually beat in more sifted powdered sugar. Lumpy frosting is often due to unsifted sugar or cold butter.
- Prep Time: 45 minutes
- Cook Time: 9 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/16th of recipe (approx 40g)
- Calories: 280 calories
- Sugar: 35 g
- Sodium: 50 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 35 mg