Best Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting

This chocolate cream cheese frosting is rich, fluffy, and pipes like a dream, made with real melted chocolate and tangy cream cheese in minutes.

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Keyword Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting

Prep Time 10

Total Time 15

Servings cups

Calories 1335kcal

Place the chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl and cook in 15-second intervals, stirring in between until melted. Let cool for 10 minutes.
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Place the cream cheese and butter into the body of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, and cream until smooth and combined. You can also use a large bowl and hand mixer.
8 ounces cream cheese, 8 ounces unsalted butter
Add and stir the melted chocolate, scraping down the sides as needed to fully mix it into the cream cheese and butter.
Add the powdered sugar a little at a time until it is all mixed in, and scrape the sides as needed.
4 cups powdered sugar
Stir in the vanilla and salt.
1 teaspoon vanilla extract, ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
Place the mixer on medium-high speed and whip for 3 minutes until light and fluffy. Use immediately.

Nutrition is calculated per cup.

Use Full Fat Cream Cheese: It makes the frosting rich and creamy. Reduced-fat or fat-free versions just don’t cut it.
Sift Your Powdered Sugar: This helps make the frosting smooth and lump-free.
Don’t Overmix: Mix just until everything is combined to avoid making the frosting runny.
Chill Your Bowl: For best results, chill your mixing bowl before the addition of cream cheese.
Add Flavor Gradually: Taste as you go when adding extra flavors like extracts or spices.
Use High-Quality Chocolate: The better the chocolate, the better the frosting will taste.