Chocolate Fudge Frosting (No Mixer)
This chocolate fudge frosting is rich, silky, and not gritty like buttercream, with a perfect sweetness and no mixer required.
Ingredients
- 1 cup Butter unsalted
- 10.5 oz Dark chocolate about 60%-70%
- ¼ cup Cocoa powder
- 1 cup Heavy cream
- 1 cup Powdered sugar
- ⅓ teaspoon Kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, combine butter, heavy cream, dark chocolate, cocoa powder, powdered sugar, and salt. Heat over medium-low, whisking constantly until the mixture is completely melted and glossy.
- The mixture should look like a smooth, liquid Ganache with no visible sugar grains.
- Pour the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a large bowl or shallow baking pan.
- Seal and Cool Press plastic wrap directly onto the surface of the frosting to prevent a skin from forming. Fridge: Transfer to the refrigerator for 1–2 hours. Room Temp: Let it sit for 30 minutes to stabilize.
- Remove from the fridge once it reaches your desired thickness. Give it a quick stir with a sturdy spatula to restore its creaminess.
Notes
- The "Shallow Pan" Hack: To cool the frosting 50% faster, pour it into a wide, shallow glass baking dish instead of a deep bowl. More surface area means a faster, more even set.
- The Sieve is Non-Negotiable: Even if your cocoa looks fine, sifting it directly into the saucepan is the only way to guarantee a "silk-sheet" finish.
- Avoid Overheating: Never let the mixture reach a rolling boil. High heat can "break" the chocolate emulsion, leading to a greasy texture rather than a fudgy one.
- Temperature Matters: For the perfect "Matilda Cake" look, use the frosting when it is slightly cooler than room temperature (about 18°C/64°F). It will be thick enough to hold its shape but soft enough to swirl effortlessly.
- Yield: This recipe makes enough to cover one 8 or 9-inch cake, a Bundt cake, or 12 cupcakes. If you are making a double or triple-layer cake, or 24 cupcakes, just double the recipe.
Nutrition
Calories: 356kcalCarbohydrates: 23gProtein: 3gFat: 33gSaturated Fat: 21gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 64mgSodium: 197mgPotassium: 228mgFiber: 3gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 774IUVitamin C: 0.1mgCalcium: 38mgIron: 3mg
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