This Chocolate Cheesecake Frosting tastes just like whipped chocolate cheesecake! It is a simple chocolate cream cheese buttercream that pipes beautifully unto cupcakes or cakes. A hint of almond extract brings out the bold chocolate flavor making this frosting a chocolate lover’s dream!
I am convinced that this frosting makes the world a better place! It is easy, light and fluffy, beautiful and absolutely delicious! This is my favorite go-to chocolate frosting. It is hands down the best I have ever made. I’m pretty sure I will never make better!
The Best Chocolate Cheesecake Frosting
In the name of cooking science I made a LOT of frosting to figure out what chocolate frosting would be life changing. I made cupcakes and cupcakes and more cupcakes to go with all the batches of frosting.
When I made my final batch it is possible I got a bit carried away. I was so excited with my final recipe that I gave Jack (my one year old) an entire cupcake to demolish. He had no complaints about my heavy handed generosity. By the time I was done it felt like I had given cupcakes to everybody we knew!
Maybe it is silly to think that a good frosting recipe makes the world a better place. But, I’m guessing the first time you slather this chocolate cheesecake frosting on a birthday cake for somebody you love my point will be made.
My Favorite Cupcake Frosting Tip
I used my trusty open star (Wilton 1 M) frosting tip to pipe the frosting unto these cupcakes. You literally just swirl it on! Even if you have never decorated cupcakes before you can get good results. I suggest flipping a water or juice glass upside down and practicing on the bottom. When you feel like you have it just put the frosting back into your bag and pipe it unto the cupcakes. You will be amazed how easy it is to get beautiful results.
MORE CHOCOLATE CAKES & Frostings TO LOVE
- Chocolate Cake with Ganache and Vanilla Mousse Filling
- Better Than Homemade Chocolate Cake Mix
- Ultimate Chocolate Cupcakes
- Wacky Cake (Depression Cake – No Milk or Eggs)
Chocolate Cheesecake Frosting
Ingredients
- 8 oz cream cheese room temp
- 1/2 cup salted butter room temp
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder such as Hershey or Hershey Dark I use Hershey
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- ¼ teaspoon almond extract (or 1/2 teaspoon for stronger flavor)
Instructions
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, whip cream cheese and butter on high until mixed, about 30 seconds.
- Add everything else and mix on slow until combined. Then beat on high until light and fluffy and no lumps remain, 2-3 minutes.
- Frost cupcakes or cake as desired.
- This is enough frosting to frost one standard cake or 1-2 dozen cupcakes depending on how thick you make the frosting. I used a Wilton 1M tip to make the pattern seen in the recipe photos.
Helpful Recipe Notes
Your Rating Matters
When you leave a comment or star rating, it means more than you might think. It helps me understand what you’re enjoying, builds trust for other readers, and supports real, tested cooking content. If you have a moment, I’d truly appreciate you sharing your experience. - Mirlandra
Nutrition Estimate
A Note on Nutrition
Nutritional info is an imperfect estimate. Please take it with a grain of salt.
I read each and every comment and I try to respond to questions asap, so ask away! If you’ve made a recipe, I would love to hear about it! Please come back and share your experience and give the recipe a 5-star rating so other people will know how much you loved it!
Dottie says
Thanks for the recipe and letting us know what frosting tip you used. It looks scrumptious and pretty easy. Can’t wait to try it!
Mirlandra says
You are most welcome! I hope they turn out beautifully for you!
Stephanie says
This is one of the best frostings ever! Delicious and very easy to pipe. It’s a keeper!
Mirlandra says
Thank you! I’m so glad you enjoyed it.
Bonnie says
SOOO Creamy and delicious. Piped on like a dream. Thank you!
Mirlandra says
Oh wonderful, Bonnie! I’m so glad you enjoyed it! I love this frosting 🙂
Kaleen Perlich says
Hi! this looks so yummy, do you think the frosting would be good with lemon cake?
Mirlandra says
Hi Kaleen! That is a interesting idea. Thanks for asking such a great question! Personally, I enjoy lemon creams which is a buttercream lemon center with a dark chocolate coating. However, I do think that is a unique flavor that a lot of people don’t like. I think this frosting would be nice on a cake that had a light lemon flavor but I suspect that it might not have a broad appeal. If it sounds good to you by all means go for it! After all, the great flavors in food are most often the result of experiments 🙂
Rachel says
I’m excited to try this! In the meantime, how could I go about making it a strawberry flavor? Or perhaps you have a specific recipe for strawberry frosting? As a novice with baking, I’m always eager to try recipes. Thanks for your time!
Mirlandra says
Hi Rachel, Thanks for asking! You could try blending in a few Tablespoons of Strawberry Puree and might get a really fun result! Personally my best recipes come from my greatest experiments! If you want a straight up strawberry buttercream recipe have a look here: https://www.mirlandraskitchen.com/strawberry-buttercream-frosting/ Enjoy!
Caryn says
This looks AMAZING! When you say one batch is enough to frost one cake, does that include the middle layer/filling in a 2-layer cake, or is it JUST enough to cover the outside of the cake?
Mirlandra says
Hey girl – YES it is amazing!!!! When I think of frosting a cake there are two ways. I find that it is easier to frost with more frosting if you are less experienced. Basically think about having more to work with and not having to get the frosting on just right – kind of a more slapdash method that can be beautiful without worrying about it. OR you can be more careful about how you put the frosting on and use less. If you are using less there should be enough to do what we call “splitting and filling” a cake. Which means one layer of filling and then frosting outside and on top. Of course I enjoy lots of frosting…. So I might be inclined to make 1.5 recipes or 2 recipes… 😉 Happy Cake making! SO excited for you!
Frances Buck says
Where is the recipe for the cake!
Mirlandra says
This is just a frosting recipe. But if you look at the links above the recipe I link to other great cake recipes. Like this one: https://www.mirlandraskitchen.com/ultimate-chocolate-cupcakes/
Judy Peters says
Could you use chocolate frosting from the grocery store and just add the cream cheese?
Mirlandra says
Hi Judy,
I have never bought a good quality frosting from the store so I wouldn’t advise this. If you have a frosting you like obviously you could try beating soft cream cheese into it but that is about the same amount of work as just making the recipe so I leave it up to you.
Mona says
How does this frosting freeze? I love cake and this frosting sounds so yummy but I live alone and can’t eat a whole cake at once. I like to freeze them in pieces and thaw them and eat them later.
Mirlandra says
You are my hero! I love that you do this. We actually do this with some store bought desserts – particularly Costco. Even a family of five can’t do in some of their desserts or I guess I should say “shouldn’t”. This frosting should freeze pretty well. I haven’t frozen it specifically but I find that cheesecake freezes well and I would expect this to have a similar consistency. When we freeze cake we thaw it in the fridge for best results which I expect you also do 🙂