Welcome to Hot Chocolate Week, Day 1! Hot chocolate, as we all know, is a deliciously decadent drink enjoyed during winter, but especially during the holidays. This warm elixir makes you feel warm and cozy on the inside whether you are trying to warm up while enjoying some beautiful Christmas lights in the chilly winter air, or when you snuggle up under a big, warm blanket and binge-watch holiday movies.

Today’s hot chocolate post is all about making hot chocolate buttercream! You can use it in making cakes, cupcakes, and macarons to add a lovely, creamy chocolate element to your dessert. Whether you combine this buttercream with caramel, chocolate ganache, or some crushed candy canes, this yummy buttercream is a great compliment to many desserts.

Step 1: Cream the Butter

Use either a stand mixer or hand mixer to whip the room-temperature butter on high for approximately 5 minutes, or until the butter becomes light and fluffy.

Step 2: Add the Sifted Powdered Sugar and Sifted Cocoa Powder

Sift your powdered sugar and cocoa powder either directly into the mixing bowl or into a separate bowl. Add the sifted powdered sugar and cocoa to the mixing bowl and mix on a low speed. Once the powdered sugar and cocoa is incorporated, turn your mixer to a medium-high speed to whip the ingredients together and make a fluffy buttercream, approximately 1-2 minutes.

Step 3: Melt Chocolate Chips

Add the chocolate chips to a microwave-safe bowl. Heat the chocolate chips for 15-20 seconds at a time in the microwave. Make sure to remove the bowl and stir the chocolate chips between each heating. Once they are fully melted, proceed to Step 4.

Step 4: Add Melted Chocolate, Pure Vanilla Extract, Salt, and Milk

Add the melted chocolate, pure vanilla extract, salt, and milk. Mix on a medium-low speed until well incorporated. Add in more milk, if needed, until you achieve your desired consistency. Turn the mixer to a medium-high speed for an additional 1-2 minutes to ensure that the buttercream is nice and fluffy. Your buttercream is now complete and ready to use on any number of delicious desserts!

These steps, as well as all of the ingredients, are also listed in my printable recipe:

Creamy, Dreamy Hot Chocolate Buttercream

Recipe by Carly PrestonCourse: DessertCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy

Prep time

30

minutes

Ingredients

• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter

• 2 1/2 cups powdered (confectioner’s) sugar

• 2 tablespoons unsweetened dark cocoa powder

• 1/2 cup bittersweet chocolate chips

• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

• 1/4 teaspoon salt

• 1 tablespoon whole milk

Directions

• Use either a stand mixer or hand mixer to whip the room-temperature butter on high for approximately 5 minutes, or until the butter becomes light and fluffy.
• Sift your powdered sugar and cocoa powder either directly into the mixing bowl or into a separate bowl. Add the sifted powdered sugar and cocoa to the mixing bowl and mix on a low speed. Once the powdered sugar and cocoa is incorporated, turn your mixer to a medium-high speed to whip the ingredients together and make a fluffy buttercream, approximately 1-2 minutes.
• Add the chocolate chips to a microwave-safe bowl. Heat the chocolate chips for 15-20 seconds at a time in the microwave. Make sure to remove the bowl and stir the chocolate chips between each heating. Once they are fully melted, proceed to Step 4.
• Add the melted chocolate, pure vanilla extract, salt, and milk. Mix on a medium-low speed until well incorporated. Add in more milk, if needed, until you achieve your desired consistency. Turn the mixer to a medium-high speed for an additional 1-2 minutes to ensure that the buttercream is nice and fluffy. Your buttercream is now complete and ready to use on any number of delicious desserts!

Notes

• I highly recommend using this combination of unsweetened dark cocoa powder and bittersweet chocolate chips. The high cocoa percentage of these chocolates makes them more bitter, which results in a better balanced buttercream. If you use chocolate with lower percentages, like milk chocolate, the buttercream will most likely taste too sweet.

Thank you so much for checking out this recipe! Please leave a comment below regarding how you like this recipe and what you make with your hot chocolate buttercream!