Stir together a super creamy, super delish Chocolate Frosting with cocoa powder—and without butter—in minutes to top a cake or cupcake. It’s creamy, flavorful, and just sweet enough.
Chocolate Frosting with Cocoa Powder
I love making homemade cakes and cupcakes, but I don’t love how many things I have to pull out and wash when making them at home. To help, enter this super simple, one-bowl, no-electric-appliances-needed chocolate frosting!
All you need to make this is a bowl and a spoon, and it’s a perfect recipe to cook with the kids, too, because they can make the whole thing. It’s that easy!
Your toddler won’t eat? Help is here!
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Chocolate Frosting without Butter
Honestly, it was by mistake that I discovered it’s possible to make a delicious frosting without butter. I wanted to make frosting for a cake and was out of my usual cream cheese and butter. But I did have Greek yogurt, so I figured it was better than nothing.
And I was SO pleasantly surprised by how good it was that it’s now become my go-to chocolate frosting!
Ingredients You Need
To make this recipe, you’ll need:
- Plain Greek yogurt: I prefer whole-milk yogurt so it’s as creamy and thick as possible.
- Confectioners’ sugar: This is also known as powdered sugar. It helps the frosting thicken nicely.
- Cocoa powder: Look for an unsweetened variety.
TIP: There’s not a lot of confectioners’ sugar in this recipe, but the amount that’s there helps thicken the frosting and provide just enough sweetness.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Here’s a look at the general process for making this easy frosting for cakes or cupcakes. Scroll down to the bottom of the recipe for the full information.
- Add the ingredients to a medium bowl.
- Stir together with a spoon or spatula.
- Use on a cake or cupcakes!
TIP: If your yogurt has any liquid on top, drain it off before you measure out the yogurt.
Recipes to Make with Chocolate Frosting
How to Store
You can make this up to 3 days ahead. Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Drain off any liquid, stir together, and add to your cake or cupcakes.
Best Tips for Success
- Dairy-free: Use a dairy-free Greek-style yogurt if needed.
- You can try making this with 2-4 tablespoons honey instead of confectioners’ sugar if desired. (I prefer confectioners’ sugar as it makes it more of a traditional frosting consistency. Honey will make a slightly softer frosting.)
- I usually make this with whole-milk plain Greek yogurt and it’s delicious.
- I like using SACO brand cocoa powder or Hershey’s Special Dark.
- This makes enough for one 9-inch cake or about 10-12 cupcakes. (If you like a lot of frosting on your cupcakes, you may want to do 1 ½ times the recipe!)
- Or spoon into a zip-top storage bag, seal, and trim off one corner. Pipe onto cakes or cupcakes.
Related Recipes
If you try this recipe, please comment and rate the recipe below—I love to hear from you all!
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Add the ingredients to a medium bowl.
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Stir together with a spatula until uniformly mixed (and a uniform color).
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Spread onto cake. Or spoon into a zip-top storage bag, seal, and trim off one corner. Pipe onto cupcakes.
Dairy-free: Use a dairy-free Greek-style yogurt if needed.
You can try making this with 2-4 tablespoons honey instead of confectioners’ sugar if desired. (I prefer confectioners’ sugar as it makes it more of a traditional frosting consistency. Honey will make a slightly softer frosting.)
This makes enough for my Healthy Chocolate Cake or 10-12 cupcakes. (If you like a lot of frosting on your cupcakes, you may want to do 1 ½ times the recipe!)
Try on Vanilla Cupcakes, Chocolate Cupcakes, or Banana Cupcakes.
Calories: 35kcal, Carbohydrates: 6g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 1g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 1mg, Sodium: 10mg, Potassium: 76mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 5g, Vitamin A: 1IU, Calcium: 31mg, Iron: 1mg
This recipe was first published November 2020.