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–+ servings
Hand holding beater attachment with fluffy chocolate russian buttercream on it.

Chocolate Russian Buttercream

If you are looking for smooth rich chocolate frosting, this chocolate Russian buttercream recipe is for you. It takes just a handful of simple ingredients to make and isn't too sweet. It is perfect for spreading on your favorite cakes and cupcakes.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time0 minutes
Total Time10 minutes
Servings: 12 servings (about 3 cups)
Author: Carlee

Ingredients

  • 1 cup unsalted butter lightly softened
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup cocoa powder
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk chilled for at least several hours in the fridge

Instructions

  • Put 1 cup unsalted butter in mixer bowl and beat on medium speed for about 5 minutes, or until it is light in color and airy.
    Mixer bowl with whipped butter inside.
  • Mix in the 1 cup cocoa powder, 1 pinch salt, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract until well incorporated.
    Thick butter and cocoa powder mixture in mixer bowl.
  • Add a couple of Tablespoons of cold sweetened condensed milk and mix until incorporated. Scrape the edges of the bowl and the beater to make sure there aren't any lumps hiding anywhere.
  • Continue to mix in the 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk, in two or three more additions, until it is all incorporated.
  • Beat on medium speed for a couple of minutes until the frosting is uniform and fluffy.
    Mixer bowl with whisk attachment and creamy chocolate buttercream inside.

Notes

Having your ingredients at the proper temperature is the key to getting this recipe right. The sweetened condensed milk should be in the refrigerator for several hours before proceeding (overnight is even better) and the butter should be soft enough to beat smooth but not too wimpy.
If you use salted butter, you can omit the extra salt. 
This recipe makes about 3 cups of frosting which is plenty for a 9x13-inch cake or about 18-24 cupcakes. 

Nutrition

Calories: 259kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 52mg | Sodium: 49mg | Potassium: 237mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 561IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 108mg | Iron: 1mg
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