Chocolate Frosting (without butter)

When I was a kid, we'd often get a Safeway birthday cake for our birthday and I couldn't have been happier. For some reason, I just didn't like most homemade frosting and at the time, I didn't really know why. Then I realized it was the butter! Now I make my own Chocolate Frosting (without butter). It uses shortening (Crisco) instead of butter, so it tastes like grocery store frosting!

The type of store-bought frosting that grocery store bakeries used to frost their cakes did not contain butter and that’s why I preferred them over homemade buttercream. This recipe is easy to make, light, and tasty. You can use this no butter chocolate frosting on your favorite cakes, chocolate sheet cake, chocolate cupcakes, chocolate squares, and more! This frosting recipe without butter does not need to be refrigerated and is shelf-safe for days. It can also sit in the heat for hours so it's great for parties, weddings, and outdoor events! This pairs perfectly with my Old Fashioned Sour Cream Chocolate Cake!

🥘 Ingredient Notes

This chocolate frosting calls for cocoa powder, so it's easy to make, quick, less fussy than messing with melted chocolate, and great for decorating birthday cakes and cupcakes!

You will need the following simple ingredients for this butter-free frosting:

• Cricso or another brand of vegetable shortening. Crisco is the fat in this recipe and the base (with the powdered sugar).
• Powdered sugar/icing sugar/confectioners' sugar. Powdered sugar is the base (with shortening)
• Dream Whip powder. Dream Whip makes this frosting smooth and creamy. It also helps it to crust, making it better for decorating.
• Cocoa powder (unsweetened). Cocoa is what gives this frosting its chocolate flavor.
• Milk. Milk is the liquid that balances the solids and influences the consistency, making the frosting thicker or thinner. You can add a little more or less, depending on the consistency needed.
• Vanilla extract. Vanilla adds flavor to balance the cocoa.

This secret ingredient in this chocolate frosting with cocoa powder recipe is Dream Whip powdered dessert frosting. And when you put Dream Whip into recipes, it makes them smooth and creamy. I also use Dream Whip in my Black Forest Biscotti too.

📖Variations & Substitutions

• Vanilla Frosting: You can make this plain vanilla frosting if you prefer. Simply replace the 1.5 cups cocoa with 1.5 cups powdered sugar. If you want it to stay pure white, be sure to use clear vanilla extract
• Too sweet? Add a pinch of salt if it's too sweet for your liking
• Milk: Add a little more or less, depending on the consistency you need.

🔪How to Make Chocolate Frosting without butter

1. Step 1: In the bowl of a stand mixer or in a large mixing bowl, add the shortening to the mixer and mix for a couple of minutes with the electric mixer or paddle attachment on a stand mixer.

2. Step 2: Then gradually add the powdered sugar, Dream whip, cocoa powder, and mix together until smooth.

3. Step 3: Add the vanilla, then add the milk.

4. Step 4: Beat until you get a smooth texture and the right consistency. *I find that ⅓ cup is just right, but you may need a little more or less. If you want a thicker consistency, use less milk.

HINT: When you get to step #2 and put in the powdered sugar, cocoa, and Dream Whip powder, use the shield on your mixer, add the dry ingredients gradually, and start on low speed, or the powder will spray everywhere. * I also cover the whole top of the mixer with a kitchen towel to avoid that thin coat of powdered sugar film spraying out and getting all over my counter and mixer.

🌡️Storage

Cake: You are better off freezing your cake if you don't need it for a few days, rather than leaving it in the fridge.  That's another reason I prefer frosting without butter. You can leave your cake in an airtight container on the counter for 3-4 days after it's made if it doesn't have a perishable filling.

Frosted Cake: You can also freeze fully frosted cakes with this frosting. But just be sure to put it in a sealed cake container. And if you need it frozen for more than a few days, wrap the container in 2 garbage bags and push the air out.

Frosting: Store this easy frosting recipe at room temperature for up to 5 days. The small amount of milk is stabilized by a large amount of sugar

Freezing: You can freeze it for up to 3 months.

👪 Serving Size

This delicious frosting recipe makes about 6 cups of frosting. However, you can half, double, or triple the recipe by clicking on the serving number and selecting the number of servings you'd like. The ingredient quantities will automatically adjust.

❔ Recipe FAQs