Cooked Chocolate Icing

Boiled Chocolate Icing

If you’ve ever tried chocolate Texas sheet cake, then you know just how delicious this boiled chocolate icing is. It’s an old fashioned sweet and fudgy favorite that you may remember Grandma whipping up on the stovetop.

It has all the same ingredients as a chocolate buttercream frosting, but is cooked on the stove instead of creamed together with an electric mixer. The sugar and cocoa powder dissolve with the melted butter while cooking, resembling the texture of a rich chocolate ganache.

Powdered sugar is sifted in then the icing is poured on top of your dessert, keeping it moist and adding a thick and glossy fudge finish.

Recipe Ingredients

Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.

• Cocoa powder: Make sure to use unsweetened cocoa powder since the majority of the sweetness will come from the powdered sugar.
• Powdered sugar: Adds a sweet flavor and thick texture. Make sure to sift the powdered sugar first, so that your icing isn’t lumpy.
• Butter: Using salted butter will add the best flavor. Cube it first before adding to the pan for easier melting.
• Milk: Used to help thin out the icing. Whole milk will add the richest flavor.
• Vanilla: A high quality vanilla extract will give you the perfect boost of vanilla.

How to Make Boiled Chocolate Icing

This cooked chocolate icing recipe is super easy to whip up on the stove in just 10 minutes. Follow the simple steps below to get started.

• Melt. Chop the butter into cubes and then add to a medium saucepan. Melt over low heat, then stir in the unsweetened cocoa powder. Let the mixture come to a light boil, then remove the pan from the heat.
• Whisk. Slowly whisk in the milk, vanilla extract and sea salt. Once combined, then whisk in the powdered sugar until dissolved and smooth.

Ways to Use Cooked Chocolate Frosting

This boiled chocolate icing recipe works best as a spreadable topping, making it perfect for sheet cakes, brownies and bars.

I wouldn’t recommend using it for cakes with multiple layers because the consistency is a bit too thin and smooth. Stick with a traditional chocolate buttercream frosting for desserts such as a layer cake.

• Spread on top of a Texas sheet cake, white sheet cake recipe or strawberry sheet cake.
• Use in place of chocolate ganache for frosted brownies or homemade cosmic brownies.
• Use to frost a yellow cake, homemade vanilla cake or your favorite chocolate cake recipe.
• Pour over a bowl of homemade vanilla ice cream.