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    Home » Frosting Recipes

    Chocolate Frosting Without Powdered Sugar

    Published: Oct 4, 2022 by Jessica Fisher

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    Run out of powdered sugar? No problem. You can have your cake and frost it, too, with this Easy Chocolate Frosting Without Powdered Sugar. It’s super creamy and delicious, almost like fudge, perfect for frosting your favorite cake, cupcake, or brownie.

    Made with a few simple ingredients, this easy recipe for Chocolate Frosting is delicious on Cocoa Brownies, but it’s also fun for Mud and Worm Dirt Cupcakes. It will take a simple boxed cake or bundt cake over the top! It’s an easy alternative to traditional American buttercream.

    close up view of swirls of chocolate frosting made without powdered sugar. this …
    Jump to:
    • Why Make This
    • Ingredients
    • Step-by-Step Instructions
    • FAQs
    • More Great Frosting Recipes
    • Tell us what you think!
    • Chocolate Frosting Without Powdered Sugar

    Necessity is the mother of invention, and that was never more true in the kitchen. All kinds of delicious things have been created when the cook was missing a previously “key” ingredient and dreamt up something new and amazing. Sometimes it’s the best way!

    This Chocolate Frosting Without Powdered Sugar is one of those things. While I’m a fan of other icing recipes, like Cream Cheese Frosting and even fluffy buttercream frosting, this chocolate frosting without powdered sugar comes together in just a couple of minutes, loaded with chocolate flavor.

    It’s the perfect frosting when you need something quickly without the hassle of an electric mixer.

    Why Make This

    It’s super fudgy delicious. This chocolate frosting is super delicious and tastes like fudge. It’s the best frosting for a simple homemade chocolate cake or even buttermilk donuts. You’ll swoon at just one bite!

    It’s easy. With only five basic ingredients, this easy icing recipe comes together super quickly on the stovetop, no powdered sugar needed.

    It’s gluten-free. Unlike another frosting recipe that calls for using a milk flour mixture, this easy Chocolate Frosting is completely gluten free, a sugar frosting that uses granulated sugar or brown sugar, some butter, evaporated milk, chocolate chips, and vanilla extract.

    Ingredients

    You don’t need large amounts of any of the ingredients. Here’s what you need to make Chocolate Frosting Without Powdered Sugar:

    ingredients for chocolate frosting without powdered sugar.

    sugar – You can use brown sugar or granulated sugar, though I prefer brown. It has a slightly caramel flavor. Either way, no powdered sugar required!

    butter – You can use regular dairy butter or a plant-based butter.

    evaporated milk – Evaporated milk comes in a can and is slightly thicker than regular, fresh milk. It has some of the liquid removed. Fresh alternatives would be whole milk, heavy cream, or half-and-half. You can make a vegan evaporated milk by simmering coconut milk or another plant milk until the volume has reduced by half.

    chocolate chips – You can use whatever kind of chocolate or baking chips you like: dark, semi-sweet, or milk chocolate, white chocolate, butterscotch, cinnamon, espresso, or peanut butter.

    pure vanilla extract – Just a little vanilla helps round out the chocolate flavor. You can also use another extract to flavor the frosting, such as almond extract, peppermint, or mocha. The cheapest vanilla extract is the homemade kind.

    Step-by-Step Instructions

    This is such a low-fuss, delicious frosting, no need for a mixing bowl or even a hand mixer. Here’s how to make this Easy Chocolate Frosting without Powdered Sugar:

    butter, sugar, and evaporated milk in saucepan.
    butter milk sugar mixture boiling in saucepan.
    adding chocolate chips and extract to saucepan.
    finished frosting in saucepan.

    In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the sugar, butter, and milk together. Cook, stirring constantly until the mixture comes to a boil. Boil, stirring constantly, for 1 minute.

    Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the chocolate chips and the vanilla extract. Continue stirring until the chocolate has melted and the frosting is soon.

    It will be a thin frosting, but will thicken as it cools. Pour or spread the frosting over the cooled cake or top of cupcakes. You should have enough sugar icing for one sheet cake or 24 cupcakes. Make a double batch if you’d like to frost a layer cake.

    Pro tip: As the frosting cools, it develops a fudge texture, almost like a thick paste. To get it back to spreadable consistency, you can reheat it over low heat with a splash of milk.

    FAQs

    What can I use if I don’t have powdered sugar for frosting?

    You can either make your own powdered sugar or prepare this one-minute boiled frosting that calls for regular or brown sugar.

    Can I refrigerate this recipe?

    You can chill this frosting, however the texture becomes very fudge-like as it cools. To bring it back to spreadable texture, reheat on low with a little bit of milk, until glossy and smooth.

    What can you do with leftover chocolate frosting?

    Leftover frosting is good made into sandwich cookies. You can simply spread it between two graham crackers or sugar cookies for a simple sweet treat.

    square of yellow cake on plate with chocolate frosting and sprinkles.

    More Great Frosting Recipes

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    Tell us what you think!

    We love to hear your experiences with Good Cheap Eats. Click the STARS on the recipe card or leave a STARRED comment to let us know what you think of the recipe.

    overhead shot of square of chocolate frosted cake on white plate with fork.
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    4.80 from 5 votes

    Chocolate Frosting Without Powdered Sugar

    Just five ingredients are needed for this glossy chocolate frosting; no powdered sugar needed! It's great for glazing cakes, cupcakes or even donuts.
    Prep Time5 minutes mins
    Cook Time5 minutes mins
    Total Time10 minutes mins
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Diet: Gluten Free, Vegetarian
    Servings: 32 tablespoons
    Calories: 71kcal
    Author: Jessica Fisher
    Cost: $3
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • sauce pan
    • wire whisk

    Ingredients

    • ¾ cup brown sugar
    • ⅓ cup butter
    • ⅓ cup evaporated milk
    • 1 cup dark chocolate chips
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    US Customary – Metric

    Instructions

    • In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the sugar, butter, and milk together. Cook, stirring constantly until the mixture comes to a boil. Boil, stirring constantly, for 1 minute.
    • Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the chocolate chips and the vanilla extract. Continue stirring until the chocolate has melted and the frosting is soon.
    • It will be a thin frosting, but will thicken as it cools.

    Notes

    Nutritional values are approximate and correspond to one tablespoon of frosting. One batch is enough to frost 2 dozen cupcakes or 1 half sheet cake.
    Pro tip: As the frosting cools, it develops a fudge texture and won’t be as easily spreadable. To get it back to spreadable consistency, you can reheat it over low heat with a bit of milk.
    Feel free to vary the baking chips for whatever flavor you like: dark, semi-sweet, or milk chocolate, white chocolate, butterscotch, cinnamon, espresso, or peanut butter
    Just a little vanilla helps round out the chocolate flavor. You can also use another extract to flavor the frosting, such as almond, peppermint, or mocha. 
     

    Nutrition

    Calories: 71kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 6mg | Sodium: 26mg | Potassium: 51mg | Fiber: 0.2g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 66IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 29mg | Iron: 0.1mg
    Tried this Recipe? Tell us what you think!Your reviews help us develop better recipes and give newcomers the confidence to try your favorites. Scroll down to leave a starred comment.
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    Comments

    1. Jennie

      May 12, 2023 at 2:11 pm

      5 stars
      Fantstic – great recipe and you saved my hide, thank you! I needed frosting but did not have powdered sugar, and this was amazing. Will make again!

      Reply
      • Jessica Fisher

        May 12, 2023 at 3:08 pm

        5 stars
        Yay! So glad you enjoyed it. I can never stop eating it when I make it. 🙂

        Reply

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    jessica from good cheap eats

    Hi, I'm Jessica! I believe anyone can prepare delicious meals -- no matter their budget.

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