How to Make Dark-Colored Chocolate Frosting

Dark chocolate colored frosting is easy to make.

Cupcakes, cakes or cookies just seem to taste better smothered with chocolate icing. You can whip up a batch of decadent, dark-colored chocolate frosting in your own kitchen in short order and darken it to your liking by adding food coloring.

Things You'll Need

• 1/2 cup shortening
• 1/2 cup butter
• 4 cups powdered sugar
• 4 tbsp. cocoa powder
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup milk
• Red food coloring
• Yellow food coloring
• Blue food coloring
• Mixing bowls
• Measuring cups
• Measuring spoons
• Electric Mixer
• Mixing spoon
• Spatula

Instructions

Frosting Recipe

1. Combine 1/2 cup shortening with 1/2 cup butter in a large mixing bowl and 4 cups powdered sugar and 2 tbsp. cocoa powder in a small bowl.

2. Blend the shortening and butter using the low setting on an electric mixer until the mixture reaches a creamy consistency. Add 1. tsp vanilla to the mixture and blend with the mixer.

3. Slowly add the sugar and cocoa powder mixture to the creamed butter and shortening. Mix using the lowest setting on the electric mixer.

4. Pour 1/4 cup of milk into the bowl and mix on the highest speed on the mixer. Continue mixing until the mixture reaches the light and airy consistency of icing. If the mixture is too thick, add more milk a teaspoon at a time and mix until you are happy with the texture.

Darken the Frosting

1. Combine equal parts of red, blue and yellow food coloring. Both gel and paste provide the same color result.

2. Mix the colors with a spoon. Add more of each color to darken to your desired shade of brown; keep in mind you are adding the color to chocolate icing, which is already light brown in color.

3. Fold the food coloring into the frosting using a spatula, completely mixing in the color.

Tips & Warnings

• Make the icing a few hours in advance as the color will darken as it sits.

• The chocolate frosting recipe makes enough to frost 2 9-inch round cake pans.

References

• Sugarcraft: Food Coloring Information
• Easy Kids Recipes: Easy Homemade Icing and Frosting Recipes
• Baking 911: Recipes: Confectioners Frosting Recipe