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White Chocolate Frosting Recipe

I’m not always the biggest fan of white chocolate, but there’s something about this white chocolate frosting recipe that’s absolutely delicious.

image of white chocolate buttercream being smoothed onto a cake using an icing comb

Getting the Consistency of This Frosting Just Right

This frosting uses my American buttercream recipe as a base, then mixes in the perfect amount of white chocolate to flavor it.

One notable difference is that this recipe uses double the amount of heavy cream compared to my vanilla frosting recipe.

The white chocolate really thickens up this frosting, especially as it cools.

To get the consistency of this frosting just right we need to add a lot more heavy cream.

This frosting is definitely on the sweet side, and that’s why I love pairing with something tart like my raspberry cake filling.

It balances out the sweetness and helps highlight the flavor of the white chocolate.

image of slice of white chocolate raspberry cake

I used this frosting to fill make my white chocolate raspberry cake, and it was the perfect combination!

What Type of White Chocolate is Best to Use?

Since white chocolate is the only flavor in this buttercream, you want to use a good quality white chocolate.

You can use white chocolate baking bars, white chocolate couvertures, or good quality white chocolate chips.

Usually I stick with white chocolate chips to keep things simple.

White chocolate chips also are the only type of white chocolate I can find at my neighborhood grocery store.

I prefer using Ghirardelli or Guittard white chocolate chips for two reasons. The first reason is that they taste great!

The second is that they’re less yellow than some other brands of white chocolate.

image of white chocolate chips in a bowl

Now don’t get me wrong, the yellowish color that white chocolate has is totally natural!

It comes from the cocoa butter inside the white chocolate. However, some brands of white chocolate are a lot more yellow than others.

While the yellow hue is normal, I don’t find it to be the most aesthetically pleasing color for frosting.

I like my white chocolate frosting to be relatively white in color, not yellow.

What’s The Best Way to Incorporate White Chocolate into Frosting?

The easiest way to incorporate white chocolate into this frosting recipe is to melt it with some heavy cream, then mix it in once it’s had some time to cool.

It’s imperative you don’t pour piping hot melted white chocolate directly into your frosting. Trust me on this one!!

image of white chocolate buttercream frosting being made

Give your white chocolate mixture at least 10 minutes to cool once it’s melted and mixed.

I know it might feel the white chocolate mixture is going to firm up, but I promise it won’t.

It will stay nice and fluid, and will have cool down to a temperature that won’t liquify the butter in your frosting 🙂

Troubleshooting – White Chocolate Buttercream

While this recipe is pretty straight forward, sometimes people do run into issues making it.

The most common issues are adding the white chocolate mixture when it’s too hot (which I discussed above) or adding straight white chocolate into frosting that is too cold.

If your kitchen is cold and you’re using a metal bowl, sometimes the white chocolate can harden into small chunks before it’s fully incorporated into the frosting.

I rarely run into this problem because my kitchen is basically a sauna 95% of time.

However, I’ve designed this recipe to help avoid this in case you do live somewhere cold, or you make this in the winter.

This recipe combines heavy cream and white chocolate to make a white chocolate ganache before adding the white chocolate into the buttercream.

By doing this, you avoid any risk of having white chocolate chunks in your finished buttercream.

Paddle Attachment vs. Whisk Attachment

Now that we’ve covered troubleshooting, the last thing to discuss is our equipment!

Either a paddle or whisk attachment can be used to make this frosting with a stand mixer. You can also make this frosting with a hand mixer!

I like to use my paddle attachment when making frosting for a cake because it minimizes the amount of air that’s incorporated into the frosting.

This makes silky smooth frosting, which is easier to smooth onto cakes.

image of white chocolate buttercream frosting being made in a kitchenaid with a paddle attachment

I use my whisk attachment when making frosting for cupcakes, which I like to be light and fluffy!

I like to incorporate air into frosting for cupcakes, because I usually pipe massive swirls onto each cupcake.

Make This White Chocolate Frosting in Advance

This white chocolate frosting recipe can be made in advance.

I highly recommend making it ahead of time. It makes the decoration of a cake or cupcakes less stressful and a lot more fun.

This frosting keeps in the fridge for several weeks if stored in an airtight container.

When you’re ready to use the chilled buttercream, remove it from the fridge a few hours in advance (or overnight) and allow it to come to room temperature.

Give it a good stir with a rubber spatula or your kitchen aid, to get rid of any air bubbles that may have formed.

Once the buttercream is smooth again, it’s ready to use!

image of white chocolate buttercream that's been mixed in a large glass mixing bowl

Tips For Making Best White Chocolate Buttercream Frosting

  • Use good quality white chocolate to melt and add to the frosting! It really elevates the flavor of the frosting.
  • Use heavy cream or heavy whipping cream, and not normal milk! You need the higher fat percentage for the frosting to have the right consistency.
  • Melt your white chocolate before your start making the frosting. This lets the chocolate cool a bit before you add it into your frosting. If you pour it in piping hot it can melt the butter!
  • If you are making frosting for a cake, mix the buttercream on the lowest speed at the end of the process for a couple minutes, to get out any extra air that might have be incorporated during the mixing process.
  • I usually make batch of frosting to fill and frost a 7-inch or 8-inch cake.
image of a vanilla cake that's filled with a white chocolate mousse cake filling

Let Me Know What You Think

If you try this white chocolate frosting recipe, I’d love to hear what you think!

Please leave a rating below and a comment to let me know your thoughts.

Other Recipes You Might Like:

Yield: 7

White Chocolate Frosting Recipe

image of white chocolate buttercream that's been mixed in a large glass mixing bowl

This white chocolate frosting recipe is incredibly easy to make, and only uses six ingredients! It's so delicious, you'll never buy frosting again!!

Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes

Ingredients

White Chocolate Buttercream Frosting

  • 1/4 cup heavy cream or whipping cream (60g)
  • 1 cup white chocolate chips (175g)
  • 2 cups unsalted butter, room temperature (452g; 1 lb. box)
  • 1 Tbsp vanilla extract (12g)
  • 1/2 tsp fine salt (3g)
  • 7 cups powdered sugar (907g; 2 lb. bag)

Instructions

White Chocolate Buttercream Frosting:

  1. Place 1/4 cup of heavy cream and 1 cup of white chocolate chips into a heatproof bowl. Heat in the microwave on a high power for 1 minute.
  2. Let the white chocolate / heavy cream mixture sit for 1 minute to allow the heat from the bowl to continue to melt the white chocolate chips.
  3. Stir until smooth, then set aside to cool for about 10 minutes. If you have any bits of chocolate left unmelted, heat in additional 10 second increments and stir until the mixture is smooth.
  4. In the bowl of a stand mixer or a separate large bowl, beat 2 cups of room temperature butter on a low speed for 30 seconds with a paddle attachment or hand mixer until smooth.
  5. Add in 1 Tbsp vanilla extract and 1/2 tsp salt. Beat on low until combined.
  6. Pour in the cooled white chocolate and heavy cream mixture and mix on a low speed.
  7. Gradually mix in 7 cups of powdered sugar on a low speed. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl with a rubber spatula as needed.
  8. Mix on a low speed until the ingredients are fully incorporated and the desired consistency is reached. If the frosting seems too thick, add in additional cream, 1 tablespoon at a time. If the frosting is too thin, add in more powdered sugar, a quarter of a cup at a time.
  9. Stir by hand with a rubber spatula to make the frosting extra smooth at the end, then cover with plastic wrap and set aside until you're ready to use it.

Notes

This recipe makes about 7 cups of frosting, which is enough to frost 3 dozen cupcakes or an 8" layer cake.

Making This White Chocolate Frosting in Advance and Storage Tips:

Make your frosting ahead of time, or save any leftover frosting! It can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a month, or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Give it a good stir once it thaws to get the consistency nice and smooth again.

A frosted cake can last in the fridge for up to a week, or in the freezer for up to a month. The buttercream locks in all the moisture, keeping the cake fresh and delicious!

If you cut into the cake and have leftovers, use any remaining frosting to cover the cut section to keep it moist and store in the fridge for up to a week.

If you are making frosting for a cake, mix the buttercream on the lowest speed at the end of the process for a couple minutes, to get out any extra air that might have be incorporated during the mixing process.

Nutrition Information

Yield

7

Serving Size

1

Amount Per Serving Calories 1057Total Fat 63gSaturated Fat 39gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 20gCholesterol 154mgSodium 200mgCarbohydrates 124gFiber 0gSugar 122gProtein 2g

Ann

Saturday 23rd of March 2024

Can monk fruit with erythritol be substituted for powdered cane sugar?

Chelsweets

Sunday 24th of March 2024

Hi Ann,

I haven't tested this recipe with that so sadly I'm not sure if it will work as a substitute for the powdered sugar. If you try it, I'd love to hear if it works! Please let me know :) Thanks!

Yolonda

Sunday 18th of February 2024

I made your frosting today, I must say this is the best frosting I have used in a long time. How can it make this a lemon frosting.

Chelsweets

Sunday 25th of February 2024

Aw I'm so happy to hear that Yolonda!! I'd suggest adding 1-2 tsp of lemon extract and the zest of a couple lemons to make this a lemon white chocolate frosting :) That should do the trick, happy baking!

Candy Cane Cake: The Perfect Winter Cake Recipe

Thursday 9th of November 2023

[…] peppermint back vibes, you also can add peppermint extract and crushed peppermint candies to my white chocolate buttercream or my white chocolate […]

Liz

Wednesday 23rd of August 2023

Hi! I usually substitute non-dairy coffee creamer for cream in my buttercream. Do you think that would work in this recipe? :)

Chelsweets

Friday 25th of August 2023

Hi Liz,

Great question! I haven't tested it, but I would think a non-dairy coffee creamer should work ok in this recipe!

Tim

Monday 26th of June 2023

My daughter asked me to make a cake in The Cake Bible by Rose Levy Beranbaum. It uses her Creme Ivoire as a frosting. What a disaster. At the end of a long process and 24 oz of Ghirardelli white bakers chocolate I basically had hard white chocolate. Wish I had seen this recipe sooner!

Chelsweets

Monday 3rd of July 2023

So sorry to hear that Tim! But better late than never :) Happy baking!!

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