Chocolate German Buttercream

This recipe for Chocolate German Buttercream, just like my Vanilla German Buttercream, is a pudding/custard-based buttercream. It’s silky smooth, not too sweet (though you can add more sugar if desired); it pairs nicely with sponge cakes, eclairs, coconut cakes, cupcakes, and even macarons.

HOW TO MAKE CHOCOLATE GERMAN BUTTERCREAM

In this chocolate version of German Buttercream I used dark cocoa powder, and to boost the chocolate flavor I also added 72% dark chocolate.

• TABLE OF CONTENTS
• Ingredients
• Chocolate Custard
• Cream Butter and Custard
• Flavor Buttercream
• Troubleshooting & Tips
• How to use Chocolate German Buttercream

INGREDIENTS

For the best results use room temperature ingredients.

• Milk ( whole, 2% or 1% fat)
• All-Purpose Flour
• Corn Starch
• Dark Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
• Sugar
• Chopped dark chocolate
• Egg Yolks
• Salt
• Unsalted Butter
• Powdered Sugar
• Vanilla Extract
• Sweet Tea Rum (optional)

TIP: Why do I use flour? I use flour because I find it helps to stabilize buttercream. Can you use cornstarch in place of flour? Absolutely.

CHOCOLATE PUDDING/CUSTARD

To make the custard/pudding I use corn starch and flour. I use flour because I find it stabilizes buttercream. However, if you don’t have flour, or if you’re trying to make a gluten-free version, you can skip the flour and use corn starch in place of it. There is not much of a difference, it’s just my personal preference.

Into a bowl, add egg yolks, granulated sugar, flour, corn starch and salt, cocoa powder, and 1 cup of milk (steps 1-6). Whisk till smooth (steps 7-8).

TIP: When mixing ingredients for the custard I like to add only a little bit of milk to avoid lumps in the custard mixture.

Now, whisk in the remaining milk.

COOK CUSTARD|PUDDING

Cook custard on medium-high heat, stirring constantly. Once it starts to thicken you can add chopped dark chocolate (steps 1-5). Continue stirring, don’t let the chocolate sink to the bottom of the pot, it can burn if you let it sit at the bottom of the pot. The mixture will thicken significantly, you might want to switch to a whisk to stir the thick custard. Bring it to a boil and let it simmer for a minute or two, whisking constantly (steps 6-8).

TIP: If you don’t have a chocolate bar, you can use chocolate chips. However, I find chocolate chips sometimes don’t melt as nicely.

WHAT KIND OF CHOCOLATE DO YOU USE?

I like to use a dark chocolate bar, but you can also use milk if you prefer. Depending on the chocolate you might need to add more powdered sugar in the next step, if you prefer your buttercream sweeter. And, you can use chocolate chips if that’s all you have, just be sure to strain the custard as chocolate chips often don’t melt completely.

STRAIN AND COOL CUSTARD

Straining the custard is an important step, don’t skip it, or you can end up with bits of egg or flour lumps in your buttercream.

Use a fine-mesh sieve and pour the hot custard into the sieve and push it down with a spatula. Scrape down the underside to get all the strained pudding into the bowl (steps 1-3).

To prevent skin from forming as custard cools, snuggly cover the hot custard with a food wrap (steps 1-3). Let it cool at room temperature on the counter or in the fridge. Or if you are in a pinch you can cool it in the cool water bath.

To make cold water bath, fill the sink or a large bowl with cold water. Add ice, if you have some. Nest the bowl with custard into the cold water and let it cool.

CREAM BUTTER AND CUSTARD

In this step, ideally, both, custard and butter must be the same or nearly the same temperature. It’s essential for proper emulsification. Otherwise, buttercream might not blend properly.

TIP: If your custard is cold pop it into the microwave and heat it up in 5-second intervals, gently stirring it after each time. Until it’s at room temperature. Don’t heat it up in a stainless steel bowl.

I like to use unsalted butter. Cream room temperature butter until smooth, about a minute (steps 1-3). Then gradually sift in powdered sugar. Continue beating until well combined and smooth, about 3 minutes (steps 4-8).

In this next step, we are going to combine butter and custard, forming a lusciously smooth buttercream. It’s important to add room temperature custard to butter gradually, not all at once. Start by adding about 1/2 cup of room temperature custard and beat it well into the butter (steps 1-3). Scrape down the bowl few times to ensure all is well blended. And continue to add the custard and beating it into the butter (steps 4-8).

FLAVOR BUTTERCREAM

When it comes to flavoring my Chocolate German Buttercream I keep it pretty simple. I use good quality Vanilla Extract.

And, this is totally optional, I also use sweet tea rum in my buttercream. It’s a Czech Rum and I understand it’s not available everywhere. I get it shipped from Europe and it lasts me for a long time. But, like I said if you don’t have any sweet-tasting rum, you can skip it. Or for example, you can use Bacardi Gold, which’s similar to Czech Rum is distilled from fermented molasses. Or if you can find Austrian Rum Stroh, it’s aromatic and works great in baking applications.

TIP: You can also use baking emulsions, which contain no alcohol.

Measure flavorings and pour them into the buttercream and beat again for 30 to 60 seconds (steps 1-6).

CHOCOLATE GERMAN BUTTERCREAM TIPS & TROUBLESHOOTING

• Why do you use flour? I use flour because I find it helps to stabilize buttercream.
• Can I use cornstarch in place of flour? Absolutely.
• If you don’t have a chocolate bar, you can use chocolate chips. However, I find chocolate chips sometimes don’t melt as nicely.
• Don’t have a chocolate bar? You can use cocoa powder; use 2/3 cup dark cocoa powder.
• Can I freeze buttercream? Yes, you can freeze it for up to 3 months. Let it come to room temperature and re-beat with a mixer before using it.
• My buttercream is soupy, what happened? This can happen when butter and custard are at different temperate points. Cover soupy buttercream and freeze it for 20 minutes, stirring halfway. Re-beat and repeat the process if needed. This usually does the trick for me. But of course, there are times that buttercream is past the point of saving.
• I can’t have alcohol-based extracts. What else can I use? Use baking emulsions in place of alcohol-based extracts.
• This buttercream keeps well at room temperature for up to 3 days. It keeps in the fridge for up to a week. It also freezes well for up to 3 months.
• How can I make Strawberry or Raspberry German Buttercream? You can use good quality, thick strawberry/raspberry jam (about 1/2 to 1cup), and beat it into one batch of Vanilla German Buttercream. Or use my easy-to-make Raspberry Cake Filling and beat it into the Vanilla German Buttercream.

HOW TO USE CHOCOLATE GERMAN BUTTERCREAM?

This Chocolate German Buttercream is my go-to recipe to make a Dobos Cake. You can also use it to frost cupcakes, sheet cakes, sponge cakes, it pairs nicely with a Coconut Cake, Chocolate Cake, and it can be used to fill macarons or cookies.

Custard-based buttercream can also be used to pipe borders. However, just like with any other buttercream containing butter it will become softer when you are handling it. When that happens, stick it into the fridge for 15 minutes, then continue with piping.

TO MAKE CHOCOLATE GERMAN BUTTERCREAM YOU NEED

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• TOOLS
• Please find all the tools in my Amazon Shop
• Hand-held or Stand Mixer
• Sauce Pan
• Fine Mesh Sieve
• Spatula
• Dark Cocoa Powder – (Hersey Special Dark, unsweetened, or Barry Cocoa Powder)
• Dark Chocolate – 65% to 72%, or use dark and milk chocolate combined
• Vanilla Extract
• Bacardi Gold Rum, or other sweet-tasting Rum like Austrian rum Stroh
• Baking Emulsions – use these in place of alcohol-based extracts

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