I’ve been dreaming about milk chocolate buttercream since I first whipped up that White Chocolate Buttercream for Son #1′s birthday last year.  The kid loves white chocolate, so I had to come up with something special just for him.  I had no idea that the recipe would become the most sought after recipe on my blog. Who knew?

Popularity aside, I am a steadfast Milk Chocolate Girl.  I just love the stuff! So much so, that I always have at least one 6-pack of Hershey’s bars in the house in case of emergencies.  The satisfying simplicity of milk chocolate can’t be beaten with a stick, I tell ya!

I should know, because I ate many a wooden spoonful of milk chocolate buttercream during the recipe development process. This frosting is so light and creamy that it’s practically like eating a bowl full of chocolate mousse.

Not that I ate an entire bowl of frosting or anything…although the thought did cross my mind.

But I highly recommend frosting your favorite cupcakes with the Milk Chocolate Buttercream instead–it just seems a bit more…reasonable.

For the Milk Chocolate Buttercream, you will need: unsalted butter, four regular Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Bars, vanilla, heavy whipping cream, and powdered sugar.

Baking chocolate is fine, but under no circumstances should you use milk chocolate chips or candy melts. The same waxy coating/additives that help the chips/melts retain their shape while baking, and give it sheen after being melted/cooled will do weird things to the frosting. Clumpy, hard bits in the middle of your otherwise creamy and wonderful frosting kind of things. Ergo, Wax = Bad.

Break up the chocolate and place it into a microwave safe bowl.

Heat the chocolate in a microwave in 30 second increments on full power, stirring well in between each burst, until chocolate is melted and smooth. Allow the chocolate to cool.

Once the melted milk chocolate is cool to the touch, sift the powdered sugar over the butter, and cream with a hand mixer until it’s nice and fluffy.

Add the vanilla to the whipping cream,

pour the cream mixture into the fluffy butter concoction,

and mix on medium speed for 2 to 3 minutes, or until it’s really fluffy.  At this point the whipped cream frosting is quite delicious and would be lovely on any cake. I’d be lying if I didn’t tell you that I considered frosting the cupcakes at this stage, and make a meal out of dipping everything I could find in the melted milk chocolate.  BUT!

My conscience got the best of me, so I poured all that luscious melted milk chocolate to the mix, and mixed it in on low speed for about a minute, until it was all incorporated.

Since I’m apparently all about full-disclosure today, I should also tell you that I ate a spoonful of this loveliness straight from the bowl.

OK…two spoonfuls. And I’d do it again, too! It’s so light and heavenly!

Pipe the frosting on top cupcakes, a sheet cake, or layer cake. Use it as a filling for sandwich cookies–the possibilities are endless! Whatever you do, be sure garnish with sprinkles because sprinkles make the world a happier place. If you are not going to serve the frosted cake(s) right away, store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Allow to sit out at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving.

Milk Chocolate Buttercream is a very soft and creamy frosting. I’ve included instructions for thickening it for use as decorator’s icing, but I highly recommend refrigeration to keep the structure in tact.  :)

♥♥♥

Whipped Milk Chocolate Buttercream Frosting

http://comfortablydomestic.com

Yield: about 2 ½ cups

Prep Time: 20 minutes, Cook time: 0 minutes, Total Time: 20 minutes

1 C. unsalted butter, softened

2 ½ C. powdered sugar (or more, depending on desired consistency)

4 Hershey’s Milk Chocolate candy bars (1.55 oz. each), chopped (Do NOT use chocolate chips!)

¼ C. heavy whipping cream

½ tsp. vanilla extract

1. Put the chopped milk chocolate bars into a small bowl.  Heat the chocolate in 30 second increments in the microwave set to 60% power.  Stir after each increment, and continue to heat 30 seconds at a time, until the chocolate is melted and smooth.  Set aside and allow to completely cool.
2. Once the milk chocolate has cooled, sift the powdered sugar over the butter, in a large bowl.  Cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, scraping the sides of the bowl as needed.
3. Measure the whipping cream into a cup, and stir in the vanilla extract into the cream.
4. With the mixer running on low speed, gradually pour the cream mixture the bowl.
5. Once the cream mixture has been incorporated into the frosting, fold on the melted (but cooled) milk chocolate until incorporated.
6. Increase the mixer speed to medium-high, and beat frosting for an additional 3 minutes.
7. Makes about 2 ½ cups of frosting.

• This makes a medium consistency frosting, which is very spreadable and creamy.
• For a stiff decorator frosting: add more powdered sugar, ½ cup at a time, until desired consistency (about another cup or so.)
• For a thinner consistency to fill cupcakes or sandwich cookies, add about ½ cup less powdered sugar.