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Chocolate Cool Whip Frosting

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This four ingredient Chocolate Cool Whip Frosting takes just five minutes to prepare and is the perfect topping to all of your favorite desserts. #chocolate #coolwhip #frosting #cake #easydessert #chocolatefrosting #chocolatefrosting

This four ingredient Chocolate Cool Whip Frosting takes just five minutes to prepare and is the perfect topping to all of your favorite desserts.

A bowl of Chocolate Cool Whip Frosting sits on a dark tray with a striped napkin to the side and a small wooden bowl with cocoa powder sits to the right.

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Sometimes when you have a slice of cake, you want something a little lighter than a Dark Chocolate Buttercream Frosting.  Something light.  Something airy.  Something that adds the perfect finishing touch.  Something like this Chocolate Cool Whip Frosting.

A bowl of Chocolate Cool Whip Frosting with a spoon sits on a striped napkin.

This five minute Chocolate Cool Whip Frosting is the answer to all of the world’s problems.  Or at least those that are dessert related.  Perfect for cakes, cupcakes, filling for cookies, a dip for fruit – there is nothing that this frosting can’t make better!

A hand dips a chocolate cookie into a bowl of Chocolate Cool Whip Frosting.

It’s the crowning glory of my Black Forest Piecaken, would be the perfect topping on my Chocolate Pudding Fudge Cake and it’s  delicious as a filling when you transform my Funfetti Chocolate Chip Cake Mix Cookies into sandwiches.

If you’re looking for a flavor other than chocolate – I’ve heard it happens on occasion! – my Cinnamon Cool Whip Frosting can’t be beat.

The ingredients needed to create Chocolate Cool Whip Frosting sit on a white speckled background.

Possibly the best part about this Chocolate Cool Whip Frosting – besides the taste, obviously! – is that it only takes four ingredients to create.  Ingredients that you likely always have in your pantry and fridge.

Although a typical Cool Whip Frosting recipe utilizes just milk, pudding and Cool Whip, I’ve elevated the chocolate flavor by adding baking cocoa.  Instead of a cloyingly sweet frosting, instead it’s more dark and rich.

Step by step photos of how to create Chocolate Cool Whip Frosting.

How to Make Chocolate Cool Whip Frosting

[1]  In a medium bowl, add instant pudding mix, baking cocoa and milk.

[2]  Whisk ingredients together until thickened, approximately one minute.

[3]  Add Cool Whip to pudding mixture.

[4]  Gently fold in Cool Whip until throughly combined.

An overhead shot of a bowl of Chocolate Cool Whip Frosting sitting on a dark surface with a striped napkin and a small wooden bowl of cocoa with a measuring spoon sitting to the upper right.

If you’ve tried this Chocolate Cool Whip Frosting or any other recipe on Melanie Makes, please let me know your thoughts in the comments below.  I love hearing from you and respond to each and every comment! 

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Print Recipe
4.31 from 81 votes

Chocolate Cool Whip Frosting

This four ingredient Chocolate Cool Whip Frosting takes just five minutes to prepare and is the perfect topping to all of your favorite desserts.
Prep Time5 mins
Total Time5 mins
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Servings: 3 cups
Calories: 300kcal
Author: Melanie Bauer | Melanie Makes

Ingredients

Instructions

  • In a medium bowl, whisk together instant pudding mix, baking cocoa and milk until thickened, approximately one minute.
  • Gently fold in Cool Whip until throughly combined.
  • Used as desired to frost cakes, cupcakes or even use as a dip for fresh fruit.

Nutrition

Calories: 300kcal | Carbohydrates: 55g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 20mg | Sodium: 550mg | Potassium: 374mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 38g | Vitamin A: 265IU | Calcium: 187mg | Iron: 1.4mg

Looking for other desserts to top with this Chocolate Cool Whip Frosting?  It would be tasty on this Chocolate Strawberry Cake, this One Bowl Chocolate Cake or this Vanilla Sheet Cake Recipe.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  6. Lisa says

    Cannot wait to try this recipe. Can I put the pudding frosting on the cupcakes and refrigerate them the day before I’m serving them? Thank you!
    Reply

  8. Lori says

    Its color looks so impressive. But for my very first time it did not work so well, I don't know why. Anw the taste is quite good. Thank you for your so useful sharing!
    Reply

  9. Callie says

    Thanks for this recipe, it turned out really well. It was definitely one of the strangest frosting recipe and pretty labor intensive. But the results turned out to be worth it!
    Reply

  12. Paul Giles says

    My girlfriend loves chocolate. She adores it so much it makes me worried. However, I still make chocolate cookies at home when I get time. She will definitely this love this. Thanks for sharing.
    Reply

  14. Nicole says

    I made the major mistake of using 2% milk. I tried to thicken with powdered sugar. Did not help. Any other suggestions? Heavy whipping cream maybe? Great taste! Just runny.
    Reply

  16. Melissa says

    Hi Melanie, I have to tell you, this is one of the top frostings hands down that I’ve made. Delicious! I am a baker on the side and this just made my day. I used Hershey baking chocolate and found it a bit bitter so I added a little powdered sugar. Perfect. Thanks for sharing. Melissa
    Reply

    • Melanie says

      Melissa, you made my day - thank you! So glad that you enjoyed it as much as we do! It's crazy easy and just as delicious! If you haven't tried it before, give the Rodelle baking cocoa a try. It's my favorite and easy to purchase from Amazon if you can't find it locally. :)
      Reply

    • Melanie says

      Hi, Vanessa - It frosts a 9" two layer cake so I'm thinking you could easily frost 24 cupcakes with one recipe.
      Reply

  18. Holland says

    Hello, if I spread this between layers of cake will the light and airy cool whip frosting hold up? I would hate for it to squish out the edges as it is cut into.
    Reply

    • Melanie says

      Hi, Holland - I don't think it would hold up well between cake layers. You might try something else as a filling - maybe my Chocolate or Nutella Ganache? - and then use the frosting on the outside of the cake only.
      Reply

  19. Kami says

    Hey Melanie, This is exactly what i was looking for as my family and I don't like Icing from store. I tried this before on a football shape cake for super bowl and it turned out soooooo good, everyone loved it. only one question, how long can i put the left over frosting in the fridge?
    Reply

  21. Paula Ramirez says

    Just wondering if I can use 2% milk instead of whole milk? I don't buy whole milk so it's rare to have it on hand.
    Reply

    • Melanie says

      Hi, Paula - This is worth the extra purchase as the whole milk will insure the frosting sets up. You can use the 2%, it just won't be as thick. Hope you give it a try!
      Reply

    • Melanie says

      Hi, Mmr - I haven't prepared it for this purpose. I'm sure you could, but I'm not sure if the taste/texture would be what you were hoping for. If you try it, let me know your thoughts!
      Reply

    • Melanie says

      Hi, Falaofuta - I haven't tried the recipe that way but I think using the premade pudding would deflate the Cool Whip.
      Reply

  24. Richard Tunner says

    This was exactly what I was looking for. No one in my family likes the store bought icings which are way too sweet, and I never had any luck with just using whipped cream as it melts away way too fast. This recipe was just right in between. Not too sweet and held up well on the cake even icing it the day before and leaving it in the fridge over night. I used it for a home made birthday cake for my son's 7th birthday party and all the kids loved it. It tasted delicious. I will definitely use this for all cakes in the future. Thanks!!
    Reply

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