Try this smooth and decadent chocolate avocado frosting recipe on chocolate cakes and cupcakes, or eat it by the spoonful!
Healthy chocolate avocado frosting
With a thick, rich, creamy, silky smooth texture thanks to heart health avocado, this easy chocolate avocado frosting recipe will surprise pretty much everyone.
And there’s absolutely no butter or shortening required.
You need just five ingredients to make it: avocado, unsweetened cocoa powder, pure maple syrup, pure vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt to bring out the sweetness.
It can even be piped just like regular chocolate frosting!
Use it to top these Black Bean Brownies
Ingredients for the recipe
The frosting calls for cocoa powder, sweetener, pure vanilla extract, a pinch of salt, optional chocolate chips, and of course avocado.
Look for ripe avocados at the grocery store or wait for the fruit to ripen at home. When ready to use, they should yield to gentle pressure but not be overly soft or mushy.
You may use regular unsweetened cocoa powder or raw cacao powder. For a rich chocolate flavor, try Dutch cocoa powder for a fourth cup of the total amount.
We like pure maple syrup here. Honey, agave, powdered sugar, coconut sugar, or some common sugar free sweeteners also work.
We often add two tablespoons of melted coconut oil or two ounces of melted chocolate for extra richness, but this is not required.
The recipe was adapted from this Avocado Chocolate Mousse.
Is the frosting low carb, keto, and sugar free?
It can be all three of these things.
For a keto chocolate frosting, replace the maple syrup with half a cup of powdered xylitol, erythritol, or your no sugar sweetener of choice.
If desired, you can also include melted Sugar Free Chocolate Chips.
When prepared with a sugar free sweetener, the avocado frosting contains less than one gram of net carbs per serving.
We have not tried sweetening the icing with stevia, so be sure to report back for other readers if you experiment.
Step by step recipe video
Above – watch the chocolate avocado frosting recipe video
Serving suggestions
The chocolate frosting is excellent on cake or brownies.
And it is equally wonderful as a healthy chocolate spread for sliced bananas, apples, toast, waffles, Vegan Pancakes, or Healthy Banana Bread.
Or serve it as a dessert dip for strawberries.
You really cannot go wrong no matter how you choose to serve it.
The chocolatey recipe can be dairy free, nut free, gluten free, oil free, sugar free, low carb, paleo, and keto friendly.
Readers also love this Homemade Nutella Recipe
How to make avocado frosting
If you are using the optional chocolate chips or chopped dark chocolate, carefully melt the chocolate in the microwave or by using a double boiler method.
Scoop the insides of the avocados into a food processor or blender. Discard the avocado peel and pits.
Combine all ingredients, and process or blend until completely smooth.
The avocado chocolate frosting can be spread with a knife or piped through a pastry bag fitted with an icing tip.
The recipe is free of processed ingredients, trans fats, and preservatives. Therefore, it is best to make up a batch of this avocado frosting right before you plan to use it.
Refrigerate leftovers for up to about three days in an airtight covered container.
Although leftover avocado tends to turn brown in the refrigerator, that is not a problem in this case since it is already a chocolate recipe.
While the blender is out, try an Avocado Smoothie
Chocolate Avocado Frosting
Ingredients
- 2 avocados
- 1/2 cup cocoa powder
- 6-8 tbsp pure maple syrup or sweetener of choice
- 1/4 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1/8 tsp salt
- 2 oz chocolate chips (optional for richer flavor)
Instructions
- Be sure to use soft, ripe avocados. Discard the peels and pits. Carefully melt the chocolate chips, if using. Combine all ingredients in a food processor or blender until completely smooth. Because of the lack of preservatives, it's best to make up a batch of this avocado frosting right before you plan to use it. Store any leftovers in the refrigerator for up to three days.View Nutrition Facts
Notes
Have you made this recipe?
Tag @chocolatecoveredkatie on Instagram
Carrie this fit chick says
I’ve made avo chocolate mousse, but never frosting. such a clever idea, Katie!
Whitney says
I love avocado frosting!
Just had an idea: dollop some of this glorious frosting on top of a bowl of that glorious nice cream!
Chocolate Covered Katie says
Kind of the best idea ever 🙂
SuzyQ says
I didn’t even use a blender..
Ihad half of 1 avocado left..
I was dying for a chocolate dessert so I just shmushed some cocoa powder around on a plate w/a big soup spoon w/a dash of Stevia and vanilla…
It took me no more than 2 minutes by the clock, I was amazed at how quickly the ingredients incorporated w/NO use of a blender or oil…
Smooth as silk…added some raisins, dates and mini pretzels for dipping..
THANKS KATIE_
Seville59 says
Did you use confection sugar too?
Aimee says
YUM! I would definitely just take a spoon to this and go to town. Thanks for sharing!
Annie @ Natural Sweet Recipes says
I love avocado in frosting!! What a great recipe!
Mary Jane says
I personally hate chocolate frosting (no one knows how to make it right!). This frosting though, I wouldn’t use as frosting if you are really good at spotting hidden flavors or else this will use taste like eating an avocado, but I’m not like that. This works okay as a frosting, but better as a snack for me!. It was basically a mousse. Really yummy and thank you!
Izzy says
This looks amazing – I have never tried avocado frosting!
Izzy | Pinch of delight
Sara @ Last Night's Feast says
This looks so yummy!!
Json Example says
this looks so delicious!!!
Benny says
Chocolate. Avocado. Frosting.
March 17th, 2017 – My life changed.
Thank you for this.
Nancy Morin says
Can you really not taste the avocado?
Jason Sanford says
You really don’t!
Val says
Chocolate avocado sounds divine! Val 🙂
Sarah says
Wow Katie, this looks GREAT! Lovely idea x
Bites for Foodies says
This is the easiest way to prepare vegan frosting! I can’t count how many avocados I buy each week….between adding them to salads, making frosting or raw puddings…they taste great in everything! They’re an essential item for a raw or clean diet. The on thing I would swap in this recipe is vanilla bean powder for the extract. Have you ever tasted it before? The flavour is AH-MAZING!
http://www.bitesforfoodies.com/recipes/vegan-nutella-banana-pudding/
http://www.bitesforfoodies.com/recipes/vegan-chocolate-pudding/
Tanveer says
I tried this recipe and I am so overwhelmed. It is delicious and best chocolate avocado I have cooked.
Much thanks for sharing this recipe.
D says
Can I make this to frost a birthday cake? The cake won’t be eaten up in one day…would you not recommend using this then? I’d prefer to use this over a typical frosting with margarine.
Great blog! Love it!
Chocolate Covered Katie says
Hmmm I’ve honestly never kept it around on a cake long enough to find out. I think it would be okay but might turn a not-so-pretty color. Maybe do a test run with frosting a muffin or something one day?
Nicole says
Maybe add a little lemon to stop the color change?
Cassie Autumn Tran says
Would this be a good stand-alone recipe? 😉 I’d say so, LOL! People should really consider making avocado spreads on the market! This looks stunning!
Ann HoffmannANN says
Amazing ! Going on Kale Brownies . Thanks
Pat says
Can you “fix” the print link so it just prints the recipe. Foe some reason I get a 10 page print. Maybe my computer is set up wrong. Thanks!
Jason Sanford says
Hi, we are so sorry about that! It should not be doing that and we put in a ticket with our web designer to fix it again. Thank you so much for pointing it out.
Gahas says
Dear you, thanks for this fantastic recipe!
I have a question: as for frostings, what is the best, most scrumptious frosting recipe? Those with avocado and cacao or with coconut cream and cacao? What is your preference as for taste? Thank you!
GM
Jason Sanford says
I like the coconut one 🙂
Sarah says
Can you use dark chocolate cocoa powder for a dark chocolate looking frosting?
Jason Sanford says
Sure why not?
Mrs. M says
Rated 5 Stars! This recipe is amazing. Thanks for sharing Katie! I love avocado and chocolate. I used dark cocoa powder and it was a good call. The pinch of salt truly brings out the chocolate-y maple sweet flavor pretty well. My husband and recently transitioned to whole-food plant based lifestyle and we’re discovering recipes we love and dislike. This fits in the “love it” pile.
Terri says
I can’t wait to try this! Perfect for my Primal diet and my brother’s family’s vegan diet. Need to keep the peace at Thanksgiving, haha!
Vanessa says
Is the blender necessary? I just packed my food processor (I’m moving next week), but I have all these ingredients…
Jason Sanford says
I mean… I guess you could mash everything up really well by hand, but the texture wouldn’t be anywhere near as smooth.
Malinda Essig says
This was fantastic. We have changed to whole foods and making everything. I was looking for a topper for veggie waffles and this was perfect. It was goes very well with rosemary almond bread .. ah, who am I kidding, this would go good with just about anything. Thank you for sharing.
Mary Jane Sawyer says
This avocado frosting is fantastic. It’s was about 10:30 at night, and my sweet tooth would just not let me sleep. So I made a cup of chocolate cake and topped it off with avocado chocolate frosting. And now I’m ready for bed. It’s not bothering my sleep at all. Thank you Katie.
Will says
Wow!! You baked a huge cake haha!! Deliciousness!!
Sara says
curious about your mug cake recipe.
Will says
Can you tell how many grams of avocado are meant when saying “2 ripe avocados”? I would like to know a more exacf amount of avocado for this recipe. Thank you for posting this!! 🙂
Jason Sanford says
I never measure, so just use two medium ones and you’ll be fine! 🙂
Leah says
Absolutely amazing! I iced some coconut flour vanilla cupcakes with this frosting. I could not believe how it literally tasted like the old school kind I use to make with a box of cake mix and can of frosting but, free of all the junk!
Lyne says
Best recipe ever! The texture and the flavor are the best! Healthy recipe free of processed sugar and dairy.
Shea says
Perfect brownie topping!
Milla says
Hi Katie, this looks like a great recipe. To make frosting for cupcakes, can one substitute maple for confectioners sugar? How much confectioners sugar is needed? Also, has anyone tried it for little picky eaters? Did they notice the avocado taste? Thank you.
Jason Sanford says
I would probably just do an equal amount of confectioners sugar. If you experiment, definitely report back for the rest of us!
Sara says
It looks amazing! If I don’t like avocado, but love chocolate – do you think I will like this? 🙂
Jason Sanford says
You can always try this one! It’s my personal favorite: https://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/2012/05/04/reeses-pieces-fudge-frosting/
Jason
regs says
Very easy and affordable recipe, thanks for sharing.
Adam says
Can this be frozen?
Karen Ferguson says
Who know avocado could taste so delicious?! I have made this multiple times and it’s so easy and yummy!
Sarah says
I made this to put on the keto brownie recipe. I’m currently sitting on the couch eating the rest of it straight from the bowl with a spoon.
fady says
how can i make this into vanilla frosting instead?
CCK Media Team says
We haven’t ever tried making it into vanilla frosting, but hopefully one of Katie’s other frosting recipes might work for what you’re looking for? https://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/?s=frosting
janet says
this frosting is great! can leftovers be frozen?
bakingenthusiast says
I made it yesterday and it was simply amazing!!
Frosted my vegan cake with it for my boyfriend’s birthday and everyone loved it. Even people who don’t particularly like the chocolate flavor or cake.
(Some adjustments I made: I doubled the recipe to frost 2 tiers of 9.5 inch cakes. Used cacao powder instead of cocoa so halved the amount I used. Added a a couple tablespoons of melted semi-sweet chocolate chips as well. Used agave syrup instead of maple)
Jacqueline Bloom says
This is AMAZING! Thank you!
Jill says
This is simply divine. It tastes just like butter cream frosting, but I don’t feel the least bit guilty going at it with a spoon.
Judy Phillips says
I LOVE your recipes!!! And this one is 100% a game changer! I’ve always wished I had a more healthy frosting and now I do! So excited to try this! Thanks you so much for all of your WONDERFUL recipes!