While chocolate and orange might sound like an odd combo, it reminds me of being a kid. My Grandma always used to buy us chocolate oranges for the holidays and they’re the inspiration behind this chocolate orange buttercream frosting.

I originally shared this frosting recipe with my chocolate orange cake, but it was so delicious I decided it deserved its own post.

Packing This Orange Chocolate Buttercream with Citrus Flavor

This chocolate orange buttercream is made with orange zest, but the real secret to getting that amazing orange flavor into this frosting is using an orange emulsion.

While an orange extract would also work, using an orange emulsion really steps up the flavor of this buttercream. Why, you ask? It has a secret ingredient. Citric acid!!

Now before you get creeped out by the sound of that, citric acid is made naturally by citrus fruits. It’s what gives them their tart, sour taste.

I find that this frosting only has that wonderfully bright, citrus flavor when I use an orange emulsion.

Substitutions & Swaps

This chocolate orange frosting recipe use quite a few ingredients and I know you might not have them all on hand. Or if you have food allergies or restrictions, I’ve got you covered.

Below are some swaps and substitutions that you can make.

• Unsalted Butter – If you only have salted butter on hand, you can use it in place of the unsalted butter, just omit the salt that the recipe calls for. You can also use vegan butter in its place!
• Heavy Cream – Whole milk or alternative milk (soy, almond, oat) will work fine in this frosting recipe if that’s what you have on hand.
• Orange Emulsion – If you can’t get a hold of orange emulsion, you can use orange extract or vanilla extract in its place. The orange flavor won’t be quite as strong, but it’ll still taste great.
• Dark Cocoa Powder – You can use regular cocoa powder in place of the dark cocoa powder. Or if you’re out of cocoa powder, you can use additional powdered sugar in its place.
• Dark Chocolate – you can use milk, dark or semi-sweet chocolate to make this chocolate frosting! Just be sure it’s a good quality chocolate, so it will melt down smoothly.

Tips for Making the Best Orange Chocolate Frosting:

• Make sure the butter is at room temperature to give this frosting the right consistency.
• Use an orange emulsion to really pack this frosting with citrus flavor!
• Let your melted dark chocolate cool for about 10 minutes before adding it into your frosting. This will help prevent it from melting the butter in the frosting.
• Stir by hand with a rubber spatula once the frosting is made to get it SUPER smooth.
• Cover this frosting with plastic wrap to prevent it from crusting when you’re not using it.
• Make this orange chocolate buttercream vegan or dairy free! Use your favorite type of dairy free milk to replace the heavy cream, vegan butter sticks in place of the butter, and vegan chocolate chips.

How Much Frosting Does This Recipe Make?

One batch of this recipe makes about 5 cups of frosting.

I find that’s enough to fill and frost a seven- or eight-inch layer cake or about 3 dozen cupcakes.

Making This Chocolate Orange Frosting in Advance and Storage Tips

• Make this chocolate orange buttercream ahead of time or save any leftover frosting! It can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for 1-2 days, in the fridge for up to a week, or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
• Be sure to give it a good stir once it thaws to room temp 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 a 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.

Let Me Know What You Think

If you try this snickers trifle recipe, I’d love to hear what you think! Please leave a comment and rating below.

And don’t forget to tag me @chelsweets and use #chelsweets so that I can see your delicious creations!

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