Boiled Chocolate Icing

Sep 12, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Baking Frostings fillings toppings Origin: Ugandan Vanilla: Extract Medium

Cake coated in glossy boiled chocolate icing

A pourable boiled chocolate icing for a smooth, glossy finish. Best with Ugandan vanilla (bold, chocolatey, smoky); any pure vanilla works. Makes about 1 cup; covers a 9-by-13-inch sheet cake.

Prep 5 min

Cook 5 min

Total 10 min

Servings 12

Diet —

Ingredients

Adjust yield

servings

1.0 cup (200.0 g)granulated sugar
¼ cup (21.0 g)unsweetened cocoa powder
⅓ cup (80.0 ml)whole milk
¼ cup (57.0 g)unsalted butter
⅛ tspfine sea salt
1.0 tsp (5.0 ml)VanillaGoods pure vanilla extract

Make it at home

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Instructions

Stir the sugar, cocoa, milk, butter, and salt in a saucepan over medium heat until the butter melts.
Bring to a full rolling boil and boil for 1 minute, stirring.
Remove from the heat, add the vanilla, and beat with a wooden spoon until it thickens slightly and starts to lose its gloss, 3 to 5 minutes.
Pour over the cake at once and spread quickly; it sets fast.

Tips

Vanilla swap: use vanilla bean paste 1:1 in place of the extract for visible specks, or the seeds of 1 vanilla bean for each tablespoon of extract.
Best vanilla for this: Ugandan (bold, chocolatey, smoky), or Mexican (spiced, warm, woodsy). Any pure vanilla works.
Storage: Keep iced cake covered at room temperature for up to 3 days.

Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make boiled chocolate icing?

Plan on 5 minutes of prep and 5 minutes of cooking. It makes about 1 cup; covers a 9-by-13-inch sheet cake.

How should I store boiled chocolate icing?

Keep iced cake covered at room temperature for up to 3 days.

Can I use a different form of vanilla?

use vanilla bean paste 1:1 in place of the extract for visible specks, or the seeds of 1 vanilla bean for each tablespoon of extract.

A pourable boiled chocolate icing for a smooth, glossy finish. Best with Ugandan vanilla (bold, chocolatey, smoky); any pure vanilla works. Makes about 1 cup; covers a 9-by-13-inch sheet cake.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 12 servings this recipe makes.

108 Calories / serving

4.3g Fat

18.1g Carbs

0.6g Protein

17.1g Sugar

Whole recipe (12 servings): ~1296 cal · 52g fat · 217g carbs · 7g protein · 205g sugar

Estimated values per serving, calculated from standard ingredient data. Not verified Nutrition Facts; actual values vary with brands, measurements, and preparation.

Per serving · 108 calories

What it takes to burn one serving

Brisk walking 20 min·1.2 mi·~2350 steps
Walking uphill or incline treadmill 15 min·0.8 mi·~1500 steps
Moderate cycling 11 min·2.2 mi
Swimming laps 15 min
Jogging 11 min·0.9 mi·~1750 steps
Stair climbing 10 min·~900 steps
Dancing 18 min
Bodyweight circuit training 11 min
Cleaning, errands, or playing with the dog 25 min

Rough estimates for one serving, based on standard MET values at about 155 lb. Your own burn depends on body size, effort, and fitness. Shown for context only — food is not something you have to earn.

Made with VanillaGoods

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