Chocolate Petit Four Icing

Aug 28, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Baking Frostings fillings toppings Origin: Ugandan Vanilla: Extract Easy

Cake coated in glossy chocolate petit four icing

A pourable chocolate petit four icing for a smooth, glossy finish. Best with Ugandan vanilla (bold, chocolatey, smoky); any pure vanilla works. Makes about 1 1/2 cups; covers an 8-inch cake or 24 petit fours.

Prep 10 min

Cook 10 min

Set 30 min

Total 50 min

Servings 12

Diet —

Ingredients

Adjust yield

servings

4.0 cups (480.0 g)confectioners' sugar, 1 pound, sifted
⅓ cup (28.0 g)unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted
⅔ cup (160.0 ml)water
2.0 tbsp (41.0 g)light corn syrup
1.0 tsp (5.0 ml)VanillaGoods pure vanilla extract

Make it at home

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Instructions

Combine the confectioners' sugar, cocoa, water, and corn syrup in a saucepan.
Stir over low heat until smooth and warm, about 100°F; don't let it get hot.
Stir in the vanilla. Add warm water 1 teaspoon at a time if needed for a pourable consistency.
Set chilled petit fours on a rack over a sheet pan and pour the icing over them. Rewarm gently if it thickens.
Let set for 30 minutes.

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: Refrigerate leftover icing for up to 1 week; rewarm to use.

Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make chocolate petit four icing?

Plan on 10 minutes of prep and 10 minutes of cooking, plus 30 minutes to set. It makes about 1 1/2 cups; covers an 8-inch cake or 24 petit fours.

How should I store chocolate petit four icing?

Refrigerate leftover icing for up to 1 week; rewarm to use.

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.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 12 servings this recipe makes.

172 Calories / serving

0.3g Fat

44.1g Carbs

0.5g Protein

40.3g Sugar

Whole recipe (12 servings): ~2064 cal · 4g fat · 529g carbs · 6g protein · 484g sugar

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

Per serving · 172 calories

What it takes to burn one serving

Brisk walking 33 min·1.9 mi·~3850 steps
Walking uphill or incline treadmill 23 min·1.2 mi·~2300 steps
Moderate cycling 17 min·3.4 mi
Swimming laps 24 min
Jogging 17 min·1.4 mi·~2700 steps
Stair climbing 16 min·~1450 steps
Dancing 28 min
Bodyweight circuit training 17 min
Cleaning, errands, or playing with the dog 40 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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