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Easy Chocolate Cake Filling

Are you familiar with the chocolate cake filling inside of a Costco cake? You know the one. It’s light and fluffy, not too sweet, but similar in taste to a chocolate mousse. What’s not to love? That’s the inspiration behind our easy chocolate cake filling! It’s a simple, five ingredient recipe to make that creamy, fluffy chocolate filling at home!

chocolate cake filling between three layers of cake.

This easy chocolate cake filling is one of our favorites because it’s a simple and basic recipe that pairs well with any kind of layer cake! You can even fill cupcakes with this creamy goodness. Try it in our famous chocolate cake.

Chocolate Filling for Cake

This is the quickest and easiest cake filling you could ever make. The filling is thick, creamy, smooth and so easy to spread between cake layers. The secret ingredient that pulls this chocolate cake filling together so quickly is the instant chocolate pudding mix.

It is a great filling for chocolate cake or vanilla cake but it goes with any flavor that complements chocolate. Try it with our banana layer cake or coconut cake. And it is so much more than just a filling for cake. Use it as a dip, sandwich it between cookies, spread it on top of cupcakes, or serve it as a quick chocolate mousse.

Chocolate filling inside a cupcake.

If you have a soft spot for chocolate cake, you’ll love our chocolate cake with chocolate buttercream! It’s the easiest, most versatile chocolate cake recipe and we break down all the different bake times you’ll need for various pan sizes, too. Check it out, because if you’re interested in this easy chocolate cake filling, you’ll need the perfect chocolate cake to go with it!

And you will want to check out our easy recipe for vanilla cake filling too. It is just as easy to make as this recipe.

Ingredients for chocolate cake filling.

How to make the dreamiest chocolate cake filling

A slice of classic, moist and tender chocolate cake will solve many problems. Not all problems, but we believe there’s a lot that a good cake can do. Agree? Whether you’re baking for fun, for a special occasion, or for a short home-ec baking activity, our easy chocolate cake filling is tasty, light and creamy, and simple enough for anyone to make! So if you have little ones at home, don’t hesitate to have them join in!

This recipe only requires 5 ingredients and 5 minutes to whip together! Here’s what you’ll need:

  • cream cheese
  • powdered sugar
  • unsweetened cocoa powder
  • heavy cream
  • instant chocolate pudding mix

To make this, you’ll need a standup mixer or a hand mixer since the cream cheese needs to be beat until smooth and it requires a lot of whipping to get the mousse-like texture.

Chocolate filling for cake in a mixing bowl.

Here’s the quick rundown of how it’s done, but be sure to check out the full recipe at the bottom of the page!

  1. Place the cream cheese in the bowl of a stand mixer (or bowl with a handheld mixer). Beat the cream cheese until smooth- you’re going for no lumps.
  2. Add the powdered sugar and cocoa powder, stirring on low until both ingredients are well combined.
  3. Turn the speed up to high, beat until smooth.
  4. Turn the speed to slow, then add the whipping cream and whip until the mixture is smooth.
  5. Add the powdered instant pudding mix, increase the speed, and whip until the chocolate cake filling is thick and fluffy.

This recipe makes about 3-1/2 cups of cake filling. You can store any leftovers in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

Simple, rich and delicious! We love this easy cake filling recipe! It results in a decadent, chocolate-y, whipped cake filling that’s not as sweet as a standard frosting, and pairs well with buttercream. It’s incredibly fast, which means you can get it ready while you’ve got a cake cooling.

how to use chocolate cake filling

Besides enjoying this cake filling in a layer cake, you can get creative with how to use it! It’s light, chocolate pudding taste makes it a versatile cake filling recipe, and here’s a few of our favorite ways to enjoy this chocolate goodness:

This chocolate cake filling recipe is so easy and straightforward, we know you’ll love it! So bookmark it for the next time you have a layer cake or cupcakes in the works, or anything else that could use this sweet spread!

chocolate cake filling in a bowl.

SOME OTHER RECIPES WE ARE SURE YOU WILL LOVE:

  • These chewy oatmeal raisin cookies are hard to beat! You will love our soft, chewy oatmeal raisin cookie and I guarantee you’ll need more than one batch!
  • This 6-inch cake recipe is perfect for any occasion! A personal-sized cake is never a bad idea, and we’ve got you covered with this tender, yellow cake recipe, on a smaller scale.
  • This Lemon Bundt Cake –perfect for spring- it’s infused with lemon and is light and moist. Serve with a dollop of lemon dessert sauce for something really special!

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chocolate cake filling in a bowl.

Easy Chocolate Cake Filling

Yield: 3-1/4 cups of filling
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes

This cake filling tastes like the chocolate mousse that is inside a Costco cake. It is creamy, smooth, and rich but best of all, it is fast and easy.

Ingredients

  • 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar
  • 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 2 cups heavy cream
  • 1 (3.4-ounce) package instant chocolate pudding

Instructions

  1. Beat cream cheese until smooth. Add powdered sugar and cocoa powder, then beat on low until incorporated. Turn the speed up and beat until smooth. 
  2. Slowly add the cream and whip on slow until it is well incorporated and smooth.
  3. Slowly pour in the powdered instant pudding mix. Increase the speed and whip for 2 to 3 minutes until it is thick.

Notes

Makes 3-1/4 cups of filling.

Nutrition Information:
Yield: 52 Serving Size: 1 tablespoon
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 44Total Fat: 4gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 11mgSodium: 12mgCarbohydrates: 2gFiber: 0gSugar: 1gProtein: 0g

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lorraine

Sunday 7th of August 2022

I must bake the cake in advance. Can I fill my layers with this filling, crumb coat it and then freeze it. Or can I do the frosting as well and what is the correct way to defrost is before use,.

Dahn Boquist

Sunday 7th of August 2022

Yes, you can assemble the cake in advance and freeze it. You can even frost it and decorate the cake prior to freezing, however it all depends on the type of frosting and cake you have as to how long it needs to defrost. The best way to defrost the cake is to place it in the fridge. It can take anywhere from 8 hours to defrost in the fridge to as long as a couple of days for a larger wedding cake. Typically, I will need about 8 hours for a standard, double layer cake to defrost in the fridge. The larger your cake and the more layers it has, the longer it will need to defrost.

Margaret

Sunday 1st of May 2022

Can I use this as a topping /icing ,as well? With chocolate spears to decorate or is it too soft?

Dahn Boquist

Sunday 1st of May 2022

Yes, you can use this to cover the cake. It isn't too soft for that. You may even want to add a couple of tablespoons of milk to make it more spreadable.

Holly

Monday 14th of February 2022

Can I add Peanut Butter to the Filling to make a chocolate/peanut butter filling?

Linda

Monday 18th of April 2022

@Dahn Boquist, just a thought but what if you used powered peanut butter?

Dahn Boquist

Monday 14th of February 2022

I have not tried it but I am sure it would work. I would suggest reducing the cream cheese to 4 or 6 ounces and adding 1/3 cup of peanut butter. If you add too much peanut butter it will probably get too soft. You might be able to add additional peanut butter after you mix everything but I would mix it up well with 1/3 cup then add a little more if it isn't too soft. I would love to hear how it goes if you try it.

Linda

Thursday 28th of October 2021

Can you use this recipe with different flavored instant pudding?

Dahn Boquist

Thursday 28th of October 2021

Yes, but since this has some additional cocoa powder, our vanilla cake filling will make a better 'base' recipe to use with different flavors.

Janet

Saturday 9th of October 2021

I had to add a little extra whipping cream to loosen it up a bit. My family are big fans. It’s light and creamy and delicious. The chocolate flzvor develops as it sits. A keeper

Dahn Boquist

Saturday 9th of October 2021

Thanks for the comment Janet. I'm glad to hear everyone enjoys it

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