Chocolate Frosting

I adopted this recipe from the recipezaar account. The previous owner said "This is the best chocolate frosting I have ever made. It is at its absolute best if not refrigerated after icing the cake. If you try this you will be making it often."

• Ready In: 25 mins
• Serves: 12
• Yields: 4 cups

Ingredients

• 1⁄2 lb bittersweet chocolate (good quality)
• 6 1⁄2 ounces unsalted butter
• 1  teaspoon  espresso powder, dissolved in
• 1  tablespoon hot water
• 2  teaspoons vanilla
• 1 1⁄2 cups  sifted powdered sugar
• 3  tablespoons  unsweetened cocoa powder
• 5  ounces unsalted butter
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 1  cup heavy cream

Directions

1. Chop chocolate into small pieces and place in ss bowl with 6 1/2 oz unsalted butter.
2. Put over pan of simmering water.
3. Whisk together as soon as chocolate and butter soften.
4. Keep whisking until just melted and combined.
5. Remove from heat and stir in espresso and vanilla.
6. Cool to room temperature.
7. Whisk together powdered sugar, cocoa and salt in a bowl.
8. Place 5 oz of unsalted butter and 1/2 of the powdered sugar mixture in a Cuisinart food processor.
9. Process scraping down sides.
10. Add rest of powdered sugar mixture, start processor and slowly pour in cream.
11. Process for about 10 seconds.
12. Whisk butter/cocoa mixture together with room temperature chocolate/espresso mixture in a large bowl until it becomes shiny and smooth.
13. Can be frozen.
14. Bring to room temperature before using.
15. Yield: Plenty for a 9" layer cake.