This vegan buttercream frosting is so creamy and delicious, that no one will ever believe it’s vegan! It spreads easily and is perfect for topping cakes, cupcakes, and cookies.
This vegan buttercream frosting has become my go-to recipe for frosting all my vegan cakes!
I love that it's so quick and easy to make - with just 4 simple ingredients!
It has a delicious vanilla flavor, but it's also easy to flavor or color this frosting any way you want!
This vegan buttercream frosting recipe is...
- vegan
- vegetarian
- gluten-free
- ready in 10 minutes
- perfect for cakes, cupcakes, and cookies
This is the frosting I use for vegan birthday cakes and my popular vegan red velvet cake.
If you love vegan baking, make sure you grab a copy of my free vegan baking cheat sheet while you're here. It's packed with all my favorite plant-based substitutions to help you vegan-ize any recipe!
How to Make Vegan Buttercream Frosting
- With a hand mixer, mix together vegan butter, vanilla, and coconut milk in a large bowl.
- Add powdered sugar slowly and mix well.
- Frost your cake or cookies and enjoy!
Scroll down for the full recipe with measurements and detailed instructions.
Tips, Tricks, & Variations
How to Store Vegan Buttercream Frosting
Store the frosting in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks, or in the freezer up to 1 month
Let the Cake (or cupcakes) Cool
Before applying the frosting, make sure that your baked good are entirely cooled.
If you apply the frosting when your cake or cupcakes are still warm, then the frosting will melt, losing its consistency. Trust me - I have learned the hard way to be patient!
Add Food Coloring
If you want some colorful frosting, just add a bit of food gel color. Just add a little at a time and then mix until the color is combined throughout.
I really like these Wilton gel food colorings, which are also known to be vegan friendly.
Add More Flavorings
If you want to add another flavor to your frosting, replace the vanilla extract with other extract flavors. Lemon or peppermint are both excellent choices!
Try using peppermint extract to make a peppermint frosting for this vegan chocolate cake!
Or experiment with lemon extract and make a lemon frosting for this vegan vanilla cake.
FAQs
What can I substitute for butter in buttercream frosting?
You can use vegan butter to make a dairy free buttercream frosting. Alternatively, you can use a vegetable shortening or coconut oil.
It can be replaced with a 1-to-1 ratio. The flavor will change a bit with these alternative ingredients.
Can I use water instead of milk in buttercream frosting?
Yes! Just add 2 tablespoons of water for each pound of powdered sugar.
Or you can use orange juice for a slight orange flavor and a slight orange color. It makes a really tasty frosting for summer desserts!
How do you stiffen buttercream icing?
As you’re mixing in the powdered sugar, do it slowly so that you can watch the consistency of the frosting. The more powdered sugar you add, the thicker the icing will get. This is easiest when done in a stand mixer.
And don’t forget to grab a copy of my free vegan cheat sheet too! It’s packed with my favorite easy substitutions to help you make just about any recipe vegan!
Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 1 cup vegan butter unsalted, room temperature
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
- 1 tbsp coconut milk
Instructions
- In a large bowl, cream the butter, vanilla, and milk using a stand mixer.
- Add the powdered sugar a cup at a time into the creamy mixture and mix it thoroughly starting at slow speed and gradually increasing speed until the frosting is thick and smooth.
- Mix until you have a really silky and spreadable texture.
- Add more powdered sugar if the frosting is not thick enough.
- If frosting becomes too thick, add in more coconut milk/cream, or any non-dairy milk, a drop at a time until you have the right consistency.
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