If you're looking for dairy free cream cheese frosting for carrot cake, red velvet cake, or cinnamon rolls, look no further! My recipe is perfectly sweet with a hint of tang and the perfect pipeable consistency.
Looking for an easy way to upgrade simple baked goods!?! Pair this vegan cream cheese frosting with my incredible strawberry sauce made with frozen berries.
❤️ Why You'll Love My Recipe
- It's stable: Thick enough for piping this vegan cream cheese frosting won't slide right off layered cakes
- Classic flavor: Just as good as traditional cream cheese frosting, it's perfectly sweetened and tangy with a velvety consistency
- Only 4 ingredients: Vegan butter, vegan cream cheese, vanilla, and powdered sugar are all you need
- Versatile: Use it on cakes, cupcakes, cookies, cinnamon rolls, and more
Key To The Best Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe
Have you ever made dairy free cream cheese frosting only to watch it slide off your cake in a sad, soupy mess? I know I have, and it's disappointing.
Well, hold tight! This recipe is about to change everything. I did the work for you, tested it multiple times, and tried it on a bunch of different baked goods.
The secret to avoiding the melty mess? Using vegan stick butter instead of softer spreads and using enough sifted powdered sugar. These two simple things give the frosting the structure it needs to actually frost a cake.
The other trick is to chill the frosting once it's made and keep it chilled. No complicated techniques. This is the easiest vegan cream cheese frosting recipe.
Ingredient Notes
- Vegan butter (stick form): Use stick butter like Earth Balance buttery sticks, not the soft crock plant butter kind sold in plastic tubs. The firmer texture of stick butter helps give the frosting its structure.
- Vegan cream cheese: I like Violife cream cheese, but any brand should work. You can find it right next to the dairy cream cheese in almost any grocery store nowadays.
- Vanilla extract: Just a little rounds out the sweetness. Use pure vanilla extract for the best flavor.
- Powdered sugar: The amount you'll need will vary depending on the texture of your butter and cream cheese. The more you add, the sweeter and thicker your frosting will be.
How To Make Dairy Free Cream Cheese Frosting
You are going to be amazed at how easy it is to make cream cheese frosting vegan! Here is a step-by-step look at all you have to do.
Scroll down to the recipe card to find the amounts for each of the cream cheese frosting ingredients and detailed instructions.
Beat the butter. Put the room temperature vegan butter in a large mixing bowl and beat it with an electric hand mixer or stand mixer on medium speed for about 30 to 60 seconds until smooth and creamy. You want it fluffy but not overwhipped.
Add the vegan cream cheese. First, make sure to pour out any excess water on the top of the vegan cream cheese, and then add it to the butter and beat for another minute. Stop mixing as soon as it's combined. If you whip for too long, your frosting will be runny.
Add the vanilla. Mix in the vanilla extract just until incorporated.
Add the sifted powdered sugar. Sift your powdered sugar first (do not skip this). Then add it to the bowl 1 cup at a time, mixing on medium-low speed after each addition. The frosting will go from soft to thick as you add more sugar.
Test for thickness. At this point, if your dairy free cream cheese frosting seems too soft, add more powdered sugar.
Chill the frosting. Before using, I suggest you chill the frosting for about 20 to 30 minutes in the freezer to firm up.
Frost your favorite baked goods. If I'm using it on cakes or cupcakes I like to use a piping bag and piping tip to make things easier.
👩🍳 How To Keep Cake Layers From Sliding
When using any type of vegan frosting, especially a cream cheese buttercream frosting, on a layer cake, it's important to make sure you apply it properly. No baker wants to see their delicious frosting melt or slide away!
The key to stable stacked cakes is cold frosting and a properly chilled cake. Wrap fully cooled layers in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. Cold cake gives the frosting something firm to grip onto.
Then start with a crumb coat by spreading a thin layer of frosting over the entire cake, then refrigerate for 15 minutes to seal in the crumbs. Next, use about ½ to ¾ cup of frosting between each layer to act like mortar and hold everything together.
Storage & Make Ahead
- Refrigerator: Dairy free cream cheese frosting will keep for 5 days when stored in an airtight container.
- Freezer: For longer storage, you can store it in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Then thaw overnight in the refrigerator, bring to room temperature, and re-whip before using.
- Make-ahead: You can make this frosting up to 3 days in advance. Store it in the fridge, then re-whip it briefly before frosting your baked goods.
- After frosting: Once you've frosted a cake or cupcakes, refrigerate them to keep the frosting fresh. They'll last up to 5 days in the fridge.
🌟 Expert Tips
- Sift the powdered sugar to prevent lumps. This creates a smoother, creamier texture. Use a fine-mesh sieve.
- Both the butter and cream cheese need to be at room temp (about 65-70°F). Cold they won't blend smoothly, and too warm makes for soupy frosting.
- Once the cream cheese is added, mix just until smooth. Overbeating can make the frosting unstable and runny.
- If your frosting is too soft to work with, refrigerate it for 15-30 minutes.
- Test the consistency. The frosting should hold soft peaks and not drip off the beaters. If it slides off, add more powdered sugar.
- If you want your vegan cream cheese icing to taste a little more tart, add about half a teaspoon of lemon juice. It adds to the vegan lactic acid flavor.
How to Use Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting
- Frost my vegan carrot cake cupcakes or vegan zucchini muffins
- Use it on divine vegan red velvet cake or red velvet cupcakes
- Spread on vegan cinnamon rolls or sweet rolls while they're still warm
- Pipe onto vegan sugar cookies or cut-out cookies
- Dollop onto vegan pumpkin bread
- Spread on vegan brownies or my vegan double chocolate muffins
- Serve as a dip alongside fresh fruit or graham crackers
⭐️ One Last Thing! If you make my dairy free cream cheese frosting recipe, please leave a review and rating to let me know how you liked it! Doing so helps other readers and me too! Your feedback makes a difference.
Best Dairy Free Cream Cheese Frosting (Vegan Recipe)
Ingredients
- ½ cup vegan butter sticks, room temperature
- 8 ounces vegan cream cheese, room temperature (drain any excess liquid)
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 4 - 5 cups powdered sugar, sifted
Instructions
- Put the softened vegan butter in a large mixing bowl. Use an electric hand mixer or stand mixer to beat it on medium speed for about 60 seconds until smooth and creamy.
- Add the room-temperature vegan cream cheese to the bowl. Mix again until the mixture is creamy and smooth. Stop as soon as it's combined. Overbeating vegan cream cheese can cause it to break down and become runny.
- Add the vanilla extract and mix a few seconds to incorporate.
- Add the sifted powdered sugar one cup at a time, mixing on low speed after each addition. For a stiffer piping consistency, you will likely need the full 5 cups.
- Pop the bowl in the fridge or freezer for 20 minutes to firm up before frosting your cakes or cupcakes.
- If you want you can store the frosting in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
Notes
- Stick butter is key. Do not use the spreadable butter from a tub as it has too much water and will make the frosting soup-like.
- Sift the powdered sugar to prevent it from clumping. This ensures a smooth frosting.
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. You can also freeze it for up to 3 months. Just thaw in the fridge and give it a quick re-whip before using.
- Once you put this frosting on your baked good or desserts you must keep them in the fridge.
- The nutritional information is an estimate. It can vary based on the type of vegan butter and vegan cream cheese you use.
Leave a Reply