This is your guide to achieving perfect vegan buttercream and vegan cream cheese frosting every single time. Here you will find a simple, foolproof method to help you create deliciously smooth vegan buttercream & cream cheese which just happens to be dairy free, gluten free and ready in under 10 minutes. Buttercream can make or break your cake, so listen up guys!
How Can I Use Vegan Buttercream?
This vegan buttercream frosting recipe is incredibly versatile. The plant based buttercream can be used to ice cakes or pipe over cupcakes. You can also easily change the flavour of the buttercream; so make your frosting vanilla, chocolate or orange with my easy to follow recipes.
How does vegan buttercream differ to traditional buttercream?
Since becoming vegan in 2020 and achieving my vegan diploma at Demuths Cookery School, I’ve become a bit of an expert in the kitchen when it comes to all things sweet and plant based. This is the one post I have been very excited to share! Simply because I struggled immensely to make the perfect buttercream, and I’ve finally got the recipe down!
Vegan buttercream is notoriously difficult to perfect. Often it can be grainy, too soft, too sweet, too stiff or just too much of all these problems combined. Well I’ve suffered for you guys; believe me when I say I’ve had my fair share of trial and error. I will never forget the time I made a delicious carrot cake, super moist with the perfect crumb and best flavour, only for the cream cheese frosting to slide right off the cake 5 minutes after icing. Of course I still ate it, but I wanted a pretty cake too you know?! Yep first world problems.
How to make Vegan Buttercream Frosting
This is the perfect recipe to make deliciously smooth dairy free buttercream, using only 4 ingredients and taking only 10 minutes. I promised you this recipe was simple!
The ingredients
To make classic vegan buttercream frosting you will need:
- Vegan margarine
- Vegan baking fat / baking block
- Icing sugar
- Vanilla essence or vanilla bean paste
The method
To prepare your buttercream you want to mix the ingredients until well combined at each stage. This will help you to create a smooth buttercream with no grains of icing sugar. To begin, add the cold margarine and baking fat to a stand mixer. Mix on high for 2 minutes until smooth and lighter in colour; you’re aiming for a pale yellow although this will vary depending on the brand of buttercream used.
Next sieve your icing sugar. I can’t stress how crucial this is in order to create luxuriously creamy and extra smooth buttercream. Add the sieved icing sugar in thirds, mixing well between each addition. Finally, mix in the vanilla bean paste. If your vegan buttercream is too soft add a tablespoon of cornstarch at at time to thicken the buttercream. If too think simply add a tablespoon of non dairy milk until you reach your desired consistency.
Buttercream FAQs
What can I use instead of butter in buttercream?
Margarine makes a great replacement for butter, however the buttercream can be a bit softer than your traditional recipe. To make the perfect consistency use half margarine and half baking fat.
How do I know when my buttercream is ready?
The consistency should be thick and creamy, similar to really thick whipped cream. I like to test mine by holding the spoon over the bowl, the buttercream should start to fall from the spoon but not actually drop! That ‘non-drop drop’ is when you know you have the perfect buttercream!
Common Icing Problems & Solutions
Q) My buttercream is runny
A) Mix in a tablespoon of cornstarch at a time until you reach your desired consistency.
Q) My buttercream is STILL too runny
A) Buttercream can still be too soft despite adding copious spoonfuls of cornstarch. This probably applies to those that live in warmer climates. In this case, place the buttercream in the fridge for 30 minutes to firm up then use to ice your cake.
Q) My buttercream is too stiff
Add a tablespoon of dairy free milk, one tablespoon at time until your buttercream softens. Almond and oat milk work best as they have a mild taste and creamy texture.
Vegan Buttercream Recipes
The below recipes are to ice a 3 tier cake or 24 cupcakes. Simply half the recipes for a smaller cake i.e 2 tier or for fewer cupcakes!
Recipe for Vegan Vanilla Buttercream
- 300 g dairy margarine
- 300 g dairy free baking fat
- 700 g icing sugar, sieved
- 2 tsp vanilla bean paste
Method
Prepare the buttercream. Add the cold margarine and baking fat to a stand mixer. Mix on high for 2 minutes until smooth and lighter in colour. Add the sieved icing sugar in thirds, mixing well between each addition. Whisk in the vanilla paste.
Recipe for Vegan Coffee Buttercream
- 150 g margarine
- 150 g baking fat
- 350 g icing sugar sieved
- 60g cornstarch
- 1 tsp vanilla bean paste
- 3 tsp coffee dissolved in 2 tbsp hot water
Method
To prepare the buttercream icing, add the cold margarine and baking fat to a bowl. Use an electric whisk to beat the mixture until smooth. Add the sieved icing sugar in thirds, mixing well in between each addition. Finally whisk in the cornstarch, vanilla paste and coffee.
Recipe for Vegan Chocolate Buttercream
- 150g margarine
- 150g baking fat
- 500g icing sugar
- 100g dark chocolate, melted
- 6 tbsp cocoa powder
- 2 tbsp oat milk
Method
Prepare the buttercream. Add the cold margarine and baking fat to a stand mixer. Mix on high for 2 minutes until smooth and lighter in colour. Add the sieved icing sugar in thirds, mixing well between each addition. Whisk in the vanilla paste. Stir in the melted chocolate, cocoa powder and oat milk.
Recipe for Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting
- 200 g vegan cream cheese
- 120 g vegan butter
- 525 g icing sugar
- 5 tablespoons cornflour
Method
Use a stand mixer or electric whisk, cream the vegan butter and vegan cream cheese. Add the sifted icing sugar in thirds, mixing for a minute in between each addition. Once well mixed and smooth, add the cornflour and mix for a further minute. Place in the fridge until you’re ready to ice the cake.
Suggested Buttercream Recipes
Vegan Chocolate Sandwich Cookies with coffee buttercream
Vegan Strawberry Cupcakes with Buttercream Icing
Vegan Cream Liqueur and Cherry Brownies
Leave a comment and let me know how you get on making your vegan buttercream. I would love to see your creations over on instagram!
