Vegan Buttercream Frosting Recipe

Vegan buttercream frosting.

The Spruce

 

Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 10 mins
Servings: 15 to 18 servings

This vegan frosting maintains the richness of traditional buttercream frosting without the dairy or eggs. Using a dairy-free butter substitute, soymilk, and soy yogurt to thicken, this vegan recipe is smooth and easily spreadable on any dessert. It is perfect for icing on vegan cakes and cupcakes for birthdays, showers, weddings or any special occasion. It can also be used on cookies.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup dairy-free soy margarine, or dairy-free butter substitute

  • 4 cups confectioners' sugar

  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

  • 2 tablespoons unsweetened almond milk, or soymilk

  • 1 tablespoon plain soy yogurt

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. In a large mixing bowl using an electric hand mixer, cream the soy margarine until fluffy, or for about 2 minutes.

    Creamed soy margarine.
     The Spruce
  3. Add the confectioners' sugar gradually, beating at a low speed until combined.

    Mixing dairy-free buttercream.
     The Spruce
  4. Turn up the speed to high, add the remaining ingredients, and beat until the mixture is smooth and creamy.

    Vegan buttercream frosting.
     The Spruce
  5. Chill slightly before using to frost Dairy-Free Cakes, Dairy-Free Cupcakes, or other desserts.

Tips

  • Fill the cake first, then frost. Always fill the cake layers before you begin frosting. 
  • Don't use too much or too little, and always apply two coats. ​Generally speaking, two layers of frosting is perfect for icing a homemade cake. The first layer is called the crumb layer because crumbs are caught in the frosting. Place the cake in the refrigerator after applying the crumb layer for about 20 minutes (this will give you a firmer crumb coat and will make the second layer much easier to apply). Clean off the offset spatula after the crumb layer, and take care to keep the spatula crumb-free for the second layer. For an 8 to 12 inch two-layer round cake, double this recipe and you'll probably have a little left over.
  • Start with the sides, then frost the top. Using your off-set spatula, frost a smooth layer of frosting on the sides of the cake, working around the cake. Then, finish off with a smooth layer on top (this is the case for both the crumb layer and the final layer). Now, it's time to decorate, celebrate, and enjoy!

Recipe Variation

  • Feel free to substitute the vanilla extract for another flavoring of your choice, such as lemon juice, orange juice, almond extract or maple extract.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
188 Calories
10g Fat
25g Carbs
0g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 15 to 18
Amount per serving
Calories 188
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 10g 13%
Saturated Fat 2g 10%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 2mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 25g 9%
Dietary Fiber 0g 0%
Total Sugars 24g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 0mg 1%
Calcium 4mg 0%
Iron 0mg 0%
Potassium 5mg 0%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)