Vegans rejoice! You can have your cake and eat it too, slathered with rich and creamy dairy-free Vegan Buttercream Frosting!
If you follow a vegan diet, chances are, there are certain things you probably miss. That cheese pull from deep-dish pizza. Real cream in your coffee. And a layer cake generously topped with buttercream frosting.
But, as plant-based diets continue to be popular, food producers are responding with a wide range of alternatives to traditionally animal-based products. Plant-based meat substitutes have been around for a number of years now, and the variety and quality continue to improve. Plant-based dairy products are also getting increasingly popular with the production of vegan “dairy” products such as milks, creams, and butters.
Baking is a great beneficiary of this trend, with traditional ingredients like eggs and butter being replaced with good results by foods such as applesauce, flaxseed, and plant-based substitutes.
Nothing elevates a beautiful, simple cake, though, like a delicious layer of buttercream. You’re in luck. This vegan buttercream icing is delicious and creamy-tasting, and can be flavored in a variety of ways to suit the cake that it’s topping. Master this basic recipe and you’ll go back to it time and again, adding different ingredients to make new flavored buttercreams. For starters, try cacao powder, cinnamon, or citrus zest.
Some vegan versions of foods traditionally made with animal-based products can be disappointing…like a photocopy of the “real thing.” Not this one! This buttercream, especially when made with luxurious coconut milk, is every bit as indulgent as one made with butter and milk. It spreads beautifully, has a wonderful mouthfeel, and will easily fool those who don’t know it’s plant-based.
It will truly bring your vegan baking game to the next level!
Vegan butter vs margarine. What’s the difference?
Margarine has been around for decades and was originally created as a butter substitute in times of shortage. While margarine is mostly made with vegetable oil, it was not created to be vegan, so many margarine brands contain trace amounts of animal-based products or are produced in facilities that also process animal-based food.
Vegan butter is, by design, exclusively made from plant-based ingredients. It may contain many of the same ingredients as margarine, but for those following a vegan lifestyle, you can rest assured there are no animal-based products hiding within.
All vegan butters are not created equal—some taste more like traditional butter than others, some use healthier fats than others, and some are enriched with additional nutrients or flavorings. Read your labels carefully and do your research: It’s a bit of work but you only have to do it once. Find the vegan butter that works for you and stick with it.
How do I store leftovers?
This buttercream frosting will store well in an airtight container in the fridge for about 1 week. It might lose a bit of its creamy, fluffy texture after storing, but it’s easy to bring it back by allowing it to warm up to room temperature and re-whipping it briefly.
Serving suggestions
This buttercream is incredibly versatile and we think it tastes great with virtually everything. Try it with this dairy-free Chocolate Olive Oil Cake for a rich, indulgent treat, or with Vegan Vanilla Cupcakes. It could also be used to top Vegan Vanilla Berry Muffins or Vegan Gingerbread Cookies.
Vegan Buttercream Frosting (Dairy-Free)
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup vegan butter, softened 1 stick
- 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 1/2 to 3 cups organic powdered sugar sifted (make sure it’s vegan-friendly)
- 3 to 4 tablespoons full-fat coconut milk or your preferred dairy-free milk optional, but coconut milk gives a lovely richness
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, whip the vegan butter with an electric hand mixer until it's light, about 1 minute. You're looking for a smooth texture.
- Add the vanilla extract to the creamed butter and beat it again to incorporate.
- Slowly mix in the powdered sugar, 1/2 cup at a time, beating well after each addition. Continue until all the sugar is incorporated and the frosting looks fluffy.
- Add coconut milk or dairy-free milk, one tablespoon at a time, until you reach your desired consistency. Remember, you want it to be spreadable but still hold its shape.
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