Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting
Do you dream of a luscious, tangy vegan cream cheese frosting that actually holds its shape? This 4-ingredient recipe delivers a fluffy, decadent frosting, perfect for all your favorite vegan cakes, cupcakes, and more. It’s so simple to make, you’ll be frosting everything, like plant-based carrot cake or egg-free red velvet cake!
As you can tell, I have a passion for vegan sweets. And if you’re making sweets, well, there’s nothing like adding a smear of vegan cream cheese icing on top!
Why I Love It: I’ve struggled with flimsy vegan cream cheese frostings far too often. But this recipe is a game-changer! The texture is spot-on, mirroring that classic cream cheese frosting we all know and love. It pipes beautifully and stays firm – the perfect frosting for all your vegan baking adventures.
Ingredients & Substitutions
You can find the full printable recipe, including ingredient quantities, below. But first, here are some explanations of ingredients and steps to help you make this recipe perfect every time.
I finally cracked the vegan cream cheese nut to get the perfect texture and flavor. So, let’s get to it! Here are the ingredients in this recipe for cream cheese frosting:
- Vegan Butter: Look for sticks of vegan butter (like Earth Balance) in the refrigerated dairy section, not the spreadable kind. You can always make homemade vegan butter if you can’t find it in the stores. Don’t want to use vegan butter? Replace it with refined coconut oil. Coconut oil cream cheese frosting tastes great, but it may not hold its shape quite well, especially in the heat. Be sure to keep it refrigerated.
- Vegetable Shortening: Shortening helps make the frosting firm and stable. You’ll find it near the oils in the baking aisle.
- Vegan Cream Cheese: Choose plain vegan cream cheese (like Tofutti or Kite Hill) for the best results. Find this in the refrigerated section in the health food section of most grocery stores or health food stores.
- Powdered Sugar: Also known as confectioner’s sugar or icing sugar. Store-bought is the way to go here!
- Lemon Juice: Provides a hint of tartness to balance out the sweetness. Freshly squeezed is best, but bottled will work too.
- Vanilla-flavored plant-based milk: Any plant-based milk will work (almond, soy,etc.). Use vanilla flavored for an extra flavor boost or substitute with plain milk and a touch of vanilla extract.
Reader Reviews
★★★★★
Maggie
This is my favorite vegan cream cheese frosting because the flavor is so good and the texture is perfect!
What Makes This Recipe Shine?
- Party Favorite: This frosting is so good, no one will know it’s vegan!
- Foolproof: With just a few ingredients and simple steps, this is the easiest vegan cream cheese frosting to whip up.
- Flavorful: The perfect balance of sweet and tangy makes this the ultimate frosting choice.
Making Thick Frosting
Many complaints about non-dairy cream cheese frosting center on the fact that vegan cream cheese has a funny texture when added to frostings. Even though it may seem thick in the container, vegan cream cheese can actually become runny when added to the frosting. To solve this dilemma, I’ve reduced the amount of vegan cream cheese used in this recipe. We’ll use just enough to add a distinct flavor.
In addition, we’ll be using some vegetable shortening to increase the thickness of this frosting. This frosting works — it creates a thick dairy-free cream cheese frosting that even keeps its shape after piping it on cupcakes!
Marly’s Tips
- Chill Your Piping Bag: Using a decorator tip? Spoon the frosting into a piping bag and place it in the fridge for 20 minutes. It will keep in the fridge for several days.
- Decorative Cupcakes: For the cupcakes in these photos, I used a Wilton 1A Round Tip (paid link).
- Softened Ingredients: Your vegan butter and cream cheese should be slightly softened for easy mixing.
- Don’t Skip the Chill: Refrigerating the frosting helps it firm up for easy spreading and piping.
- Make it Your Own: Add a pinch of cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, cocoa powder,or fruit puree to customize the flavor!
Vegan Cakes
All of these delicious vegan cake recipes would be delicious with this plant-based cream cheese frosting on top:
Storage Tips
This frosting, either by itself or spread on cakes or cupcakes, is typically safe at room temperature for up to 8 hours. However, overly hot or humid conditions can impact the frosting. After that, it should be refrigerated. To store the frosting by itself, transfer it to an airtight container. It will keep in the fridge for up to 4 days or it can be frozen for up to 1 month.
That’s it for this vegan cream cheese frosting. Enjoy!
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Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting
Ingredients
- ¼ cup vegan butter
- ¼ cup vegetable shortening
- 4 tablespoons vegan cream cheese
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- ¾ teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon vanilla-flavored plant-based milk
Instructions
- Add vegan butter and shortening to a mixing bowl. Using either a hand-held mixer or a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, beat on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add the vegan cream cheese and beat for another minute or so, until combined.
- Add the powdered sugar 1 cup at a time, beating in between addition. Then add the lemon juice and milk. Beat for another minute or so, until all ingredients are combined and the frosting is light and fluffy.
- Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes or so, to allow the frosting to thicken.
Recommended Equipment
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The nutrition information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator and should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
This is my favorite vegan cream cheese frosting because the flavor is so good and the texture is perfect!
I’m so glad you like this recipe, Maggie!
Was the Earth Balance butter sticks you used salted or unsalted? Thank you in advance!
I think this would be better with a different vegan cream cheese. Mine was Simple Truth (from Aldis). Otherwise it’s looking and tasting good.
Great recipe !!!
Thanks, Jeanne! So glad you liked it!
This vegan cream cheese frosting is easy to make and has the right cream cheese flavor while still creating a frosting that holds it shape well. — Marly, recipe author.
Hi, does this frosting need to be refrigerated? Or can it stay out in room temp? For how long can it last?
I recommend storing it in the fridge, however, you can leave it out at room temperature for up to 8 hours.