Vegan Ermine Frosting
This vegan ermine frosting creates soft and creamy texture that’s perfect as a filling between cake layers or frosting on cupcakes, etc.
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An old-fashioned frosting is given a modern twist with this vegan ermine frosting, made with only six ingredients. Also referred to as boiled milk frosting, this frosting isn’t as sweet as some, which is why serving vegan red velvet cake with ermine frosting is so popular.
I love this creamy frosting more than I probably should. But there’s something about it spread over a cake (or in between layers) that screams comfort food in the very best way possible! This is an old-fashioned ermine buttercream recipe, but it has a new twist thanks to being veganized.
In this Post
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.
- Flour — I recommend using all-purpose flour.
- Granulated sugar
- Plant-based milk — I recommend using soy milk because it has a protein content similar to cow dairy. You can substitute almond milk.
- Vegan Butter — I recommend a high-quality vegan butter, like Earth Balance buttery sticks, Miyoko’s, or make your own dairy-free butter. You can also substitute an equal amount of vegetable shortening, but ensure it is fresh to avoid any “off” or rancid flavors. See the recipe card Notes below.
- Salt — Use either table or sea salt.
- Vanilla extract
What Makes This Recipe Shine?
- Flour is used as a thickener in this cooked flour frosting, creating the perfect creamy consistency
- Granulated sugar is cooked with milk and flour, leaving out the powdered sugar, which can make frosting recipes so sweet
- Vegan butter is whipped until light and fluffy creating the perfect foundation for this whipped frosting recipe
How to Make Ermine Frosting
- Cook the flour and sugar in a saucepan over medium heat.
- Stir in the vegan milk.
- Cook and stir until the mixture becomes thick.
- Cover it with plastic wrap touching the surface, and refrigerate until completely cool.
- Whip butter on medium-high speed until light and fluffy.
- Spoon in the cooled flour mixture, a spoonful at a time, while mixing to incorporate.
- Add the vanilla and salt.
- Whip on medium-high until the frosting is light and fluffy.
Here are more detailed step-by-step instructions.
Step One: Cook Flour Mixture
- Whisk together the sugar, flour, and salt in a saucepan over medium heat. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes to toast the flour.
- Pour in the vegan milk and use a whisk or spatula to stir it in.
- Continue stirring as the mixture comes slowly to a low boil and thickens. Don’t turn up the heat, or you’ll risk burning it.
- It’s thick enough that a spoon or spatula leaves a trail.
- Transfer it to a heat-proof bowl, cover it with plastic wrap touching the surface (to prevent a skin from forming), and refrigerate until completely cool.
Step Two: Whip the Frosting
- Once the flour mixture is cool, add the butter to a mixing bowl and mix on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, around 2 minutes.
- Turn the mixer speed down to medium and spoon in the cooled flour mixture, a spoonful at a time, mixing to incorporate it until adding more.
- Continue adding the flour mixture, one spoonful at a time, scraping down the sides of the bowl regularly.
- Once all the flour mixture is added and mixed, add the vanilla, turn up the speed to medium-high, and whip for up to a minute, until the frosting is light and fluffy.
Serving Suggestions
You can use this frosting immediately on a cooled cake, such as this Suzy Q Cake. Otherwise, see the tips below for storing it.
Here are some favorite cakes to serve with vegan ermine frosting:
Storage Tips
Store ermine frosting in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. When you’re ready to use it, let it sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes, then use a mixer to whip it again to make sure it’s light and fluffy. You can freeze this frosting in freezer-safe bags or containers for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to use it, thaw it overnight in the fridge, then follow the tip above to whip it again.
Frequently-Asked Questions
Why is my frosting grainy?
You should bring the flour mixture and/or butter to room temperature before combining the ingredients, otherwise, you’ll be left with grainy frosting. However, if your frosting is grainy, you can fix it by whipping it a little longer than usual.
Why is it called ermine?
An ermine is actually a mammal that has a soft, white winter coat. This frosting is named after this wild creature because of the similarity in color and softness. It is an old-fashioned frosting that was more widely used before the availability of other frosting ingredients, such as powdered sugar and cream cheese.
Is ermine frosting good for piping?
Yes, you can pipe boiled flour frosting by adding it to a piping bag using your favorite tips. Use organic gel food coloring to add creative colors to your frosting to decorate cakes for parties and more.
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Vegan Frosting Favorites
This vegan ermine frosting is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to vegan frosting recipes. Here are even more you’ll enjoy:
Vegan Ermine Frosting
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Ingredients
- ⅓ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup plant-based milk
- 1 cup vegan butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Whisk together the sugar, flour, and salt in a saucepan over medium heat. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes to toast the flour.
- Pour in the vegan milk and use a whisk or spatula to stir it in.
- Continue stirring as the mixture comes slowly to a low boil and thickens. Don't turn up the heat, or you'll risk burning it. Once it's thick enough that a spoon leaves a trail, transfer it to a heat-proof bowl, cover it with waxed paper touching the surface (to prevent a skin from forming), and refrigerate until completely cool.
- Once the flour mixture is cool, add the butter to a mixing bowl and mix on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, around 2 minutes.
- Turn the mixer speed down to medium and spoon in the cooled flour mixture, a spoonful at a time, mixing to incorporate it until adding more. You'll need to scrape down the sides of the bowl regularly.
- Once all the flour mixture is added and mixed, add the vanilla, turn up the speed to medium-high, and whip for up to a minute, until the frosting is light and fluffy.
- You can use this frosting immediately on a cooled cake. Otherwise, cover the frosting and store it in the fridge for up to 5 days. When you're ready, let it sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes, then use a mixer to whip it aga¼in to make sure it's light and fluffy. You can freeze this frosting in freezer-safe bags or containers for up to 3 months. When you're ready to use it, thaw it overnight in the fridge, then follow the tip above to whip it again.
Recommended Equipment
(The products above contain sponsored links to products we use and recommend)
Notes
Shortening Ermine Frosting
While I recommend high-quality vegan butter for the best flavor, you can substitute a portion of the butter with vegetable shortening. This is a great trick for creating a whiter, more stable frosting, especially for piping.- Ensure it is fresh: Shortening can go rancid over time, which will impart a harsh, ‘off’ flavor to your frosting. If your shortening doesn’t smell neutral, it’s best not to use it.
- Enhance the flavor: Because fresh shortening is flavorless, the frosting may lack a bit of depth. To compensate, increase the vanilla extract to 1 ½ teaspoons (use clear vanilla extract if you want to maintain a bright white color) or add ¼ teaspoon of almond extract.
Plant-Based Milk
You can use soy milk, almond milk, or even coconut milk for this recipe.Chocolate Ermine Frosting
For chocolate ermine frosting, add ¼ cup cocoa powder after the flour mixture has been incorporated and mix until light and fluffy. Be sure to let the flour mixture cool completely before adding it to the whipped butter.Nutrition
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.
About the Author
Hi! I’m Marly McMillen. I’m the founding editor, author, recipe developer, vegan home chef, and food stylist behind Namely Marly. I’m so grateful to you and every member of my audience for your support and dedication. More about Namely Marly ›
45 Responses to Vegan Ermine Frosting
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I have made this multiple times and it always comes out perfectly! I love how it is not as sweet as other frostings. I use Country Crock Homestyle sticks, organic cane sugar, any milk I happen to have on hand.
This came out great and has a wonderful flavor too. Mines split a little because I over whipped it. To my surprise I heated the bowl a little and it came right back together and held it’s shape beautifully. Thanks for sharing this!
I’m so glad you liked this frosting and that you were able to troubleshoot the split! It’s such a lovely frosting when it comes together right. I’m imagining you serving it on a cake! 🙂