Vegan Buttercream Frosting (Only 4 Ingredients) - Easy Vegan Recipes (2024)

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posted by Jessica Hylton on Mar 22, 2021 28 comments »

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5 (from 21 ratings)

This Vegan Buttercream Frosting is my go-to frosting for cake recipes! It only has 4 ingredients and is super fluffy, creamy and decadent. This vegan frosting is perfect for any cake or cupcake recipe and for all of your special occasions!

Vegan Buttercream Frosting (Only 4 Ingredients) - Easy Vegan Recipes (1)

Vegan Buttercream Frosting

This frosting is heavenly! It truly melts in your mouth and is so simple. It will soon become your favourite frosting recipe. I have been making this frosting recipe for years and can assure you all your friends and family will love it. If you’re in the mood for some chocolate, check out my vegan chocolate frosting recipe!

This buttercream frosting is so versatile – you can add it to any birthday or special occasion cake (like my vegan vanilla cake). Spread it on cupcakes or a sheet cake! The possibilities are truly endless with this delicious vegan buttercream frosting.

Notes on the Ingredients

Vegan Buttercream Frosting (Only 4 Ingredients) - Easy Vegan Recipes (2)
  • Powdered Sugar: You can decide how much you want, depending on how thick you want the frosting. You’ll need between 3 and 3 1/2 cups.
  • Vegan Butter: Let it soften first. If you are using unsalted butter, add ¼ teaspoon sea salt.
  • Vegan Milk: You should only need about a tablespoon, but you can definitely add more if the frosting is too thick.
  • Vanilla Extract: to make itvanillabuttercream!

How to Make Vegan Buttercream Frosting

This frosting won’t take you more than 10 minutes to put together!

Vegan Buttercream Frosting (Only 4 Ingredients) - Easy Vegan Recipes (3)

Beat the butter and vanilla together for about 2-3 minutes with a handheld or stand mixer, until the mixture is fluffy.

Add in the powdered sugar and vegan milk until it reaches the consistency and thickness you want.

Vegan Buttercream Frosting (Only 4 Ingredients) - Easy Vegan Recipes (4)

Now all that’s left is to let the frosting set, and then decorate your cake or cupcakes with it! Try not to eat it all from the bowl (I know, it’s hard not to). Enjoy the delicious frosting!

Vegan Buttercream Frosting (Only 4 Ingredients) - Easy Vegan Recipes (5)

Expert Tips for Success & FAQ

Let Cakes and Cupcakes Cool Before Frosting: Frosting too quickly might make the cake and cupcakes crumble. If you want a pretty cake, wait to frost until it’s cooled.

Sift Your Powdered Sugar: Make sure to sift your powdered sugar before mixing, so that the frosting is the ultimate creamy consistency.

Soften Your Vegan Butter: Be sure that your vegan butter is soft enough to spread before mixing it. You don’t want it runny though!

If Too Thick, Add Milk: The ideal frosting is not runny, but not too thick either. If yours becomes too thick, add a splash of milk until it reaches the desired consistency.

Whip It: For super fluffy frosting, you’ll want to keep whipping it. I prefer using a stand mixer for my frosting so I can whip it for about 5 minutes.

How to Store Leftover Frosting

You can store this buttercream frosting at room temperature for up to 3 days. If you want to keep it longer for future baking, keep it in the fridge for a couple weeks, or the freezer for up to 3 months.

Can You Freeze Buttercream Frosting?

You can freeze it! If you do, let it thaw in the fridge overnight beforehand so that it’s back to it’s smooth consistency.

  • Vegan Chocolate Frosting
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  • Vegan Vanilla Cake
  • Vegan Chocolate Sheet Cake

Enjoy friends! If you make thisVegan Chocolate Frosting, please snap a photo and tag#jessicainthekitchenonInstagram! We’d also love if you would leave a comment below, and give the recipe a rating! Thanks so much!

Vegan Buttercream Frosting (Only 4 Ingredients) - Easy Vegan Recipes (7)

Vegan Buttercream Frosting (Only 4 Ingredients)

Servings: 24 cupcakes

Prep Time: 10 minutes mins

Cook Time: 0 minutes mins

Total Time: 10 minutes mins

This Vegan Buttercream Frosting is my go-to frosting for cake recipes! It only has 4 ingredients and is super fluffy, creamy and decadent. This frosting is perfect for all of your special occasions!

5 (from 21 ratings)

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Ingredients

  • 3-3½ cups powdered sugar
  • 1 cup vegan butter, softened
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 tablespoon vegan milk, add more if needed
  • ¼ teaspoon sea salt, only if using unsalted butter

Equipment

  • Stand mixer

Instructions

  • Beat the butter and vanilla for about 2-3 minutes with a stand mixer or a handheld mixer, until fluffy.

  • Add 1 cup of powdered sugar. Fold it in with a spatula so it doesn’t fly everywhere, then beat for about 1 minute. Add the rest of the frosting in small increments too, until fully incorporated.

  • Add in a ½ tablespoon of vegan milk at a time until it reaches your preferred volume and consistency. Add that last ½ cup powdered sugar if you desire.

  • Then beat for about 5 minutes, using the spatula to mix everything together every other minute, until the frosting is fluffy, white, smooth and creamy.

Notes

Let Cakes and Cupcakes Cool Before Frosting: Frosting too quickly might make the cake and cupcakes crumble. If you want a pretty cake, wait to frost until it’s cooled.

Sift Your Powdered Sugar: Make sure to sift your powdered sugar before mixing, so that the frosting is the ultimate creamy consistency.

Soften Your Vegan Butter: Be sure that your vegan butter is soft enough to spread before mixing it. You don’t want it runny though!

If Too Thick, Add Milk: The ideal frosting is not runny, but not too thick either. If yours becomes too thick, add a splash of milk until it reaches the desired consistency.

Whip It: For super fluffy frosting, you’ll want to keep whipping it. I prefer using a stand mixer for my frosting so I can whip it for about 5 minutes.

Calories: 124kcal, Carbohydrates: 17g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 6g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Trans Fat: 1g, Sodium: 86mg, Potassium: 3mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 17g, Vitamin A: 360IU, Calcium: 1mg, Iron: 1mg

Disclaimer: Although jessicainthekitchen.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, kindly note that these are only estimates. Nutritional information may be affected based on the product type, the brand that was purchased, and in other unforeseeable ways. Jessicainthekitchen.com will not be held liable for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on nutritional information. If you need to follow a specific caloric regimen, please consult your doctor first.

Cuisine: American, Universal

Course: Dessert, spreads

Author: Jessica Hylton

Recipes

published on Mar 22, 2021

28 comments Leave a comment »

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28 comments on “Vegan Buttercream Frosting (Only 4 Ingredients)”

  1. Patti Reply

    Can I replace the vegan butter with hi-ratio shortening?

    Thanks

    • Jessica Hylton Reply

      Hi Patti,

      I’ve never tried hi-ratio shortening specifically but you should be able to sub 1:1, but the textures will be slightly different due to the fat content in shortening. So it wouldn’t be exactly the same! Hope this helps!

  2. Meliss Batchen Reply

    I made this frosting for my dairy allergic grandson. I used an avocado-based vegetable butter substitute. Not only was the frosting, smooth and creamy, but it was so delicious, my entire family ate it on each of their cupcakes. Thank you for this recipe and my ability to now frost my grandson’s cupcakes without fear.

    • Jessica Hylton Reply

      Thanks for sharing Meliss! So happy to hear this! You’re so welcome!

  3. Tina Reply

    Would violife butter work please

    • Jessica Hylton Reply

      Hi Tina,

      yes!

  4. Karen Reply

    Great recipe, simple and easy. My daughter really enjoyed it! Thank you

Leave a comment »
Vegan Buttercream Frosting (Only 4 Ingredients) - Easy Vegan Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is the best vegan butter substitute for frosting? ›

Two good options for this recipe would be Earth Balance sticks and Country Crock Plant Butter (my personal preference). If you have another butter that's at least 79-80% oil/fat though, it should be fine.

What is vegan buttercream frosting made of? ›

The two main differences between traditional and dairy-free buttercream frosting are: The dairy butter is replaced with vegan butter. The whipping cream or milk is replaced with non-dairy milk.

What is a good substitute for buttercream frosting? ›

In conclusion, there are many alternatives to buttercream frosting that you can use to ice your cake. Ganache, cream cheese frosting, whipped cream frosting, fondant, and meringue frosting are all excellent options that are easy to make and delicious to taste.

Why is my vegan buttercream runny? ›

If you're not adding enough sugar, your buttercream won't be stable enough to hold its shape for long. If you're adding a little plant-based milk to thin the buttercream when frosting a cake, you might be adding too much of it, again, making it too unstable.

What is the best non-dairy milk for frosting? ›

Non-dairy Milk: I like to use oat milk, this is just as needed to thin out the frosting. Vanilla: I add this no matter what flavor I am making. Salt: A pinch of salt makes this recipe so much more amazing. Peanut Butter, Freeze Dried Strawberries, Cocoa Powder: These are the optional add ins for different flavors.

What is the best non-dairy substitute for butter? ›

What are good vegan butter substitutes? In baking, you can use vegan butter, applesauce, dairy-free yogurt, coconut oil, coconut butter, olive oil, nut butter, mashed banana and mashed avocado. In cooking, you can use olive oil, coconut oil, vegetable stock, or avocado oil to replace butter.

Which butter substitute tastes most like butter? ›

Ghee. Ghee is a type of clarified butter with an aromatic and nutty taste. It contains very low amounts of casein or lactose and is thus a safer choice for people with milk allergy or lactose intolerance ( 7 ). In baked goods for which a strong, buttery flavor is desirable, it can replace butter at a 1:1 ratio.

What can I replace vegan butter with in cake? ›

Coconut oil is a favorite among vegan bakers as it is healthy, rich and tastes great. It can be used in just about anything from cakes, to cookies, muffins and more, just make sure not to use too much in your more savory treats, as it can start to add a slight taste if enough is used.

How do you thicken frosting without butter? ›

Heavy Cream

Try thickening it with a bit of heavy whipping cream. You can add up to ¼ cup of heavy cream, depending on how much you need to thicken it. Then whip the frosting until it fluffs up. Heavy cream also works if the recipe instructs you to heat the frosting.

Does country crock plant butter taste like real butter? ›

Country Crock tastes the most similar to traditional butter. And Earth Balance is a great all around taste.

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