Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting
This Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting recipe is creamy in all the right places and yet firm enough to look gorgeous on your vegan cupcakes. Spread dairy-free cream cheese frosting on plant-based carrot cake or egg-free red velvet cake for a dramatic and delicious topping!
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!
The problem with many vegan cream cheese frosting recipes is that they’re just too soft. I prefer frosting that is nice and fluffy yet has that tangy cream cheese flavor for my cakes and cupcakes. I think you’ll be pleasantly pleased with this recipe!
Why This Recipe is a Winner
- A small amount of vegan cream cheese is added for flavor, but because the texture doesn’t hold up in frostings, we won’t be using the entire container
- Both vegan butter and vegetable shortening are added for flavor and texture to create dairy-free cream cheese frosting that’s creamy and firm
- Using lemon juice adds even more of that tart flavor we’ve come to love in the best cream cheese recipes
Key Ingredients
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. I use Earth Balance buttery sticks or you can make homemade vegan butter. Because I’m using a stand mixer, I don’t even let it sit out. But if you’re using a hand-held mixer, I would suggest letting it sit at room temperature for 15–20 minutes.
- Vegetable Shortening. Adding some vegetable shortening helps the frosting hold its shape more. I used Crisco.
- Vegan Cream Cheese. Daiya Cream Cheese has a good consistency and a nice, tangy flavor. Tofutti Cream Cheese has better flavor, but it becomes runny when mixed and leaves behind globules of cream cheese in the frosting.
- Powdered Sugar. Irecommend sifting the powdered sugar first to break up any clumps.
- Lemon Juice. We’re trying to capitalize on the tangy flavor, and adding a little bit of lemon juice helps.
- Vanilla-Flavored Creamer. You can substitute vanilla-flavored plant-based milk instead of creamer, but I love the creaminess of creamers like Silk, Califia, Nut Pods, and Ripple. Many of these I can even find at my local grocery store. That said, if all you have is plant-based milk, it will work fine too. And if that milk is plain, simply add 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract.
How to Make Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting
To make the cream cheese frosting, follow these steps.
- Cream vegan butter and shortening in 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, to allow the frosting to thicken.
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 kept its shape after piping it on cupcakes!
Marly’s Tips
- 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.
- If you’re using a decorator tip, spoon the freshly-made frosting into a piping bag and place that in the fridge for at least 20 minutes to help it firm up. It will keep in the fridge for several days.
- For the cupcakes in these photos, I used a Wilton 1A Round Tip (paid link).
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.
Vegan Cakes
All of these delicious vegan cake recipes would be delicious with cream cheese frosting on top:
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.
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.