Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe (2024)

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5 from 10 votes

20 minutes minutes

by Marly

9

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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!

Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe (1)

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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.

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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

★★★★★
This is my favorite vegan cream cheese frosting because the flavor is so good and the texture is perfect!

Maggie
Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe (2)

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:

Vegan Mascarpone

20 mins total

Vegan Carrot Cake

40 mins total

Orange Turmeric Cake

50 mins total

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 Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe (7)

That’s it for this vegan cream cheese frosting. Enjoy!

Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe (8)

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Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe (9)

Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe (10)

Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting

Indulge in the best vegan cream cheese frosting – creamy, fluffy, and full of classic cream cheese flavor. It's the ideal frosting for your vegan cakes, cupcakes, and more!

5 from 10 votes

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Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes

Resting Time: 5 minutes minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes minutes

Servings: 2 cups

Calories: 131kcal

Author: Marly McMillen

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

Electric Mixer

(The products above contain sponsored links to products we use and recommend)

Calories: 131kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 34mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 20g | Vitamin A: 123IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 3mg | Iron: 1mg

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.

Did you make this recipe?

Leave a rating below then tag @namelymarly on Instagram and hashtag it #namelymarly. I love seeing your creations!

Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What can I add to cream cheese frosting to make it thicker? ›

Mix 1 tablespoon (25 grams) of cornstarch into the frosting. If it is still too runny, add a little more. Continue to add cornstarch until you are happy with the texture. Avoid adding more than 1/2 cup (62.5 grams) of cornstarch per 8 oz (226 grams) of cream cheese.

Why won t my cream cheese frosting thicken? ›

How To Thicken Cream Cheese Frosting. Sift 1/4 cup powdered sugar OR 1/4 cup cornstarch and ass to the cream cheese frosting. Whip it up at high speed until the desired consistency is formed. Place the frosting in the fridge for 20 minutes before frosting your dessert to allow it to harden properly.

What can I substitute for cream cheese in frosting? ›

Cream Cheese Substitutes:
  • Sour Cream. Sour cream replicates cream cheese's taste but isn't quite as caloric, making it a good choice for a lower-calorie substitute. ...
  • Greek Yogurt. ...
  • Neufchâtel. ...
  • Mascarpone. ...
  • Silken Tofu. ...
  • Cottage Cheese. ...
  • Hummus. ...
  • Quark.
Oct 18, 2023

How to thicken cream cheese frosting without powdered sugar? ›

Increase Cream Cheese:Incorporate more cream cheese into the frosting. The additional cream cheese will contribute to thickness and provide a creamier texture. Adjust the quantity based on your preference, balancing thickness and flavor. Add Butter:Introduce softened butter to the frosting.

How can I stiffen my cream cheese frosting? ›

There are a few ways you can increase the stability of this frosting or make it a bit thicker. – Add in more icing/powdered sugar (if you don't mind a little extra sweetness). Add in a tablespoon at a time and taste test as you go. – Secondly, you can add in some cornstarch to thicken up the frosting.

What is a good thickener for frosting? ›

Use tapioca, cornstarch, or arrowroot starch.

Dry starches like these absorb liquid and are a great way to thicken frosting without altering the taste of the frosting.

Why is my homemade cream cheese icing runny? ›

If you do over mix, the water in the cream cheese starts to separate out, and it makes the frosting really loose. Stop mixing when it looks like this, and then it's ready to use on your cakes and cupcakes.

Is it possible to over whip cream cheese frosting? ›

While you can over-whip the frosting after you add the heavy cream, you cannot over-mix the 1st 3 ingredients in the recipe. Beat the cream cheese, confectioners' sugar, and vanilla extract together for as long as you need to rid all of the cream cheese lumps. Stop and scrape down the mixing bowl as needed.

Is there a vegan substitute for cream cheese? ›

19 Nature's Fynd. This vegan cream cheese from Nature's Fynd is made with the brand's signature Fy Protein, which is derived from fungi. It's smooth, creamy, easily spreadable, and far more sustainable than the alternative. Plus, it's also nut- and soy-free.

Is Neufchatel the same as cream cheese? ›

Neufchâtel cheese has a slightly lower fat content than cream cheese and a slightly higher moisture content. For use as a spread, this difference will be unnoticeable, and you can make substitutions in a 1:1 ratio. But if you're planning to bake with your Neufchâtel cheese, it could be problematic.

What is the difference between cream cheese frosting and cream cheese buttercream? ›

Buttercream and cream cheese frosting have some ingredients in common -- powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and butter -- but buttercream is also made with heavy cream or milk while cream cheese frosting contains, obviously, cream cheese.

How do you make frosting stiff without powdered sugar? ›

Add corn starch

If you want to thicken your royal icing without adding additional sugar, you can add a minimal amount of corn starch (less than a teaspoon) to help your icing thicken up.

What happens if you use granulated sugar instead of powdered sugar for frosting? ›

"Regular sugar has a larger crystal size than powdered sugar," he explains. "This means, cup for cup, there would be more sugar in a cup of powdered sugar than in a cup of regular sugar." In addition to inconsistent measurements, regular sugar won't dissolve and mix as well into recipes like frosting and icing.

Does powdered sugar make icing thicker or thinner? ›

Adding more powdered sugar can be an effective way and the easiest way of absorbing too much liquid to achieve thicker frosting.

Can I thicken cream cheese frosting with flour? ›

If you need to thicken the cheese add more cheese or more powdered sugar. Even some coca powder would be okay. Adding starch or flour doesn't help unless they are cooked.

How do you fix runny whipped cream frosting? ›

Add powdered sugar: Mix in a tablespoon of powdered sugar to help stabilize the whipped cream. Add gelatin: Sprinkle a teaspoon of unflavored gelatin over 1 tablespoon of cold water and let it sit for a few minutes. Heat the mixture in the microwave for 10-15 seconds, or until the gelatin is completely dissolved.

Can you thicken frosting with butter? ›

Mix 1 US tbsp (15 ml) of butter into the frosting to thicken it without altering the taste. Soften the butter before adding it to the frosting, making sure that it's not entirely melted — or the buttercream can become even more runny.

References

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