Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe (2024)

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5 from 9 votes

20 minutes minutes

by Marly

9

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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!

Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe (1)

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!

Table of Contents show

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.
Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe (2)

How to Make Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting

To make the cream cheese frosting, follow these steps.

  1. Cream vegan butter and shortening in a mixing bowl, using either a hand-held mixer or a stand mixer with the paddle attachment.
  2. Beat on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add the vegan cream cheese and beat for another minute or so, until combined.
    Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe (3)
  3. Add the powdered sugar 1 cup at a time, beating in between addition. Then add the lemon juice and milk.
  4. Beat for another minute or so, until all ingredients are combined and the frosting is light and fluffy.
  5. 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:

Vegan Mascarpone

20 mins total

Vegan Carrot Cake

40 mins total

Orange Turmeric Cake

50 mins total

Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe (8)

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

Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe (9)

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Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe (10)

Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe (11)

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 9 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

How do you thicken vegan frosting? ›

To thicken vegan icing, you can use a combination of maple syrup, coconut cream and cornstarch. Start by adding 1/4 cup of cornstarch to 1/4 cup of maple syrup in a small pot on medium heat. Stir until it becomes a thick paste and then add in 1/2 cup of coconut cream. Continue to stir until it becomes thick and smooth.

How do you keep cream cheese frosting from getting runny? ›

How to thicken cream cheese frosting. If the consistency is too thin or runny you can put the frosting mixture in the fridge for up to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. If it's still too thin, take out some of the runny mixture and beat in some more cream cheese.

How to thicken cream cheese frosting without more powdered sugar? ›

If you are trying to avoid any sweetness to your frosting you could try some cream of tartar or some cornstarch mixed with a little milk. You can also whip heavy cream to stiff peaks and fold into the softened cream cheese. People use gelatin to thicken and set whipped cream frostings.

Why does cream cheese icing not set? ›

Always add any extra liquid at the end. There is a chance that the cream cheese was over beaten before the sugar was added, which can sometimes lead to the cheese partially melting and dissolving the sugar.

Why is my vegan frosting runny? ›

Spreadable margarine tend to have a higher water content which can make the frosting too runny. Also, ensure the butter, sugar and vanilla are mixed thoroughly before adding any soy milk. Add the soy milk 1 teaspoon at a time and mix thoroughly before adding more.

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.

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.

Why won t my cream cheese frosting thicken? ›

You can add 1/4 cup- 1/2 cup cornstarch to thicken frosting without using powdered sugar. Why is my frosting so runny? Your frosting is runny because it has too much liquid in it. Add some powdered sugar to thicken it up.

How do you fix cream cheese frosting that is too thin? ›

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.

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? ›

It is possible to simply use granulated sugar in a slightly smaller amount, though you'll have to accept that the texture may not be ideal, especially for icing or other recipes that are supposed to be super smooth. Just substitute 1 cup of granulated sugar for every 1 ¾ cups powdered sugar and proceed as directed.

What can I substitute for powdered sugar in frosting? ›

7 Substitutes For Powdered Sugar
  • Granulated sugar. 495 caloriesWe'll get into the substitutes for powdered sugar right away. ...
  • Granulated sugar. ...
  • Stevia. ...
  • Honey or maple syrup. ...
  • Coconut sugar. ...
  • Agave nectar. ...
  • Mashed bananas. ...
  • Powdered monk fruit sweetener.
Jun 16, 2023

Can you over mix cream cheese icing? ›

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 a must to refrigerate cream cheese icing? ›

From Paula's Pumpkin Bars to Giada's Spiced Apple-Walnut Cake With Cream Cheese Icing to the classic Red Velvet Cake, it's hard to escape cream cheese frosting's creamy goodness. So does it need refrigeration? Food Network Kitchens: Yes, you should always refrigerate any cake or cupcake that has cream cheese frosting.

Why does my cream cheese frosting melt so fast? ›

But there's a limit to how much you can add - this is the main reason so many cream cheese frostings are runny. Cream cheese is about 55% water - so when you add lots of cream cheese, you're adding a ton of water. Lots of water (combined with sugar) equals runny and loose frosting.

How do you thicken dairy-free frosting? ›

If it's just a little soft, chilling the dairy-free vanilla frosting for 10-20 minutes may work. For slightly more thickening power, add more powdered sugar. For the thickest vegan buttercream, replace half of the plant-based butter with vegetable shortening.

How do you fix runny vegan buttercream? ›

If the frosting is too thin and runny, simply add more powdered sugar, 1/2 cup at a time until the desired consistency is reached. Pipe onto cupcakes, spread on a cake or anywhere else you'd like.

What is a vegan thickening agent? ›

Xanthan Gum

A popular ingredient in both gluten-free and vegan baking, xanthan gum can also be used to thicken vegan sauces, stews, and soups. To thicken a gravy or sauce with xanthan gum, start by making a slurry with a small amount of xanthan gum and water.

How do you thicken runny frosting without powdered sugar? ›

You can add 1/4 cup- 1/2 cup cornstarch to thicken frosting without using powdered sugar. Why is my frosting so runny? Your frosting is runny because it has too much liquid in it.

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