Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting
Dive into a dollop of delight with our vegan cream cheese frosting that will redefine your baking adventures! This isn’t just any frosting; it’s a smooth, silky embrace for your favorite vegan desserts, perfect for slathering over plant-based treats.
This is the best dairy-free cream cheese frosting that transforms simple, wholesome ingredients into a versatile and decadent spread. Once this frosting is whipped to perfection, get ready to slather it onto a sweet vegan carrot cake, swirl over freshly baked cupcakes, or spread over freshly baked cinnamon rolls. Perfect for celebrations big and small, it’s your go-to for adding a touch of whimsy and a whole lot of flavor to any treat.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting
Step into the spotlight with a plant-based frosting that’s about to steal the show! This vegan cream cheese frosting is the rich, dreamy sidekick your desserts didn’t know they needed, marrying indulgence with plant-based pride. Here are more reasons to love this!
- Perfectly Sweet: Strikes the ideal sweetness to complement any dessert, making every bite a symphony of flavors.
- Easy-Peasy Lemon Squeezy: With ingredients you probably already have and steps so simple, it’s almost as easy as eating cake.
- Astoundingly Versatile: If you can dream it, you can frost it. From cakes and cupcakes to cookies and beyond, this frosting knows no limits.
- Perfect Vegan Party Recipe: Whether it’s a birthday bash, holiday celebration, or a Tuesday night treat, this frosting knows how to dress for the occasion.
- Dairy-Free Dream: Achieves a luscious, creamy texture that’s everything a frosting should be, no dairy needed.
With this vegan cream cheese frosting, you’re not just elevating your desserts. You’re embracing a joyful, inclusive way to bake that everyone can celebrate.
Key Ingredients
Every superhero team has its stars, and this dairy-free cream cheese frosting squad is no different. Let’s break down the lineup.
- Plant-Based Cream Cheese: The MVP, bringing all the creaminess and tang you love about traditional cream cheese, minus the dairy. It’s like magic in a tub, ready to transform your frosting into a smooth, spreadable delight.
- Plant-Based Butter: The sidekick that ensures your frosting has that rich, buttery depth without any moo. It’s the unsung hero that works behind the scenes, making sure everything blends together seamlessly. You can even make your own homemade vegan butter!
- Powdered Sugar: This is the sweet stuff, the fairy dust that turns our creamy base into frosting fit for a queen (or king). It dissolves beautifully, giving your frosting that perfect, silky texture and just-right sweetness.
- Lemon Juice: Just a squeeze adds a zing that cuts through the sweetness, brightening up the whole affair. Think of it as the zesty friend who livens up the party, making everything taste fresher and more alive.
- Vanilla Extract: The essence of all things cozy and comforting, adding depth and aroma that ties all the flavors together. It’s like a warm hug in liquid form, inviting everyone to come closer and take a bite.
- Salt: A pinch of this culinary secret weapon enhances all the other flavors, making the sweet sweeter and the tang tangier. It’s the dash of unexpected that makes you go, “Mmm, what’s in this?”
Together, these ingredients form the dream team of frostings, ready to take your cakes, cupcakes, and whatever else you spread it on, to that next level of delicious.
How To Make This Cream Cheese Frosting
Get ready to whip up a batch of pure delight with our step-by-step guide to making the ultimate vegan cream cheese frosting. Follow these steps and float away on a cloud of pure bliss.
Using a stand or hand mixer, whip the plant-based cream cheese and butter until they are fluffy and thoroughly mixed.
Gradually add the powdered sugar by sifting in ½ cup increments, then mix at a low speed until it’s fully incorporated. Use a spatula to scrape the sides of the bowl to promote even mixing.
Incorporate the lemon juice, vanilla extract, and salt into the frosting, mixing just enough to combine without overmixing.
Chill Out: To achieve a thicker consistency, refrigerate the frosting for an hour or gradually add additional powdered sugar.
Expert Tips And Tricks
Get ready to become a frosting wizard with these easy-peasy tips and tricks that guarantee perfect results for every swirl and spread:
- Room Temperature Ingredients: For the smoothest frosting, make sure your plant-based cream cheese and butter are at room temperature before you start.
- Sift the Sugar: To avoid lumpy frosting, sift your powdered sugar before mixing it in. Your future self will thank you.
- Adjust Consistency: If your frosting is too thick, add a teaspoon of plant-based milk at a time until it reaches your desired consistency. Too thin? More powdered sugar can thicken it up.
- Chill Before Use: If you’re not using the frosting immediately, or if it’s a particularly warm day, pop it in the fridge to firm up a bit. It’ll spread easier and hold its shape better.
Serving Suggestions
This dairy-free cream cheese frosting is about to become your go-to for, well, almost everything. It’s like the little black dress of the dessert world: perfect for any occasion and endlessly customizable. Here’s how to make the most of it:
- Vegan Red Velvet Cake: It’s classic for a reason. This frosting and red velvet are like peas and carrots – but tastier, obviously.
- Vegan Carrot Cake or Cupcakes: Because what’s a carrot cake without cream cheese frosting? A missed opportunity, that’s what.
- Vegan Pumpkin Bars: Add a seasonal twist by spreading this frosting over spiced pumpkin bars for a fall treat.
- Chocolate Zucchini Bread or Cake: The rich chocolate flavor paired with this light and tangy frosting? Chef’s kiss.
- Cinnamon Roll Pancakes: For a brunch that will blow minds, swirl this frosting over fluffy pancakes or waffles.
Flavor Twists
Shake things up with these fun flavor twists that’ll make your frosting the talk of the dessert table!
- Orange Zest Cream Cheese Frosting: Add the zest of one orange to the frosting for a citrusy twist that’s especially great on chocolate cakes.
- Maple Spice Frosting: Swap out the vanilla extract for maple syrup and add a pinch of cinnamon and nutmeg for a warming, autumnal flavor.
- Berry Infused: Blend in a handful of fresh raspberries or strawberries for a fruity, pink-hued frosting perfect for spring and summer celebrations.
FAQs
Yes, vegan cream cheese frosting should be refrigerated due to its ingredients. Keeping it cool ensures it stays fresh and maintains its delightful texture for longer.
Absolutely, you can freeze vegan cream cheese frosting for up to 3 months. Just make sure it’s well-covered to protect its flavor and consistency.
Making dairy-free cream cheese frosting is simple: mix plant-based cream cheese and butter with powdered sugar, a splash of lemon juice, and vanilla extract until creamy and smooth.
Vegan cream cheese frosting can last in the fridge for up to 5 days when stored in an airtight container, making it perfect for advance preparation.
Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting
Ingredients
- 8 ounces plant-based cream cheese, Tofutti, Daiya, or Oatly recommended
- ¼ cup plant-based butter, softened
- 4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- With a stand or hand-mixer whip the plant-based cream cheese and butter together until fluffy and completely combined.
- Begin to incorporate the powdered sugar into the mixture by sifting in ½ cup at a time. Beat on a low speed until fully mixed together.
- Scrape the sides with a spatula in order to ensure even mixing.
- Add in lemon juice, vanilla extract, and salt to the frosting, being careful not to overmix.
- For a thicker frosting, either chill in the fridge for an hour or add more powdered sugar.
Notes
Nutrition
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YUM! This vegan cream cheese frosting is rich, creamy, and delicious. I could eat it with a spoon (and I did!)
this cream cheese frosting is the best! so easy to make too!
The absolute most delicious cream cheese frosting I’ve ever tried. And so easy! Love
So easy and delicious. Great for many desserts including carrot cake, an all time fav in our house.