• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Make It Dairy Free logo

  • Home
  • About Us
    • About Make It Dairy Free
    • Privacy Policy
  • Recipes
    • Breakfast
    • Main Courses
    • Side Dishes
    • Snacks
    • Dessert
    • Drinks
  • Resources
You are here: Home / Dessert / Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting

Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting

November 15, 2021 by LarishaBernard 4 Comments

Sharing is caring!

32 shares
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Email
Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

This easy vegan cream cheese frosting is absolutely delicious! Just 5 ingredients and minutes to make, you’ll be shock at how awesome it is.

Cream cheese frosting is a hit on all holiday desserts and more! And this vegan cream cheese frosting is no exception. It’s utterly delicious.

Whether you are making cakes, cinnamon rolls, or some other amazing concoction, this vegan cream cheese frosting is going to blow your mind.

It only needs 5 ingredients and is ready in minutes. You can prep it ahead too so that whatever you are making is even easier for you.

Never miss another post! Sign up for our weekly newsletter and get them all delivered easily! Plus, 15 easy recipes delivered immediately!
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP!

VEGAN CREAM CHEESE FROSTING INGREDIENTS:

Below are notes about the ingredients before we get into the full recipe located lower in this post on how to make this easy vegan cream cheese frosting recipe:

  • vegan cream cheese – obviously we need cream cheese for cream cheese frosting, but not all vegan cream cheese’s are tasty when it comes to making frosting. You definitely don’t want a sour or savory tasting vegan cream cheese, when you are trying to make something like cake. Check out our vegan cream cheese taste test and review for recommendation.
  • dairy free butter – we are also using vegan butter for this recipe to give the perfect balance for our frosting. We actually did a vegan butter review where we compared it based on how well they would hold up to frosting so definitely check that out!
  • vanilla – enhances the flavor of sweet and makes them pop. If you want your vegan cream cheese frosting to stay super white, you could use clear vanilla extract if desired
  • salt – also helps to enhance the flavor and make sure that you can really taste each bit of sweetness
  • powdered sugar – this is needed in order to thicken our mixture and also provide the sweetness that we need for the recipe

SUBSTITUTIONS AND VARIATIONS:

We also try to provide substitutions and variations for our recipes because we know that depending on where people live, it may be hard for them to access certain ingredients or maybe something else is preferred and wouldn’t make much of a difference.

However, when we are talking about a recipe like vegan cream cheese frosting, we don’t recommend making any substitutions to the recipe that we have provided.

One exception, which we have not tried, is for those who are looking for a less processed sugar recipe. There are recipes online for powdered sugar made with arrowroot powder and coconut or date granulated sugar, as well as like monkfruit powdered sugar. Again, we have not tried these to test their variation or measurement adjustments, but just letting people know that it may be possible to swap.

How do I make the best vegan cream cheese frosting?

Here’s 3 of our best tips to make vegan cream cheese frosting :

  • Do not try to skimp on the powdered sugar. Listen, we know it’s a lot of sugar. But so is that cake with frosting that you buy from the store or order at that restaurant you like. You just don’t usually see or pay attention to the nutritional facts. But the amount of powdered sugar listed in the recipe is so that it holds up and creates the perfect texture that you expect in frosting.
  • Make sure that you love the vegan cream cheese and butter you are using. Listen part 2. There’s nothing worse then spending 4, 5, 6 dollars per package of cream cheese and even more on vegan butter only for it to taste disgusting to you and now everything is ruined because you wouldn’t dare serve it to anyone. You can check out our vegan cream cheese taste test and vegan butter review for recommendations on our favorite if you don’t have any. *Bonus tip: if your favorite vegan cream cheese is more savory, then find a different one for frosting and sweet recipes
  • Make sure that your vegan butter is softened. This is not cold out of the fridge and this is not melted or even semi-melted in the microwave. Softened is room temperature. This vegan butter is still cold, but when pressed gently, will leave a finger imprint.  Melted or almost melted vegan butter, will not provide the same results.

Frequently Asked Questions:

CAN I MAKE THIS TOP 8 ALLERGEN FREE VEGAN CREAM CHEESE FROSTING?

We need to look at the cream cheese and the vegan butter. For the vegan butter, use a soy free option like Earth Balance in the red tub/sticks or Flora, for example. For vegan cream cheese, all of the ones that we have tried have either coconut, soy or nuts inside. So it depends on your needs. See our vegan cream cheese taste test to look at the allergens on each.

CAN I MAKE DAIRY FREE CREAM CHEESE FROSTING AHEAD OF TIME?

Whether you are prepping for a holiday get together, party, or birthday, being able to plan ahead and get things done is always beneficial. Thankfully, you can absolutely make this dairy free cream cheese frosting ahead of time. Simply, make as instructed and then place this dairy free frosting in the fridge in an air tight container.  This frosting recipe will last in the fridge for up to a week if stored properly.

What recipes can I make with vegan cream cheese frosting?

Here’s some recipes that we have that you can use our vegan cream cheese frosting. Some of them are spiced or flavored for a different variety and shakes things up a bit too!

Vegan Apple Pie Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Spice Frosting
Vegan Apple Pie Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese spiced frosting are the combo of your fall dreams. Soft, fluffy perfection.
Check out this recipe
The Best Vegan Red Velvet Cake
This easy vegan red velvet cake is so rich, soft and has the perfect chocolate flavor! Pair with an incredible vegan cream cheese frosting!
Check out this recipe
Vegan Coconut Carrot Cake
This easy vegan coconut carrot cake is an amazing twist on traditional carrot cake! A great vegan spring dessert recipe!
Check out this recipe
Vegan Gingerbread Cake
This easy vegan gingerbread cake is a hit for the holidays. Make a basic sheet pan cake or get fancy and turn it into a bundt cake for a festive holiday display.
Check out this recipe
Vegan Gingerbread Cinnamon Rolls
Vegan Gingerbread Cinnamon Rolls with Cinnamon Butter Cream Cheese frosting are the combo of your holiday dreams. Soft, fluffy perfection.
Check out this recipe
Layered Vegan Pumpkin Cake
Vegan layered vegan pumpkin cake is perfectly paired with a delicious vegan vanilla cinnamon cream cheese frosting! Perfect fall dessert!
Check out this recipe
Vegan Orange Rolls
If you love creamsicle flavors, then these easy vegan orange rolls are going to be your new favorite sweet rolls! Soft, fluffy, and topped with vegan orange cream cheese frosting.
Check out this recipe
No Yeast Vegan Cinnamon Rolls
Delicious and easy to make no yeast vegan cinnamon rolls take just 45 minutes to make and require no rise time. Perfect for wanting homemade vegan cinnamon rolls quickly.
Check out this recipe
Vegan Pumpkin Roll
We take this classic fall dessert and make it a vegan pumpkin roll.  Filled with delicious vegan cream cheese frosting and topped with powdered sugar! Plus, a bonus vegan chocolate pumpkin roll option.
Check out this recipe
Dairy Free Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls
THESE DAIRY FREE PUMPKIN CINNAMON ROLLS WITH PUMPKIN SPICED DAIRY FREE CREAM CHEESE FROSTING ARE LITERALLY WHAT YOUR SWEET TOOTH DREAMS ARE MADE OF EVERYDAY. TRY OUT THESE VEGAN CINNAMON ROLLS TODAY! I BET YOU CAN’T TELL THE DIFFERENCE AND THINK IT’S THE BEST CINNAMON ROLL RECIPE EVER!
Check out this recipe

What other vegan frosting recipes could I make?

  • Using Dairy Free Whipped Topping (Homemade “Cool Whip”)
  • Vegan Vanilla Frosting
  • Vegan Strawberry Frosting
  • Vegan Buttercream Frosting
  • Vegan Chocolate Frosting

Pin this easy vegan cream cheese frosting for later!

Let’s see your creations!
Share to Instagram and tag us @makeitdairyfree so we can see and share it!

Print Recipe
3 from 3 votes

Easy Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting

This easy vegan cream cheese frosting is absolutely delicious! Just 5 ingredients and minutes to make, you'll be shock at how awesome it is.
Prep Time10 mins
Total Time10 mins
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: vegan dessert
Servings: 5 1/2 cup servings
Calories: 660kcal
Author: LarishaBernard

Ingredients

  • 8 oz vegan cream cheese
  • 1/2 cups dairy free butter, softened
  • 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 4 cups powdered sugar

Instructions

  • In a large bowl cream together vegan cream cheese and vegan butter. 
  • Add salt and vanilla and beat again until combined. Then, add powdered sugar gradually until completely combined. 
  • Now check the consistency of the frosting. If it’s too dry, add a tablespoon at a time more dairy free milk until it reaches your desired consistency. If it’s too wet and does not a shape, add a tablespoon more powered sugar at a time until it reaches the right consistency to hold its shape.

Nutrition

Serving: 0.5cup | Calories: 660kcal | Carbohydrates: 100g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 3g | Sodium: 432mg | Potassium: 8mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 96g | Calcium: 31mg | Iron: 1mg

Filed Under: Dessert, Recipes Tagged With: dessert, recipes

Previous Post: « Vegan Sweet Potato Buttermilk Biscuits
Next Post: Cheesy Vegan Potato and Onion Puff Pastries »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Josephine

    December 15, 2021 at 6:07 pm

    2 stars
    Why is the cream cheese curdling my butter? I used violife cream cheese and I tried melt butter as well as earth balance

    Reply
    • LarishaBernard

      January 8, 2022 at 10:45 pm

      It’s likely the melt butter. It doesn’t do well in frosting. You can see our video comparison for what we mean: https://makeitdairyfree.com/vegan-butter-review/

      Reply
  2. Alaina

    February 12, 2022 at 10:20 am

    What vegan cream cheese works best for this recipe?
    Thank you!

    Reply
    • LarishaBernard

      March 2, 2022 at 4:41 pm

      Wayfare, Violife, Trader Joes are our favorite
      https://makeitdairyfree.com/vegan-cream-cheese-taste-test/

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Welcome to Make It Dairy Free! Here you’ll find delicious dairy free recipes that are kid-approved along with resources you need for helping live a dairy free life! Learn more about the award-winning team behind the site.

All links on our site may be affiliate links and should be treated as such. Make It Dairy Free is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

Copyright © 2022 Make It Dairy Free

32 shares