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    Home » Recipes » Vegan Basics » Vegan Chocolate Frosting

    Vegan Chocolate Frosting

    Published: Aug 7, 2021 · Modified: Aug 11, 2021 by Natalia · This post may contain affiliate links .

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    chocolate cupcake frosted with chocolate frosting, placed in a muffin pan
    Above: bitten frosted cupcake. Below: piping bag fitted with metal tip and filled with chocolate frosting.
    Bitten chocolate cupcake frosted with chocolate frosting.

    You’ll love this easy-to-make Vegan Chocolate Frosting! It’s creamy, chocolatey, decadent and not overly sweet! Perfect for all your cakes and cupcakes. A dairy-free frosting made in just 5 minutes and with only 5 basic ingredients!

    Chocolate cupcake frosted with chocolate frosting and placed in a muffin pan.
    Jump to:
    • WHY MAKE THIS RECIPE
    • RECIPE INGREDIENTS
    • INGREDIENTS NOTES AND SUBSTITUTIONS
    • STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS
    • RECIPE FAQs
    • RELATED RECIPES
    • RECIPE
    • Don’t Miss a Recipe!

    WHY MAKE THIS RECIPE

    It’s easy and quick to prepare. This foolproof vegan chocolate frosting will be ready in 5 minutes. Follow the step-by-step instructions below and you’ll get a rich icing that will turn into your go-to chocolate frosting.

    Check how gorgeous it looks on these chocolate cupcakes.

    It’s not overly sweet. When pairing baking goods and their frostings, it’s easy to end up with a treat that’s too sweet. That’s why this plant-based chocolate frosting has the right amount of powdered sugar.

    It’s perfect for piping. This is a versatile buttercream that you’ll be able to use on your cakes as well as cupcakes. It’s thick but still spreadable. 

    Oh, if you’re a frosting lover, check this out: Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting and Vegan Funfetti Cupcakes. 

    RECIPE INGREDIENTS

    Ingredients for the frosting: butter, sugar, cocoa, milk, vanilla.

    INGREDIENTS NOTES AND SUBSTITUTIONS

    Vegan butter. I use vegan margarine, Flora,100% plantbased. Any non-dairy butter should do, this is quite a firm frosting.

    Cocoa Powder. I usually use Dutch processed cocoa but I have also made this recipe with natural unsweetened cocoa. Both work great. 

    Dairy free milk. Any non-dairy milk works here. My favourites are oat, almond and soy milk. When preparing vegan buttermilk, soy milk curdles the most, not as much as a dairy milk, but more than another plant-based milk.

    STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS

    Step by step to make frosting: creaming butter, sifting sugar and cocoa, mixing.
    1. In a mixing bowl, with a hand mixer, cream the butter until smooth.
    2. Sift in the powdered sugar and the cocoa powder. 
    3. Mix on low speed until combined, scraping down the bowl. 
    Step by step to make frosting: adding milk and vanilla, mixing, and filling a piping bag.
    1. Add the plant-based milk and the vanilla extract. Whisk for 1-2 minutes, until everything is well mixed.
    2. Fill a piping bag, fitted with tip 1M, 2D or 2A, with the vegan chocolate frosting. And start decorating!

    RECIPE FAQs

    Can I make the vegan chocolate frosting ahead of time?

    Sure. Once the frosting is ready, cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 1 week. Alternatively, you can also place the frosting in an airtight container and store it in the fridge. Before using, bring to room temperature and mix it with a whisk or hand mixer.

    Can I freeze it?

    To freeze the frosting, place it in an airtight container and double wrap it. It can be frozen for 3 months. When ready to use, let it thaw overnight in the fridge or for several hours on the counter. Mix it with a whisk or hand mixer.

    How much frosting does this recipe makes?

    This recipe makes enough to frost 12 cupcakes or one 9×13 cake. It will also allow you to fill and frost a two-layer 8 inch cake. 
    For a three-layer 8 inch cake, or a two-layer 9 inch cake, I recommend you double the recipe. If you’re left with leftover frosting, freeze the extra for later use. 

    Bitten chocolate cupcake frosted with chocolate frosting.

    RELATED RECIPES

    • Vegan Chocolate Cupcakes
    • Easy Vegan Chocolate Cake
    • Vegan Gluten Free Strawberry Cake
    • Vegan Gluten-Free Carrot Cake

    If you try this recipe don’t forget to rate it and let me know how it went in the comments below! You can also FOLLOW ME on Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram to see more delicious food and what I’m getting up to.

    RECIPE

    chocolate cupcake frosted with chocolate frosting, placed in a muffin pan

    Vegan Chocolate Frosting

    NATALIA @ SIMPLE GREEN RECIPES
    This Vegan Chocolate Frosting is creamy, chocolatey, decadent and not overly sweet! Perfect for all your cakes and cupcakes. A dairy-free frosting made in just 5 minutes and with only 5 basic ingredients! 
    5 from 17 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Total Time 5 mins
    Course Dessert
    Servings 3 cups
    Calories 785 kcal

    Equipment

    • Hand mixer or stand mixer
    • Large mixing bowl
    • Wooden spoon or spatula

    Ingredients
      

    • 5 tablespoons vegan butter, softened at room temperature
    • 4 cups powdered sugar
    • ¼ cup cocoa powder
    • 3 tablespoons non-dairy milk (soy milk, almond milk or other dairy-free milk)
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

    Instructions
     

    • In a larger bowl, cream the butter with a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle or whisk attachment. Beat until smooth and fluffy, about 2 minutes. 
    • Gradually add the powdered sugar and cocoa powder. Mix until just combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl.
    • Add the non-dairy milk, the vanilla extract and mix until well combined. 
    • If you need to thin the consistency of your frosting, add more milk, one teaspoon at a time. In case you needed to thicken it, just add more powdered sugar, one tablespoon at a time. 
    • Use it immediately or cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to one week.
    • To decorate cupcakes you can use large tips like 1M, 2D or 2A. 
      1A tip is useful to fill cakes, then use an offset spatula to make frosting an even layer. 

    Notes

    This recipe makes enough to frost 12 cupcakes or one 9×13 cake. It will also allow you to fill and frost a two-layer 8 inch cake. 
    For a three-layer 8 inch cake, or a two-layer 9 inch cake, I recommend you double the recipe. 
    MAKE AHEAD INSTRUCTIONS. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 1 week. You can also place the frosting in an airtight container and store in the fridge. Before using, bring to room temperature and mix it with a hand mixer or spatula.
    FREEZING THE FROSTING. Place it in an airtight container and double wrap it. It can be frozen for 3 months. When ready to use, let it thaw overnight in the fridge or for several hours on the counter. Mix it with a whisk or hand mixer.
    PERFECT PIPING CONSISTENCY. The ideal consistency is to make the frosting firm but still spreadable. If it seems too thick, add a teaspoon of vegan milk at a time. If too thin, just add more powdered sugar, one tablespoon at a time. 
    INGREDIENTS AND SUBSTITUTIONS 
    Vegan butter. I use vegan margarine, Flora,100% plant-based. 
    Cocoa Powder. I usually use Dutch processed cocoa but natural unsweetened cocoa works great too.
    Dairy free milk. Any non-dairy milk works here. My favourites are oat, almond and soy milk. When preparing vegan buttermilk, soy milk curdles the best though.
    NUTRITION INFORMATION
    The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice. 
    See our full nutrition disclosure. 

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1cupCalories: 785kcalCarbohydrates: 165gProtein: 2gFat: 16gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 1gSodium: 163mgPotassium: 142mgFiber: 2gSugar: 157gVitamin A: 950IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 32mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword chocolatefrosting, veganchocolatefrosting, veganfrosting
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. silvia

      August 15, 2021 at 10:30 pm

      5 stars
      Easy to make and so delicious. This recipe was perfect for a dessert I served to a vegan friend and family. Very chocolatey!!

      Reply
      • Natalia

        August 18, 2021 at 7:41 am

        Hi Silvia, It’s so great to hear that your family and your friend enjoyed this Vegan Chocolate Frosting! We really love it cupcakes and also on cakes. Cheers!

        Reply
    2. Amanda Dixon

      August 15, 2021 at 4:15 pm

      5 stars
      This frosting is perfect! It’s so rich and chocolatey, and it pipes beautifully. My cupcakes turned out so pretty with this frosting.

      Reply
      • Natalia

        August 18, 2021 at 5:32 am

        Amanda, it always makes my day when someone sends me feedback about a recipe and really loved it! So happy you enjoyed this frosting. Thanks for the sweet comment!

        Reply
    3. Marie

      August 15, 2021 at 3:32 pm

      5 stars
      I love to keep a folder of go-to vegan alternatives–both to treat myself (I’m lactose-intolerant!) and loved ones that abide by dairy-free or vegan diets. I’d yet to find my favorite vegan chocolate frosting and I think this is it! Your recipe produces a super chocolatey, super creamy frosting I can’t wait to use both on cakes and in French macarons. Thanks for sharing it!

      Reply
      • Natalia

        August 18, 2021 at 7:17 am

        Hi, Marie. I’m so glad you are loving my frosting! Thanks for sharing your review and comments!

        Reply
    4. Naiby Jacques

      August 15, 2021 at 1:37 pm

      5 stars
      I’m so happy to have your vegan chocolate frosting recipe. It’s not always easy to find vegan versions that are as decadent as conventional baking recipes. Which vegan butter do you prefer?

      Reply
      • Natalia

        August 15, 2021 at 2:13 pm

        Hi, Naiby! I’m always experimenting with brands and textures, but one of my favorites is Earth Balance, it’s very versatile. Happy baking!

        Reply
    5. Tristin

      August 14, 2021 at 8:02 pm

      5 stars
      If you are looking for an amazing vegan frosting recipe, look no further!! My family absolutely loves this chocolate frosting, it’s a must try recipe.

      Reply
      • Natalia

        August 15, 2021 at 2:05 pm

        That is great to hear! I am so glad that you love my recipe that much! Thank you so much for sharing and following along with me. XO

        Reply
    6. Ramona

      August 14, 2021 at 8:07 am

      5 stars
      Yess, I am loving the healthier chocolate frosting option! This is a vegan frosting that I am definitely going to make for all cupcakes I will bake in the future. Thank you for sharing this recipe, I can’t wait to make this!

      Reply
      • Natalia

        August 14, 2021 at 2:50 pm

        Hi, Ramona! Thank you so much for your sweet review! I’m thrilled to hear you love this vegan chocolate frosting! Enjoy!

        Reply
    7. Lauren Michael Harris

      August 12, 2021 at 7:40 am

      5 stars
      This looks amazing! I’m not vegan, but I have used vegan butter pretty regularly for years. I don’t know why I thought it wouldn’t work for frosting – great recipe!

      Reply
      • Natalia

        August 14, 2021 at 2:45 pm

        Hi Lauren! Thank you, I’m so happy you like the recipe! As for the vegan butter, I use it for all my recipes and it works great. Happy baking! XO

        Reply
    8. Liz

      August 10, 2021 at 4:25 pm

      5 stars
      The pictures look delicious! Love that you can make this frosting with easy, simple ingredients.

      Reply
      • Natalia

        August 11, 2021 at 3:59 am

        Hi, Liz! I love it too, It’s a quick and easy frosting that is super simple to prepare. One of my favorites. Thanks for commenting! XO

        Reply
    9. Christa

      August 9, 2021 at 5:53 pm

      This recipe is exactly what I have been looking for – something quick and with not too many ingredients! I can’t wait to try this over the weekend 🙂

      Reply
      • Natalia

        August 9, 2021 at 6:04 pm

        Hi, Christa! This is an easy and super quick recipe, you’ll love it. Thanks for commenting! Let me know when you make it, I would love to hear how it worked out for you. XO

        Reply
    10. Chef Dennis

      August 9, 2021 at 4:55 pm

      5 stars
      Delish! Your Vegan Chocolate Frosting looks really yummy and perfect for me and my wife. Chocolatey but not overly sweet.

      Reply
      • Natalia

        August 9, 2021 at 5:54 pm

        I’m so glad you like the frosting, Chef Dennis! Thanks for commenting!

        Reply
    11. Gloria

      August 9, 2021 at 10:54 am

      5 stars
      I love vegan margarine, and use it all the time. I have never tried using it in frosting. This is the perfect topping to any cupcake.

      Reply
      • Natalia

        August 9, 2021 at 11:39 am

        Thank you for the sweet comment, Gloria! I use vegan margarine for all my frostings, it works really well. So glad you liked the cupcakes! XO

        Reply

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