You’ll love this easy-to-make Vegan Chocolate Frosting! It’s creamy, chocolatey, decadent and so simple to whip up! Perfect for all your cakes and cupcakes. A dairy-free frosting made in just 5 minutes and with only 5 basic ingredients!
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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 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. They have little flavour and a thick texture.
STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS
- In a mixing bowl, with a hand mixer, cream the butter until smooth.
- Sift in the powdered sugar and the cocoa powder.
- Mix on low speed until combined, scraping down the bowl.
- Add the plant-based milk and the vanilla extract. Whisk for 1-2 minutes, until everything is well mixed.
- Fill a piping bag, fitted with tip 1M, 2D or 2A, with the vegan chocolate frosting. And start decorating!
RECIPE FAQs
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.
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.
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.
Each of us tolerates sweetness in a different way. If you find the recipe too sweet, just add one or two tablespoons of cocoa powder. The frosting consistency will be slightly thicker. To thin it, add in additional vegan milk, one teaspoon at a time until you get the right consistency for you.
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RECIPE
Vegan Chocolate Frosting
Equipment
- Hand mixer or stand mixer
- Large mixing bowl
- Wooden spoon or spatula
Ingredients
- 6 tablespoons vegan butter, softened at room temperature
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- ¼ cup + 2 tablespoon 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.
- Sift the powdered sugar and cocoa powder. Gradually add them to the butter. 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
Nutrition
Tried this vegan chocolate frosting last weekend for our Sunday treats, it was a hit! My kids love to have extra frosting added on top of their cupcakes. Highly recommended!
Thank you for sharing your review! I’m glad the frosting was a hit!
Great frosting! I made it as I needed a dairy-free frosting for my friend. It came out nice, chocolaty and perfectly pipeable. Excellent addition to my cherry vanilla cake.
Hi, Linda! Thank you so much for your sweet review. I’m thrilled to hear the frosting turned out great! Enjoy!
Thank you Natalia for this delicious recipe!
You´re welcome Jennifer, I’m so glad you like my Vegan Chocolate Frosting!
First time making DF/GF frosting and it came out! I used homemade cashew milk and it worked great. My only concern is how sweet it is. What can I do to take away some of the sweetness?
Hi Stefany, if you find the recipe too sweet for your taste, just add one or two extra tablespoons of cocoa powder. The frosting consistency will be slightly thicker. To thiner it, add additional vegan milk, one teaspoon at a time until you get the right consistency for you.
Easy to make and so delicious. This recipe was perfect for a dessert I served to a vegan friend and family. Very chocolatey!!
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!
This frosting is perfect! It’s so rich and chocolatey, and it pipes beautifully. My cupcakes turned out so pretty with this frosting.
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!
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!
Hi, Marie. I’m so glad you are loving my frosting! Thanks for sharing your review and comments!
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?
Hi, Naiby! I’m always experimenting with brands and textures, but one of my favorites is Earth Balance, it’s very versatile. Happy baking!
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.
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
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!
Hi, Ramona! Thank you so much for your sweet review! I’m thrilled to hear you love this vegan chocolate frosting! Enjoy!
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!
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
The pictures look delicious! Love that you can make this frosting with easy, simple ingredients.
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
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 🙂
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
Delish! Your Vegan Chocolate Frosting looks really yummy and perfect for me and my wife. Chocolatey but not overly sweet.
I’m so glad you like the frosting, Chef Dennis! Thanks for commenting!
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.
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
Made into cupcakes and they turned out really nice. They had a great raise.
Hi Laurie, Thanks for sharing your feedback! I’m thrilled you are loving the recipe!