This Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting is creamy, rich and thick. Made in just 5 minuts, it’s the perfect frosting recipe for a delicious carrot or red velvet cake. And the best part, it only requires 3 basic ingredients!
Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting
I bet some of you may be wondering if the delicious and addictive traditional Cream Cheese Frosting can be vegan. Well, it can.
Traditional frosting uses dairy butter and cream cheese, while vegan frosting uses plant based butter and cream cheese, both easily available nowadays.
By the way, thinking of making a delightfully fragrant vegan carrot cake to frost with this vegan cream cheese frosting? I got you covered! Try my recipe for a flavorful and easy vegan carrot cake!
Tips for the Best Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting
- Sift the powdered sugar. I don’t normally sift powdered sugar when making a frosting but I do it for this one. It ensures that your ingredients will be lump free.
- I recommend making the frosting before and keeping it refrigerate while you prepare the cakes or cupcakes you are going to frost.
- Even better, if you can make the frosting the night before and keep it in the fridge overnight. It will firm up as it gets cool.
- Refrigerate the layers of your cake, wrapped in plastic, for a couple of hours or overnight. It’s easier to frost a cake when the layers are cold.
How to Make the Best Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting
Step One
Bring the vegan cream cheese and vegan butter to room temperature. The ingredients will come together easier and quicker when you mix them.
Step Two
Mix the vegan butter and the vegan cream cheese in a large bowl or the bowl of your stand mixer. Beat until creamy and well combined.
Step Three
Gradually add the sifted powdered sugar and keep whisking until everything is well combined and you can’t see any sugar lumps.
If you prefer a thicker frosting, add more powdered sugar. For a thinner texture, just add more cream cheese or some vegan milk. One spoon at a time and check consistency after each addition.
Step Four
Refrigerate the frosting before using it. Cooling it down for two or three hours will be enough, though I recommend to prepare the frosting the night before and keep it in the fridge overnight.
What cake sizes this recipe can frost?
I’ve made this frosting to cover the three cake sizes below:
- 3-layer 6 inch round cake
- 2-layer 8 or 9 inch round cake
- 1-layer 9 x 13 sheet cake
RECIPE
Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting
Ingredients
- ½ cup vegan butter
- 1 cup vegan cream cheese
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract optional
Instructions
- In a large bowl, mix the butter and the vegan cream cheese, both at room temperature. Beat on medium low until creamy and well combined.
- Reduce the mixer speed and add the powdered sugar. Beat on low speed for 1 minute, then increase the mixer speed and beat for 2 more minutes or until the frosting is smooth.
- For a thicker frosting, add an extra ½ cup of powdered sugar. For a thinner consistency, add more cream cheese or some vegan milk.
- Chill the frosting for two hours to firm before using it. You can use it straight away but if you leave it in the fridge for a while, it will thicken and will be firmer to decorate your cakes.
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More vegan frostings from Simple Green Recipes?
Vegan Chocolate Ganache Frosting
This is for sure the most delicious and beautiful vegan cream cheese frosting I’ve ever seen. So fantastic to have this as a go-to when making cakes for vegan guests and friends!
Hi, Monica! Thank you so much! I am beyond happy to read your positive review.
Wow! This recipe looks so delicious, and I can’t wait to make this for my vegan friend. I am sure she will love this! Thanks!
Hope you will love it as much as we do! Thanks for commenting, Amy!
Awesome! Such a great-looking and perfect frosting recipe! It looks so yummy and the creaminess makes it so enticing and tempting! The best part we can do this for 5 minutes with only 3 ingredients! Loved it!
ENJOY! This is such an easy vegan frosting. My favorite to pair with red velvet and carrot cake.
I need to get all these vegan ingredients to try this frosting. Cream cheese frosting is my favorite, but I must reduce my dairy consumption, so your recipe came to me just in time!
Hi, Tracey! Thank you so much for your sweet review, so happy you loved the frosting.
The cream cheese frosting came out great! Your recipe is easy and fuss-free; I baked a vegan carrot cake and used your frosting, and it was delicious. Thanks so much; we will definitely make it again.
Hi Jenny, I’m so glad you liked the frosting! Thank you for sharing your experience. It means the world to me!
This vegan cream cheese frosting was such a great substitute for regular frosting. It came out creamy and delicious!
Hi Tristin, thanks so much for coming back to comment!
I just found some vegan cream cheese at the store, so super excited to give this frosting recipe a try! Thanks for the share!
I hope you have the chance to try it, Elizabeth. It’s a delicious frosting.
Cream cheese frosting is one of my favorite frostings to make and use. I have not tried a vegan cream cheese frosting before, so excited to give it a try!
I’m so glad are giving it a try! Thanks for commenting.
I can’t believe I have never tried making vegan cream cheese frosting before, but this is perfect! Thank you so much for sharing this recipe 🙂
You’re welcome, Cathleen! I’m happy you like the frosting. Thanks for the comment!
Perfect recipe for anyone who doubts the vegan version of something is just as good, if not better, than the traditional one. The frosting was delicious- just the right amount of sweetness!
Thank you for your feedback, and for using my recipe! I love creating them! I’m so glad you loved the frosting!
This is a great frosting. I didn’t realize powdered sugar was vegan, so thank you for that! I used this on carrot cake muffins and they turned out wonderful.
Kristina, I’m super glad to hear it turned out great! Thank you for letting me know.
Super simple and creamy cream cheese frosting, you really do not know it is vegan unless you read the ingredients packaging. Great recipe!
Hi Mikayla, I do agree, it’s simple and easy. I’m glad you like it!
This frosting is just perfect! I read your tip about making it a day before and storing in the fridge overnight, and it worked great! Delicious, not too heavy and not too sweet!
Thanks for the sweet comment, Anna. I’m thrilled to hear you liked my cream cheese frosting! Enjoy!
I have tried several vegan cream cheese frosting recipes and somehow they always came out runny. Your vegan cream cheese recipe is perfect! I served it with your vegan carrot cake and I will make it again for easter for sure.
Thank you so much, Dani! I’m super excited to hear that you loved my cream cheese frosting.