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    Home » Desserts

    Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting - 5 Flavour Options!

    Updated: Jun 21, 2020 by Verna Rindler · This post may contain affiliate links · 10 Comments

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    vegan cream cheese frosting being spread on a cake

    Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting! Sweet, tangy, thick and pipeable! Perfect for icing cinnamon rolls, carrot cake, cupcakes, cookies & more! Only 5 Ingredients!

    vegan cream cheese icing being spread on a cake

    You'll love this easy vegan cream cheese frosting recipe! It takes minutes to make. An honestly there are certain desserts that gotta have it - Like cupcakes, carrot cake, red velvet cake, cinnamon buns, coffee cake,...etc

    How to make Vegan Cream Cheese frosting:

    In a medium bowl, with your hand mixer on low speed cream the butter, cream cheese, vanilla and lemon juice until smooth (30-60 seconds) Next add in the powdered sugar 1/2 a cup at a time. Blend until smooth. Refrigerate until read to use. Enjoy with your favourite cakes, cupcakes, cinnamon buns, cookies,...etc.

    This recipe yields enough frosting for: 24 cupcakes or 12 cupcakes (generously frosted) or one 9x13 cake or one 2 layer cake ( 8 0r 9 inch cake pans)

    Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting Flavour Variations:

    Lemon Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting: add zest of one lemon

    Orange Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting: add zest of one orange

    Coffee Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting: add 1 tablespoon of instant coffee (regular or decaf) mixed with 1-2 teaspoons of water ( omit the lemon juice)

    Chocolate Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting: add 1/3 cup cocoa powder

    Cinnamon Vegan Cream cheese Frosting: add 1/2 -1 teaspoon cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice

    Frosting should be stored in the fridge and will keep up to 5 days. For full recipe ingredients and instructions see recipe card below.

    vegan cream cheese and vegan butter in a mixing bowl with beaters

    vegan butter and vegan cream cheese and powdered sugar being mixed in a bowl

    vegan cream cheese frosting being mixed with a hand mixer in a bowl

    Frequently Asked Questions:

    What’s the best cream cheese to use for vegan cream cheese frosting?

    • I make my frosting using Daiya cream cheese. It has the best flavour and the price is right! Tofutti and Kite Hill brands are also great choices. Just make sure to drain any excess moisture from cream cheese container before using, if necessary.

    What vegan butter should I use for vegan cream cheese frosting?

    • I use earth balance butter sticks for this recipe, not the spreadable kind in the tub. Margarine sticks work great also.

    Is vegan cream cheese pipeable?

    • Absolutely! After making the frosting refrigerate for at least 30 minutes so it firms up, add to your piping bag and you're ready to go!

    Should the butter and cream cheese be at room temperature before using?

    • I use mine straight from the fridge and they work just fine.

    Help! My Frosting is not thick enough what do I do?

    Before adding more powdered sugar, refrigerate the frosting for 15-20 minutes to firm up. If it is still not thick enough for your liking add another 1/2 cup of powdered sugar.

    vegan cream cheese frosting layered between two cakes

    Ok go bake a cake or something so you can make this super tasty vegan cream cheese frosting, it's:

    Creamy

    Tangy

    Sweet

    versatile

    gluten free

    Easy

    Ready in minutes

    Perfect with so many tasty vegan desserts!

    Gluten free

    Enjoy guys! Happy day to you? feel free to leave a comment and a rating below. I would love to hear from you.

    Follow me on PINTEREST and INSTAGRAM for more tasty Plant Based Vegan Recipes❤️

    Other Vegan Dessert Toppings for you to enjoy:

    Macerated Strawberries
    Best Vegan Caramel Sauce

    Print
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    vegan cream cheese frosting being spread on a cake

    Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting - 5 Flavour Options!


    ★★★★★

    5 from 2 reviews

    • Author: Verna
    • Total Time: 15 minutes
    • Yield: 12 People 1x
    • Diet: Vegan
    Print Recipe
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    Description

    Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting! Sweet, tangy, thick and pipeable! Perfect for icing cinnamon rolls, carrot cake, cupcakes, cookies & more! Only 5 Ingredients!


    Ingredients

    Scale
    • 1 container Vegan cream cheese, I use Daiya Brand (227 grams)
    • 1/2 cup vegan butter, I use Earth balance butter sticks ( not the spreadable tub)
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla
    • 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
    • 2 cups powdered sugar

    Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting Flavour Variations:

    • lemon: add zest of 1 lemon
    • orange: add zest of 1 orange
    • coffee: add 1 tablespoon instant coffee (regular or decaf) mixed with 1-2 teaspoons water (omit the lemon juice)
    • chocolate: add 1/3 cup of cocoa powder ( might need to add teaspoon or 2 of non dairy milk)
    • cinnamon: add 1/2 - 1 teaspoon cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice

    Instructions

    1. In a medium bowl, with your hand mixer on low speed, Cream the butter, cream cheese, vanilla and lemon juice until smooth.
    2. Next add in the powdered sugar 1/2 a cup at a time. Blend until smooth. Don't over mix.
    3. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or until read to use.
    4. Frosting should be stored in the fridge and will keep up to 5 days.
    5. This recipe yields enough frosting for: 24 cupcakes or 12 cupcakes (generously frosted) or one 9x13 cake or one 2 layer cake ( 8 0r 9 inch cake pans). Try it with my Vegan Carrot Cake!

    Notes

    • I make my frosting using Daiya cream cheese. It has the best flavour and the price is right! Tofutti and Kite Hill brands are also great choices. Just make sure to drain any excess moisture from cream cheese container before using, if necessary.
    • I use earth balance butter sticks for this recipe, not the spreadable kind in the tub. Margarine sticks work great also.
    • I have not made this recipe using coconut oil.
    • If piping the frosting: After making the frosting refrigerate for at least 30 minutes so it firms up, add to your piping bag and you're ready to go.
    • I use the vegan butter and cream cheese straight from the fridge and they work just fine ( not room temperature)
    • If your frosting is not thick enough: Before adding more powdered sugar, refrigerate the frosting for 15-20 minutes to firm up. If it is still not thick enough for your liking add another 1/2 cup of powdered sugar.
    • Frosting should be stored in the fridge and will keep up to 5 days.

    Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting Flavour Variations:

    • Lemon Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting: add zest of one lemon
    • Orange Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting: add zest of one orange
    • Coffee Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting: add 1 tablespoon of instant coffee (regular or decaf) mixed with 1-2 teaspoons of water ( omit the lemon juice)
    • Chocolate Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting: add 1/3 cup cocoa powder
    • Cinnamon Vegan Cream cheese Frosting: add 1/2 -1 teaspoon cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice
    • Prep Time: 15 minutes
    • Category: Sweets, Gluten free
    • Method: Hand mixer or Stand mixer
    • Cuisine: American, Canadian

    Keywords: vegan cream cheese frosting, icing, pipeable, dairy free,

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @cheeky_chickpea_ on Instagram and hashtag it #cheeky_chickpea_

     

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    • Vegan Pecan Pie
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Doris

      April 15, 2022 at 10:18 am

      Thank you for stating the vegan products you use in the recipe. That information insures that the recipe turns out correctly. Not all vegan products are the same.

      Reply
      • Verna

        April 15, 2022 at 12:57 pm

        You are so welcome Doris, enjoy the recipe!

        Reply
    2. Cindy

      June 06, 2021 at 11:40 am

      If you use a 13x9 pan how long would you bake it for/

      Reply
      • Verna

        June 06, 2021 at 5:08 pm

        I'm assuming you mean carrot cake. I'd say 30-40 minutes. I'd start checking cake for doneness around 30 minutes. Enjoy Cindy!

        Reply
    3. Susan

      November 19, 2020 at 11:26 am

      Hi, love your recipes but wondering if you have substitute suggestions for powdered sugar? I'm plant based for health reasons & unable to use sugars. Thank you!

      Reply
      • Verna

        November 19, 2020 at 1:03 pm

        Hi Susan you could use maple syrup and cornstarch for icing but I haven tested it so don't know exact amounts. Hope that helps!

        Reply
    4. Marrissa

      May 01, 2020 at 3:04 pm

      I love that you have listed all the possible flavour variations for this vegan cream cheese frosting. So helpful!! Great recipe!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Verna

        May 01, 2020 at 3:59 pm

        thanks so much Marissa!

        Reply
    5. Cara

      April 10, 2019 at 3:13 am

      This looks so rich and delicious!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • The Cheeky Chickpea

        April 10, 2019 at 3:24 am

        It is super tasty? Thanks Cara!

        Reply

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    Hi, I’m Verna! Major foodie of all things vegan! Welcome to The Cheeky Chickpea; here, you’ll find hundreds of restaurant-worthy easy vegan recipes. Some oil-free and gluten-free, from veggie-powered plant-based comfort foods to decadent desserts. Lots of tricks and tips up my chef sleeve…Grab your apron let’s get cooking!

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