This quick and easy dairy free frosting recipe is smooth, creamy, and perfectly sweet. It makes a great topping for your favorite cakes and cupcakes.
If you've been searching for a fluffy dairy free frosting recipe, this one's for you. It comes together with minimal ingredients in under 10 minutes.
Traditional buttercream frostings are made by creaming butter, powdered sugar, and milk together. With two ingredient substitutes, you can make a delicious homemade dairy free frosting! Just swap dairy butter with vegan butter and dairy milk with non-dairy milk. It really is that easy.
Ingredients
- Vegan butter: Use your favorite plant based butter sticks. I typically use Earth Balance, Country Crock, or Miyoko’s.
- Powdered sugar: This is sometimes referred to as confectioners' sugar. To ensure this is vegan buttercream frosting, use organic powdered sugar.
- Dairy-free milk: Use your preferred milk substitute, just make sure it's unflavored and unsweetened. Oat milk, almond milk, soy milk, and coconut milk will all work.
- Vanilla extract: This optional ingredient will give your frosting a hint of vanilla flavor.
How to make dairy free frosting
This step-by-step guide will teach you how to make the best frosting without dairy, recipes to enjoy it on, and my favorite store-bought brands. Let's get baking!
Cream the butter: Add the room temperature vegan butter to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Cream vegan butter until smooth and fluffy, about 30-60 seconds.
Mix in the sugar: Gradually add the sifted powdered sugar until it’s fully incorporated, about 2-3 minutes. Start on low speed, increasing as it comes together.
Add the dairy free milk and vanilla: Pour in the dairy free milk and vanilla exact then mix on medium-high speed for about 1 minute.
Time to decorate: Your frosting is ready to use! Spread over cooled cake or pipe onto cooled cupcakes. You can also use this frosting to make fun filled cupcakes with! If you’re new to cupcake decorating, I recommend this decorating kit that comes with piping tips and reusable piping bags.
32-Piece Piping Pastry Bags and Icing Tips SetStorage
Use homemade dairy free frosting immediately or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. If the frosting separates, cream it for about 30 seconds on medium speed to bring it back together.
To make-ahead and freeze, store frosting in the freezer for up to 1 month. Let it thaw in the fridge overnight before using and re-whip using a mixer, if needed.
Tips for success
- Let the vegan butter sit on the counter for about 30 minutes, or until it has softened to room temp.
- Before decorating with the frosting, make sure the dessert is cooled completely!
- Change the flavor by using a different extract such as ½ teaspoon of peppermint extract or almond extract.
Frequently asked questions
This makes enough dairy free buttercream to frost 24 cupcakes or two 8-9-inch round cakes.
Using a stand mixer is the easiest way to make homemade frosting. If you don’t have a stand mixer, I recommend using an electric hand mixer instead.
Add more powdered sugar a couple tablespoons at a time. On the flip side, if your frosting is too thick, add a couple tablespoons of dairy free milk to thin it out.
There are a few reasons for this. To ensure silky smooth frosting make sure to sift the powdered sugar, wait for the vegan butter to be soft but not melted, and have patience as you whip the frosting together.
The paddle attachment whips up the buttercream without adding excess air to the frosting. This results in a strong and thick yet smooth and creamy frosting. The whisk attachment is great for when you want to add air, like when you make dairy free whipped cream.
Yes! This recipe is dairy free, egg free, gluten free, and vegan friendly.
Dairy free frosting brands
Even though this recipe uses 4 simple ingredients, I understand that sometimes you just need to grab a tub of dairy free frosting. My go-to accidentally vegan frosting brands are Duncan Hines, Wholesome, and Miss Jones. As always, be sure to check the labels. You can find all these brands at most grocery stores and Amazon.
I recently started shopping at Thrive Market! It’s a fantastic place for those of us with food allergies, as they carry many of our favorite brands for a fraction of the price. If you’re interested in learning more, read my honest Thrive Market review. When you're ready to shop, get 30% off your first order when you use my affiliate link.
Recipes to use dairy free frosting on
Use this dairy free buttercream frosting recipe on cakes, cupcakes, cookies, brownies, and more, including:
Easy Dairy Free Frosting Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup vegan butter softened to room temperature
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 2-4 tablespoon dairy free milk more or less depending on preference
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Place room temperature vegan butter in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Cream the butter until smooth and fluffy, 30-60 seconds.
- Gradually add the sifted powdered sugar until fully incorporated, about 3 minutes. Start on the slowest speed, increasing as it comes together.
- Add the dairy free milk and vanilla extract then mix on medium-high speed for about 1 minute, or until desired consistency is reached. For a thicker frosting, add a couple extra tablespoons of powdered sugar. If the frosting is too thick, thin it out by adding a couple tablespoons of dairy free milk.
- Use immediately or store in the fridge for up to 1 week. Before decorating, make sure the dessert is cooled completely.
Notes
Nutrition
Julia says
Hi! Can I use coconut Oil for my dairy free “butter”? Thank you!!
Jenna Urben says
Hi Julia! I haven't tried making frosting with coconut oil. If you give it a go, I suggest using softened coconut oil that's not melted. Please let me know how it turns out 🙂
Kat says
And just add some cocoa powder (1-4Tbls) for chocolate! 😀
Jenna Urben says
Yes, so yummy and easy!
Deb says
Quick! Easy! Delicious!!
Jenna Urben says
Happy to hear that, Deb 🙂 Thanks for leaving a rating and comment!!