Best Ever Vegan Buttercream Frosting
Nothing says happy birthday like a real legit from scratch birthday cake and when you are gluten and dairy free that means smothering that delicious cake in vegan buttercream frosting. This recipe is a dairy free buttercream frosting with shortening because that is how you give it that fluffy melt in your mouth texture and flavor. Has your vegan buttercream too runny? This recipe will show you how to make it with the perfect texture.
This post contains affiliate links. The purchases made through these links help support this website and to create delicious recipes to share with you! Thank you for your support.
When I first went gluten free and dairy free I honestly thought enjoying cake was a thing of the past. That was until I started experimenting and I first created my My Personal Gluten Free All Purpose Flour Blend.
With that I was able to create the Vanilla Cake that is pictured here and what really made me decide to pursue this whole gluten free blog thing.
Once I finally created a vanilla cake with the perfect buttercream that melted in my mouth I knew others would appreciate these recipes.
Before creating this dairy free buttercream frosting I did not like buttercream. I preferred a whip cream topping because it was lighter.
The combo on vegan butter with the right vegetable shortening gives this dairy free buttercream frosting with shortening the absolute perfect flavor and consistency. You can decorate with it, it doesn’t get too hard and it tastes absolutely amazing!
Vegan Buttercream Frosting
This recipe is light and fluffy but provides the perfect amount of sweetness to your desserts. You can use it to decorate cookies and frost all of your favorite cakes.
Dairy Free Buttercream Frosting with Shortening
With only 5 ingredients you will find yourself turning to this recipe because it so simple to make and will never let you down.
Dairy Free Buttercream Icing
Has your vegan buttercream been too runny before?
The combo of vegan butter, shortening, and powdered sugar give this recipe the perfect texture and consistency.
If your frosting has been too runny before then you likely used too much liquid, or the ratio needed shortening. Nutiva or Spectrum Organic shortening are my go-to’s. Literally, these are all that I will use.
This frosting is incredibly simple to make and also pipes well. You can put it in the fridge for 10-20 minutes to stiffen after making it if it is too soft.
When I decorate cakes I start with adding some of this frosting to the top of the first layer, spreading it evenly and then placing the second layer on top.
Then you will add a thin layer of the buttercream and refrigerate for 10 minutes. Continue this process until the cake is frosted to your desire and then you can pipe it. If you plan on doing a lot of piping then you will need to double this recipe.
Dairy Free Buttercream Icing
Want to Save This Recipe?
Enter your email & I'll send it to your inbox. Plus, get great new recipes from me every week!
By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from Living Freely Gluten Free.
Ingredients
- ½ cup vegan butter
- ½ cup vegetable shortening I used Spectrum Organic Shortening -- 24 oz
- 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- 4 tsp. dairy free milk
Instructions
- With a beater or stand mixer cream the butter and shortening until smooth
- Add sugar and beat for 1 minute on medium speed
- Add vanilla and milk and beat 3 minutes on medium/high speed until very smooth and fluffy
Notes
Make sure to share your culinary creation on Instagram with the #livingfreelyglutendfree
We love star ratings! Make sure to leave your review below!
Nutrition
If you want the chocolate version of this buttercream it is below.
)-
With a beater or stand mixer cream butter and shortening
-
Add sugar and cocoa and beat for 1 minute.
-
Add vanilla and milk.
-
Beat on medium high speed for 3 minutes until very smooth and fluffy. Enjoy!
Need some delicious recipes to decorate with this vegan buttercream frosting? I’ve got you covered…
- Grain Free Chocolate Cake
- Sugar Cookies Gluten Free and Dairy Free
- Funfetti Cupcakes with Strawberry Buttercream that are Gluten Free and Dairy Free
- Vanilla Cake- Gluten Free, Dairy Free
Can I make this in advance and just store in fridge till needed?
You can make it in advance, but you will need to let it sit out and soften before frosting. It hardens once you refrigerate it. It will last about 3 days in the fridge.
Do you have any advice on how to know if my powdered sugar is vegan? Or is any powdered sugar considered vegan? I’m baking cupcakes for someone who is vegan and am planning to use your recipes, but I was just concerned about some of my ingredients. I’m not finding much helpful info online. Thanks!
Powdered Sugar in general is vegan. The ingredients are typically starch and sugar, so as long as those are the ingredients you are good to go.
What if I don’t have vegetable shortening? Can I just use more of the dairy free butter instead?
For the best frosting I would recommend shortening. Too much butter will give it a greasy consistency.
Can I use coconut butter for this recipe? I live in South Africa and am finding it extremely difficult to find vegan butter
I have never tried it, so I’m not sure how it will turn out but give it a try and let me know. If you are not dairy free you can use regular butter too.
I’m sorry but I made this recipes and it is completely horrible. The cake tastes bad and the frosting is SUPER sweet. I don’t recommend.
I’m sorry you had that experience Heather. What would you change about it? I’m always looking for ways to improve my recipes.
Hi! Do you think this buttercream can be made in advance and frozen? I’m making my own 30th birthday cake next month and have a few dog/gf guests. I normally make a normal buttercream that can be frozen, but not sure if df ingredients freeze as well. Thank you!
The frosting gets kind of weird when it has been frozen. Would you be freezing it on the cake, or freezing defrosting and then frosting the cake?
Hi! I made the vanilla cupcakes the first time and the baking soda ruined the flavor, so I started over and made them without baking soda and they were beyond perfect! Then I made the frosting without the shortening and it tasted exactly like my Nana’s buttercream frosting she made when I was little! Long story short, this is now a huge hit with my friends and family and nobody has any idea that it is gluten – and dairy- free except the people who need to know for dietary reasons. It is absolutely the yummiest cake and frosting combo I have tasted in a long, long time!! Thank you!!!
Hi Robin,
Thank you so much for this review! I am so excited you were able to make it perfect to your liking!!! Did you use extra butter for the frosting, or just leave it out? You took all of the baking soda out, but still used the baking powder? I would love to give it a try and see how we like it.
I will be trying this recipe for the first time, but have been have been unable to find the “Earths Best Dairy Free Butter” I have tried numerous grocery stores. Even Whole Foods and no one carries it. Where do you buy it?
Hi Rita. Thank you for bringing that to my attention. It is actually Earth’s Balance and I will be updating that in the blog post right now. Honestly though, any vegan butter will do the job.
I am going to try this recipe for the first time. Can you tell me what kind of dairy free milk you use?
I use So Delicious Coconut Milk, but almond or cashew milk would work great too
I made 1/2 batch subbing coconut oil for shortening as I don’t like using shortening in recipes. It’s delicious & am pairing it with your Vanilla cake which is in the oven.
Thank you so much for sharing Michelle. I have never thought to use coconut oil in place and I am excited it turned out.
I’m trying the chocolate recipe. I called all the large stores in our area and no bakery will bother to make gluten-free, dairy-free anything. I promised my 28 year old granddaughter I would make her one if I could not find one to order and buy. I just hope mine turns out to be edible because I have to buy the ingredients today and I don’t know if the near-by store even sells gluten-free flour.
If you need flour you can make my gluten free all purpose flour recipe. https://www.livingfreelyglutenfree.com/the-best-gluten-free-all-purpose-flour/
What recipe are you using for the cake?