Easy Dairy-Free Frosting Recipe

This easy dairy-free frosting is smooth, fluffy, and full of vanilla flavor. It is made with plant based butter, powdered sugar, and non-dairy milk. It tastes delicious on birthday cakes and cupcakes or almost any vegan dessert that needs a creamy vanilla buttercream-style frosting.

Dairy-free frosting is made without dairy butter, milk, cream, or cream cheese. In this recipe, plant based butter replaces regular butter and non-dairy milk is used as the liquid.

This was inspired by my Shelf-Stable Frosting Recipe on this site, and pairs well with this Dairy Free Chocolate Cake Recipe.

Ingredients

This easy recipe uses four simple ingredients and takes about 10 minutes to mix

Plant Butter Sticks
Powdered Sugar
Vanilla Extract
Non-Dairy Milk

See recipe card for quantities.

Instructions

To make this frosting, use a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or a large bowl and an electric hand mixer.

Step 1:Place the plant-based butter in a large bowl. Beat it on medium speed for 1 to 2 minutes, until it looks smooth and creamy.

Step 2:Stop the mixer and scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl.

Step 3: Add the powdered sugar one cup at a time. Mix on low speed after each addition.

Step 4:Add the vanilla extract and one tablespoon of plant milk at a time until the frosting reaches your desired consistency. Whip until fluffy.

Hint: Use plant-based butter sticks, not tub butter. I like Country Crock Plant Butter Sticks because they give the frosting a firmer texture.

Substitutions

A few ingredients can be changed depending on what you have available.

Plant butter: I tested this recipe with Country Crock Plant Butter Sticks. Other plant-based butter sticks may work, but different brands can have different fat and water contents, which may change the consistency of the frosting.
Non-dairy milk - I tested this recipe with unsweetened vanilla almond milk, but you can use your favorite plant-based milk instead. Add it slowly since different milks can affect the frosting consistency.
Vanilla: Clear vanilla can be used if you want a lighter-colored frosting.

If you're baking for someone with a dairy allergy, always check the ingredient and allergen information on every product you use.

Variations

Once you have the basic dairy-free vanilla frosting, it's easy to change the flavor.

Classic bakery flavor - Use half vanilla extract and half almond extract for that familiar bakery-style frosting flavor.
Birthday cake - Add cake batter flavoring for a fun birthday cake frosting.
Lemon - I like LorAnn lemon emulsion for a stronger lemon flavor. You can usually find it at Hobby Lobby, Walmart, or online.

My Frosting Flavor Collection includes 25 flavor ideas created for my shelf-stable frosting, but you can use them with this recipe too.

Equipment

I prefer using a hand mixer for this frosting because it’s quick and easy. I love this Hamilton Beach hand mixer so much that I own two of them.

Storage

Store dairy-free frosting in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days.

Before decorating, let the frosting sit at room temperature for about 15 minutes, then mix it briefly to bring back the creamy consistency.

Top Tip

Plant-based butter can soften faster than traditional dairy butter. If the frosting starts looking shiny, loose, or greasy while you're working with it, place the bowl in the refrigerator for about 10 to 15 minutes before continuing.

FAQ

Is margarine dairy-free?

Some margarine is dairy-free, but not every product is.
Always check the ingredient and allergen labels.
For this recipe, I use Country Crock Plant Butter Sticks rather than Country Crock Original spread or standard baking sticks.

Can I make dairy-free frosting without shortening?

Yes. This recipe uses plant butter instead of vegetable shortening.
It has a softer texture and more buttery flavor than a shortening-based frosting.

Is dairy-free frosting good for piping?

For piping, use the full amount of powdered sugar and add as little non-dairy milk as possible.
If the frosting becomes too soft while you're decorating, refrigerate it briefly before continuing.

Is dairy-free frosting the same as vegan frosting?

Not always.
Dairy-free means the recipe doesn't contain dairy ingredients. Vegan recipes also avoid other animal-derived ingredients.

Does dairy-free frosting need to be refrigerated?

Yes. Because this recipe is made with plant-based butter and isn't formulated as a shelf-stable frosting, I recommend storing it in the refrigerator.

Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:

Pairing

These are my favorite dishes to serve with Dairy Free Frosting: