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Vegan Butter Substitutes for Frosting

Discover the best vegan butter substitutes specifically for making frosting and buttercream. Learn which options create the perfect texture, stability, and flavor for cakes, cupcakes, and other desserts.

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Quick Answer

The best vegan butter substitutes for frosting are Earth Balance Buttery Spread, Miyoko's Creamery, and Country Crock Plant Butter. Let them come to room temperature and cream with powdered sugar for perfect buttercream texture.

Best Substitutes

Earth Balance Buttery Spread

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Earth Balance Buttery Spread is excellent for frosting and buttercream. It has the right fat content and texture to create smooth, stable frosting that holds its shape and pipes beautifully.

Best for:

buttercream frostingcream cheese frostingchocolate frostingvanilla frostingpiping and decoratingall frosting types

Let come to room temperature before using. Cream with powdered sugar for 3-4 minutes until light and fluffy. Provides excellent texture and stability for piping and decorating.

Miyoko's Creamery European Style Cultured Vegan Butter

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Miyoko's premium vegan butter creates exceptional frosting with rich, buttery flavor. The cultured taste adds depth and sophistication to buttercream and other frosting types.

Best for:

buttercream frostingwhen you want premium qualitysophisticated frosting flavorsbutter-forward frostingshigh-end desserts

More expensive but provides superior taste and texture. The cultured flavor enhances frosting taste, especially in vanilla and chocolate buttercream. Creates smooth, stable frosting.

Country Crock Plant Butter

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Country Crock's plant butter works well for frosting applications. It's widely available and affordable, making it a good option for everyday frosting needs.

Best for:

buttercream frostingchocolate frostingvanilla frostingwhen you want widely available optionbudget-conscious frostingfamily desserts

Good for most frosting applications. Let come to room temperature and cream properly with powdered sugar. May not be as stable as specialty vegan butter brands for complex piping.

Violife Plant Butter

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Violife's palm oil-free vegan butter works well in frosting applications. It's made from coconut and sunflower oils, providing good performance while being environmentally conscious.

Best for:

buttercream frostingchocolate frostingwhen you want palm oil-freeenvironmentally conscious bakinggeneral frosting applications

Palm oil-free option that performs well in most frosting recipes. Has slightly different texture than traditional vegan butters but works well for most frosting types.

Homemade Vegan Butter Blend

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A homemade blend of refined coconut oil, plant milk, and salt creates a customizable vegan butter substitute perfect for frosting. You control all ingredients and can adjust the flavor profile.

Best for:

buttercream frostingwhen you want control over ingredientscustomizable frosting flavorsavoiding processed ingredientssimple frosting recipes

Blend 1 cup refined coconut oil with 2-3 tablespoons plant milk and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Let come to room temperature before using. Can be customized with different plant milks for varying flavors.

Coconut Oil (Room Temperature)

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Room temperature coconut oil can work as a vegan butter substitute in frosting, though it may not provide the same stability as commercial vegan butters.

Best for:

simple frostingwhen you want coconut flavortropical-themed dessertsbasic buttercreamwhen you want simple option

Use refined coconut oil for neutral flavor. Let come to room temperature and cream with powdered sugar. May not be as stable as commercial vegan butters for complex piping.

Cashew Cream

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Blended cashews create a rich, creamy base for frosting that works well in both sweet and savory applications. It's particularly good for cream cheese-style frostings.

Best for:

cream cheese frostingwhen you want rich creaminesssavory frostingsdips and spreadswhen you want protein-rich option

Soak cashews for 2-4 hours, then blend with water until smooth. Add salt and nutritional yeast for a more buttery flavor. Best for cream cheese-style frostings rather than traditional buttercream.

Avocado

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Mashed avocado can work as a butter substitute in some frosting applications, particularly chocolate frostings where the green color won't be noticeable.

Best for:

chocolate frostingwhen you want healthy fatschocolate-based dessertssome buttercreamhealthy frosting options

Best in chocolate recipes where the color is masked. Provides healthy monounsaturated fats and adds creaminess. May not work well in light-colored frostings due to green tint.

Cooking Tips

  • 💡For buttercream frosting, let vegan butter come to room temperature before creaming for best results
  • 💡When making cream cheese frosting, use room temperature vegan butter and cream cheese for smooth texture
  • 💡For chocolate frosting, use high-quality vegan butter like Miyoko's for best flavor and stability
  • 💡In vanilla frosting, cream vegan butter with powdered sugar for 3-4 minutes until light and fluffy
  • 💡For piping and decorating, use a stable vegan butter like Earth Balance for best results
  • 💡When making frosting, add liquid ingredients gradually to prevent breaking or curdling
  • 💡For stable frosting, use a high-fat vegan butter and avoid overmixing
  • 💡In frosting recipes, the temperature of vegan butter affects texture - room temperature works best for creaming

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the best vegan butter substitute for buttercream frosting?

For buttercream frosting, use Earth Balance Buttery Spread or Miyoko's Creamery. Let them come to room temperature and cream with powdered sugar for 3-4 minutes until light and fluffy. This creates the perfect texture and stability.

Can I use coconut oil instead of vegan butter in frosting?

Yes, room temperature coconut oil can work as a vegan butter substitute in frosting. Use refined coconut oil for neutral flavor and cream with powdered sugar. It may not be as stable as commercial vegan butters for complex piping.

Why is my vegan frosting too runny?

Runny frosting is often caused by using vegan butter that's too warm or has too much water content. Use a high-fat vegan butter like Earth Balance and make sure it's at room temperature, not melted. Also, don't overmix the frosting.

What's the best vegan butter for cream cheese frosting?

For cream cheese frosting, use Earth Balance Buttery Spread or Miyoko's Creamery. Let both the vegan butter and cream cheese come to room temperature before mixing. This creates smooth, stable frosting with good flavor.

Can I substitute vegan butter for butter in chocolate frosting?

Yes, vegan butter works excellently in chocolate frosting. Use high-quality vegan butter like Miyoko's for best flavor, or Earth Balance for consistent results. The butter flavor enhances the chocolate taste.

What's the difference between using solid vs room temperature vegan butter in frosting?

Room temperature vegan butter creams better with powdered sugar and creates smoother frosting. Solid vegan butter is harder to cream and may create lumpy frosting. Always let vegan butter come to room temperature for frosting.

Can I use vegan butter in royal icing?

Royal icing typically doesn't use butter, but if you're making a butter-based royal icing, use room temperature vegan butter and cream it properly with powdered sugar and meringue powder for stability.

Why is my vegan frosting grainy?

Grainy frosting is usually caused by using cold vegan butter or not creaming it long enough. Let vegan butter come to room temperature and cream with powdered sugar for 3-4 minutes until light and fluffy.

Summary

Find the best vegan butter substitutes for making perfect frosting and buttercream. Learn about Earth Balance, Miyoko's, and coconut oil options with proper techniques for cakes, cupcakes, and other desserts.