Cream Cheese Frosting (Dairy-Free)

Thanks to vegan cream cheese, those of us who eat dairy-free or vegan can still enjoy the tangy sharp taste of cream cheese frosting.

I'm so glad vegan cream cheese is now more available than it used to be. I can usually find vegan cream cheese at most grocery stores near me, and that certainly wasn't the case a decade ago. The quality of vegan cream cheese has also gotten better over the years, in my opinion. Kite Hill Cream Cheese is my favorite, but even cheaper brands like Simple Truth Non-Dairy Cream Cheese (found at Smith's) have a great flavor too.

Important Ingredients

• Vegan Cream Cheese — Vegan cream cheese is essential in this recipe, as it adds the tangy cream cheese flavor to the frosting.

• Vanilla Extract – Vanilla extract adds more flavor to the frosting.

• Coconut Milk – Depending on which vegan cream cheese you use (some are thicker than others), you may want to omit the coconut milk. It's only needed if the frosting is too thick.

How to Make this Recipe

Soften the vegan cream cheese. In a large microwave-safe dish, soften the vegan cream cheese by microwaving on a low power for 30 seconds. Check the vegan cream cheese. If it has softened enough that a spoon easily presses into the vegan cream cheese, it's ready for mixing. If not, microwave for another 30 seconds on a low power, until the vegan cream cheese has softened. You want it soft but not fully liquid.

Add vanilla extract. Add the vanilla extract to the softened vegan cream cheese. Using a hand mixer (or a stand mixer), whip briefly till incorporated.

Add powdered sugar. Add the powdered sugar 1 cup at a time, scraping the sides of the bowl with a spatula in between mixing.

Optionally add coconut milk. When you have finished incorporating the powdered sugar, add the coconut milk only if the frosting is too thick to spread. Some vegan cream cheese is different from others and depending on which you choose, you may or may not need the coconut milk.

Recipe Notes

Soften but don't melt. If you soften your vegan cream cheese until it has turned to liquid, you will notice that your frosting is more runny. Just add a little more powdered sugar until you reach the desired consistency and omit the coconut milk.

Substitutions

Milk alternatives. While I am a coconut milk fan, almond milk or cashew milk would also work in this recipe.