This Vegan Chocolate Frosting is THE best — velvety, decadent, and so creamy! It’s only 6 ingredients, very easy and fool-proof to make, and great for all your cakes, cupcakes. Perfect for piping too!

Glass mixing bowl of rich chocolate frosting with a gold spoon

Everything tastes better covered in Vegan Chocolate Frosting! Sometimes I’m in the mood for a simple vegan cream cheese frosting, but nothing beats creamy, fluffy chocolate buttercream with totally dairy-free ingredients but all the powdered sugar sweetness!

Chocolate sheet cake covered in creamy chocolate frosting with sprinkles on a cooling rack

I’ve been using this chocolate frosting recipe for over 10 years in my chocolate cake recipe. The only difference is that I’ve veganised it. It’s still as velvety, smooth, sweet and chocolate-y as ever. P.S. try not to eat the whole thing before it reaches your end product okay?!

Notes on the Ingredients

powdered sugar, cocoa powder, vanilla extract, salt, and vegan butter in a glass bowl

  • Unsweetened Cocoa Powder: I recommend using a high-quality unsweetened cocoa powder. This is where all the chocolate flavour comes from!
  • Unsalted Vegan Butter: it’s also okay if you use salted vegan butter, just skip the salt below!
  • Vanilla Extract: This simple extract adds excellent flavour! You could also use a different flavouring if you want to add an almond extract, orange extract, or even a chocolate extract.
  • Sea Salt – if using kosher or table salt, use less so it’s not oversalted
  • Powdered Sugar: you can also use confectioner’s sugar (it’s the same thing). You can also make your own by just blending any sugar in your blender before adding it to the frosting!
  • Vegan Milk: your choice! Almond, oat, soy — you’ll only need a little to get the perfect consistency.

How to Make Vegan Chocolate Frosting (Step by Step Instructions)

Powdered sugar, butter, and cocoa powder in a glass mixing bowl

First, add the cocoa powder, vegan butter, most of the powdered sugar, vanilla extract, sea salt and half the vegan milk to the bowl of an electric stand mixer or a hand mixer. Start mixing at slow speed, gradually increasing speed until it’s very thick and smooth.

Glass mixing bowl of rich chocolate frosting with a gold spoon

Add the rest of the powdered sugar a bit at a time until it reaches your desired thickness and consistency. If needed, add in the other half of the milk about 1 tablespoon at a time.

Expert Tips and FAQs

Looking for some tips on how to make the best vegan frosting? I’ve got you covered:

  • Sift Your Powdered Sugar: Be sure to sift your powdered sugar before making your vegan frosting! This makes such a tremendous difference to the creamy consistency of the frosting.
  • Soften First: Make sure your vegan butter is soft enough to spread but not runny. This is the base for the vegan chocolate frosting texture.
  • Keep Whipping: For the fluffiest frosting, you want to whip the air into the mixture. I prefer using a stand mixer because this can take about 5 minutes!
  • To Avoid Thick Frosting: You don’t want the frosting to be runny, but you also want it to spread easily across the top of the cake. If your frosting turns out to be too thick, try adding a splash of milk to it.

How to Store Leftover Frosting

With its stable, plant-based ingredients, you can store this at room temperature for up to 3 days! If you want to store it longer than that, keep it in the fridge for a couple weeks or the freezer for up to 3 months.

Can you Freeze Chocolate Frosting?

Absolutely! Let it thaw overnight in the fridge before you plan to use it for the smoothest ready-to-use vegan frosting.

Chocolate cupcakes topped with vegan chocolate frosting in white cupcake papers

Enjoy friends! If you make this Vegan Chocolate Frosting, please snap a photo and tag #jessicainthekitchen on Instagram! We’d also love if you would leave a comment below, and give the recipe a rating! Thanks so much!

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Glass mixing bowl of rich chocolate frosting with a gold spoon

Vegan Chocolate Frosting (6 Ingredients)

Servings: 12 cupcakes
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
This Vegan Chocolate Frosting is THE best – velvety, decadent and so creamy! It's only 6 ingredients, is very easy and fool proof to make and great for all your cakes, cupcakes, brownies and is perfect for piping too!
5 (from 23 ratings)
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Ingredients

  • 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • ½ cup unsalted vegan butter, (softened) or if using salted, don't use the sea salt below
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • pinch of sea salt
  • 2 ½ to 3 cups powdered sugar
  • ⅓ cup vegan milk, plus 1 tablespoon extra if needed for consistency

Equipment

  • Stand mixer

Instructions 

  • Add the cocoa powder, vegan butter, 2 ½ cups of the powdered sugar, vanilla extract, sea salt and half the vegan milk to the bowl of an electric stand mixer or a hand mixer. 
  • Start mixing it together at slow speed, gradually increasing speed until it’s very thick and smooth. 
  • Add the ½ cup of the extra powdered sugar at a time until it reaches your desired thickness and consistency. If needed, add in the other half of the milk about 1 tablespoon at a time.

Notes

Sift Your Powdered Sugar: Be sure to sift your powdered sugar before making your vegan frosting! This makes such a tremendous difference to the creamy consistency of the frosting.
Soften First: Make sure your vegan butter is soft enough to spread but not runny. This is the base for the vegan chocolate frosting texture.
Keep Whipping: For the fluffiest frosting, you want to whip the air into the mixture. I prefer using a stand mixer because this can take about 5 minutes!
To Avoid Thick Frosting: You don’t want the frosting to be runny, but you also want it to spread easily across the top of the cake. If your frosting turns out to be too thick, try adding a splash of milk to it.
Calories: 170kcal, Carbohydrates: 29g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 7g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Trans Fat: 1g, Sodium: 72mg, Potassium: 113mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 25g, Vitamin A: 360IU, Calcium: 18mg, Iron: 1mg

Disclaimer: Although jessicainthekitchen.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, kindly note that these are only estimates. Nutritional information may be affected based on the product type, the brand that was purchased, and in other unforeseeable ways. Jessicainthekitchen.com will not be held liable for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on nutritional information. If you need to follow a specific caloric regimen, please consult your doctor first.

Cuisine: American
Course: Dessert
Author: Jessica Hylton