Substitute For Cream Cheese In Frosting

Last Updated on December 22, 2021 by Guillermina

Introduction

Discovering you don’t have a necessary ingredient for a recipe can be incredibly frustrating! As most would assume, baking as a vegan is not boss-level hard. There are plenty of methods to substituting ingredients in recipes, like finding a cream cheese replacement, and as vegans, we come to perfect that ability—so why not do the same in terms of finding a Substitute For Cream Cheese In Frosting?

Jump to Recipe

As a vegan, I have had plenty of trial and error in terms of baking and figuring out that no, almond flour does not substitute 1:1 to all-purpose flour…the dessert dry banana bread that had been sadly mummified in the oven says so. (Note: almond flour sucks in more moisture than all-purpose flour. Be warned!). Finding a cream cheese substitute for your red velvet cupcakes or other baked goods can seem impossible, but it’s not!

That’s why in this article, I’m going to provide 5 alternatives to cream cheese frosting to boost your baking spirit morale and save the day! 

5 Common Cream Cheese Substitutes

Greek Yogurt

Much healthier than its cream cheese alternative, Greek yogurt is high in protein and low in fat. You can replace the cream cheese with a 1:1 ratio of greek yogurt. Thankfully, there is vegan greek yogurt, from our favorite brands, available to vegan and non-vegans alike!

Try out:

1. Kite Hill, Greek Yogurt
2. Silk, Greek Style Coconut Milk Yogurt Alternative

Ricotta Cheese

To replace cream cheese with ricotta cheese for the frosting, you must add heavy cream or yogurt in equal parts ratio to add flavor and texture as ricotta cheese is very crumbly.

Try out:

1. Toffuti, Better Than Ricotta Cheese
2. Kite Hill, Almond Milk Ricotta Alternative

Tofu

Tofu, especially silken tofu, can easily be added to smoothies, dressings, bread, and frosting, for a punch of protein and thickness. It is a great cream cheese replacement due to its thickness and creamy texture. 

Try out:

1. 365 by Whole Foods Market, Organic Silken Tofu
2. Morinaga, Mori-nu Silken Tofu

Butter

A simple replacement and normally in-stock in the kitchen, butter is another common replacement for cream cheese in the frosting. The frosting can be made into a buttercream frosting over a cream cheese frosting that has more thickness and texture than a buttercream frosting. 

Try out:

1. Earth Balance, Soy-free Buttery Spread
2. Miyoko’s, European Style Cultured Vegan Butter

Shortening

Vegetable shortening can easily replace cream cheese in a frosting recipe. It can replace butter in a 1:1 ratio to make a sort of buttercream frosting…though in this case, it would technically be called shortening frosting. There might be a slight lack of flavor compared to the butter or cream cheese, but the shortening does the job of creating an effective frosting.

Try out:

1. Nutiva, Original Shortening
2. Spectrum, Organic All Vegetable Shortening

2 Yummy Baked Goods To Pair With Cream Cheese Frosting 

Key Lime Cupcakes

It’s not key lime without the thick, creamy pairing of whipped cream or cream cheese frosting! Get into the summer holiday spirit with key lime cupcakes paired with your favorite cream cheese frosting substitute.

Carrot Cake

Another great cream cheese frosting pairing is with carrot cake! This is a homemade necessity. Pairing carrot cake without cream cheese frosting is unheard of, what with the unrivaled thickness, texture, and flavor of cream cheese frosting paired with the sweet, goodness of homemade carrot cake!

What You Will Need To Make Vegan Vanilla Buttercream Frosting

Making vegan buttercream frosting only requires a few ingredients. To ensure the ingredients for the frosting are thoroughly combined, using a stand mixer or handheld mixer is highly recommended. It also saves a good bout of time and elbow grease.

Ingredients:

• 3 cups Powdered Sugar (Wholesome, Organic Fair Trade Powdered Confectioners Sugar)
• ⅓ cup Vegan Butter (Earth Balance, Soy-free Buttery Spread)
• 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
• 1-2 Tbsp Soy Milk or other non-dairy milk

Equipment:

• Mixer (Handheld Mixer/Stand Mixer/Hand Mixer)
• Bowl
• Spatula (To Scrape The Sides Of The Bowl)

Step By Step Instructions

Step 1: Gather Your Supplies

Gather all of the ingredients and supplies needed to make this Vegan Vanilla Buttercream Frosting recipe. 

Step 2: Combine Ingredients Minus The Soy Milk

In the mixing bowl, combine all of the frosting ingredients minus the soy milk. Start the mixing speed on slow and gradually increase until the frosting is creamy and combined. 

Step 3: Add Soy Milk

Add the soy milk, starting off with one tablespoon to measure the desired consistency and thickness of the frosting used for spreading or piping. 

Step 4: Mix

Mix all of the ingredients together until obtain desired consistency. 

Step 5: Enjoy!

Enjoy this Vegan Vanilla Buttercream Frosting recipe on top of cakes, cupcakes, and more! 

Tips and Tricks

There are a few tips and tricks for this Vegan Vanilla Buttercream Frosting recipe!

One to note is that when adding the soy milk to the frosting, if you end up going overboard and the frosting is too thin or drippy for pipping, simply add more powdered sugar to thicken it back up. Start with adding ½ cup of powdered sugar, then mix. If it is still too thin, add repeat the process until acquiring desired consistency. 

The same can be said if the frosting is too thick for spreading easily onto a cake or cupcakes. Add soy milk, or water, to the frosting to thin the frosting. Start with a tablespoon and then mix. If it is still too thick, add another tablespoon. 

If you want to add a splash of color to your frosting, add vegan food dye to the frosting at the end and mix. Try out ColorKitchen’s Food Coloring for bright and colorful vegan-friendly food dyes! 

Servings And Preparation Time

Conclusion

Did you enjoy this recipe? Make sure to leave a comment below to tell us what you think or if you have any questions. Don’t forget to share this article for Substitutes For Cream Cheese In Frosting along with our favorite Vegan Vanilla Buttercream Frosting recipe.

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