Vegan Chocolate Buttercream

Vegan chocolate buttercream is a staple in any plant-based baker’s kitchen – and our recipe is an ideal addition to your cookbook, for when you need to whip up a quick and easy chocolate frosting for your next baking session.

This recipe uses just five common ingredients and it can be made within 15 minutes. The result is a rich buttercream that’s fluffy, silky smooth, chocolatey, and melts in your mouth.

It makes the perfect frosting for birthday cakes, cupcakes, donuts, or even cheesecake. Or you can just eat it straight from the bowl – your secret is safe with us!

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What is Chocolate Buttercream?

Buttercream is a sweet whipped mixture of butter and milk, usually with a creamy vanilla flavor.

With a light and fluffy texture, it’s a traditional finishing touch to cupcakes and birthday cakes – it looks great and tastes even better. Kids love it, and so do grownups!

Chocolate buttercream is simply standard buttercream infused with the rich flavor of chocolate. It therefore goes really well with any kind of chocolate cake.

If you’If you’re looking for a non-chocolate vegan buttercream, check our standard Vegan Buttercream Frosting recipe here.

Is Chocolate Buttercream Vegan?

Not usually. The word ‘butter’ in the name is a giveaway that buttercream contains dairy, usually in the form of butter, milk, and milk chocolate.

But our chocolate buttercream is completely vegan! We use plant-based butter and almond milk instead of dairy products, which deliver the same consistency as regular dairy buttercream.

Is this Vegan Chocolate Buttercream Gluten-Free?

It sure is! There are no ingredients containing gluten in this recipe.

Is Vegan Chocolate Buttercream Easy to Make?

Yes! It takes around 15 minutes and there are just five ingredients that require mixing together in a stand mixer (or hand mixer). This will make around two cups of frosting.

What is Vegan Chocolate Buttercream Made Of?

We use just five common plant-based ingredients, including:

• Vegan butter, softened
• Almond milk
• Vanilla extract
• Powdered sugar
• Cocoa powder

If you want to make this buttercream sugar-free, simply replace the powdered sugar with powdered monk fruit.

How to Make Vegan Chocolate Buttercream

To an automatic mixer, add the softened vegan butter, almond milk, and vanilla extract, and beat on medium speed until light and fluffy.

When that’s ready, add the powdered sugar (or powdered monk fruit) little by little, while continuing to mix.

Next, add the cocoa powder little by little, and mix again.

That’s all there is to it! Use the buttercream immediately or refrigerate it until you are ready to use it.

Tips for the Best Vegan Chocolate Buttercream

To make buttercream super fluffy, we recommend using room temperature almond milk, and room temperature butter. Don’t skip this tip – it’s important! The tricky part about this tip is that everyone’s version of room temperature is slightly different. Room temperature butter is actually cool to the touch. It might be colder than your kitchen! The best way to be sure is to press it. Your finger should make an indent, but it should not look greasy.

If you refrigerate your chocolate buttercream for later, bring it to room temperature for about 15 minutes before using. This will allow the buttercream to be spread or piped more easily.

Feel free to adjust the consistency by adding more liquid to thin it out (just one teaspoon at a time) or more powdered sugar (1/4 cup at a time) to thicken. Remember to add these ingredients slowly!

FAQ

How to Store Vegan Chocolate Buttercream

After mixing, transfer this vegan chocolate buttercream into an airtight container. It will then store very well in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Can You Freeze Vegan Chocolate Buttercream?

You can! In fact, this will keep in the freezer for up to 2 months, when transferred to a freezer-proof container. 

When you are ready to use the buttercream, allow it to thaw at room temperature, then whip it up to restore the soft and fluffy texture.

Can You Make Vegan Chocolate Buttercream Ahead of Time?

Yes, our vegan chocolate buttercream can be made in advance. When you are done mixing, simply transfer the buttercream to a suitable container then store it in the fridge.

How Long Does Vegan Chocolate Buttercream Last?

Providing it is stored correctly in an airtight container, our vegan chocolate buttercream will last for up to 4 days in the fridge, and 2 months in the freezer.

How Do You Keep Vegan Frosting From Melting?

Vegan chocolate buttercream is at its most useful when it’s stable – melting buttercream makes messy cakes!

There are several reasons your buttercream frosting may melt. One of these is that you are using too much almond milk. The only way to cure this is to add more powdered sugar (or powdered monk fruit).

Sometimes the vegan butter you use is to blame. Different brands react differently, so there may be a bit of trial and error when first making this recipe. The choice is yours, although Earth Balance butters tend to offer good results.

Additionally, when adding your frosting to a cake, ensure the cake is completely cool first. If the cake is still warm, then the buttercream is more likely to melt and slide off.

Good luck!

If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag your photos with @healthiir on Instagram!