Basic Vegan Chocolate Frosting

Name: BASIC VEGAN CHOCOLATE FROSTING
Prep time: 5 min
Yield: 10 servings
Ingredients: 3 cups icing sugar (confectioner's sugar); 3 - 4 tbsp softened vegan butter spread; 3 tbsp cocoa powder (heaped tablespoons); pinch fine sea salt; 3 tbsp dairy-free milk (+ more to desired consistency); 1 tsp vanilla extract

July 16, 2019

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After posting The Best Classic Vegan Chocolate Cake I thought I’d jump right in and follow with a quick recipe for a basic vegan chocolate frosting. This frosting is super quick to make and is just the right balance of sweet to chocolate.

close-up, full frame image of a vegan chocolate frosting swirl

Like the cake recipe, this is a classic vegan chocolate frosting recipe. It’s not healthy and isn’t intended to be. If you’d like to make a healthier frosting try my Wicked Vegan Chocolate Beetroot Cakes (GF) – they have a wonderful avocado chocolate frosting. I also love this healthy chocolate frosting made with sweet potato from the Michelle at Sunkissed Kitchen.

This one however is just a classic frosting. It’s a cross between a buttercream frosting and icing. I find most buttercream frosting too much; I don’t enjoy the buttery tongue coating situation that occurs so this is pretty much buttercream with only a little butter. Vegan butter that is. I use Nuttelex – an Australian brand – but you can use whichever vegan butter spread you like. The more butter you add, the softer the frosting will be. Less butter and you are leaning towards a more icing-style topping.

I use this vegan chocolate frosting on pretty much any cake that will stand still – I use it on my Simple Vegan Vanilla Cupcakes and even my Vegan Pumpkin Cupcakes. Chocolate and pumpkin work – I don’t question the alchemy.

Close-up image of a white mixing bowl full of vegan chocolate frosting swirls

So, there you have it. A quickie post for a quick and simple frosting. Keep it in your back pocket for special occasions or you, know….a Monday.

Enjoy, x

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4.34 from 3 votes

BASIC VEGAN CHOCOLATE FROSTING

This Basic Vegan Chocolate Frosting is super quick to make and is just the right balance of sweet to chocolate.

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Keyword vegan frosting

Prep Time 5 minutes

Servings servings

Calories 171kcal

Author Amanda at MGK

Ingredients

3 cups icing sugar confectioner's sugar
3 - 4 tbsp softened vegan butter spread
3 tbsp cocoa powder heaped tablespoons
pinch fine sea salt
3 tbsp dairy-free milk + more to desired consistency
1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

Add the icing sugar, vegan butter, cocoa and sea salt to a large mixing bowl.
Using a hand-held beater set to low, beat the ingredients together on a low until combined to a rough sand consistency.
Add the dairy-free milk and vanilla and beat until well-combined and fluffy. Add a touch more milk if needed.
Use immediately or cover and store in the fridge for up to 2 days. If refrigerating, give the frosting a quick stir before use.

Nutrition

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About Author

Amanda

Amanda Logan is a published cookbook author, recipe developer and food photographer based in Australia. She has appeared in Thrive Magazine, Vegan Food and Living, The Zoe Report and The Australian Vegan Magazine.