Dairy Free Vanilla Buttercream

Buttercream is based on butter, but this is a big problem when someone has a dairy allergy like my young nephew and can’t have traditional butter. Fortunately dairy-free butter has come a long way since margarine and hydrogenated vegetable shortening. Today’s dairy-free butter alternatives try to mimic butter in a healthier way with more natural ingredients and no trans fats. The problem is each of these “butters” tastes and performs differently in different baked goods—a problem that becomes painfully apparent when butter is the main ingredient as it is in buttercream frosting. Many butter substitutes are salted which only accentuates the off flavors of the pea proteins used to emulsify the products. After many a trial and error, I found that an unsalted dairy-free butter by Violife makes the best American Buttercream I’ve tried. Not only the best dairy-free butter cream, but one that rivals a buttercream made with traditional butter. In fact most people I served this to remarked that it tasted “buttery” and had no idea it was in fact dairy-free. This isn’t sponsored by Violife and I wouldn’t have even developed this recipe if it wasn’t for my nephew developing an allergy to dairy, but I’m glad I did so I can share it with you and save you the trouble of trying out a bunch of different and expensive butter substitutes. I also included a Fairtrade Milk and Dark chocolate version of this buttercream below this recipe. You can see a video demonstration of this recipe as well as the dairy free version of my Easy Fluffy Vanilla Cake on my YouTube channel here.

Directions:

Combine vanilla extract, plant milk and salt in a small bowl and stir to dissolve salt. Set aside.
Place softened plant-based butter in a large bowl and beat with an electric handheld beater until smooth.
Gradually add powdered sugar to the plant-based butter one cup at a time, beating on low to medium speed, between each addition until it is completely incorporated.
Add the vanilla extract, plant milk and salt and beat until light and fluffy.
Use immediately or place in an air tight container and refrigerate until needed.
If refrigerating, let come to room temperature and stir vigorously before using.

For Fairtrade Milk/Dark Chocolate Buttercream:

Add 62 grams (about 12 ½ Tbsp) natural or dutch processed unsweetened Fairtrade cocoa powder in with the powdered sugar. (For a dark chocolate flavor increase cocoa powder to 124 grams and increase milk to 4 Tbsp.)
Reduce vanilla extract to 4 tsp.
Increase non-dairy milk to 3 Tbsp

(Makes about 3½ cups)

Ingredients:

500 grams (2 blocks) Violife Unsalted Plant-based Butter (softened)
744 grams (6 ¼ cups Powdered Sugar
4 ½ tsp Pure Vanilla Extract
2 Tbsp Unsweetened Plain Non-Dairy Milk of choice.
⅛ tsp Table Salt

Buttercream is based on butter, but this is a big problem when someone has a dairy allergy like my young nephew and can’t have traditional butter. Fortunately dairy-free butter has come a long way since margarine and hydrogenated vegetable shortening. Today’s dairy-free butter alternatives try to mimic butter in a healthier way with more natural ingredients and no trans fats. The problem is each of these “butters” tastes and performs differently in different baked goods—a problem that becomes painfully apparent when butter is the main ingredient as it is in buttercream frosting. Many butter substitutes are salted which only accentuates the off flavors of the pea proteins used to emulsify the products. After many a trial and error, I found that an unsalted dairy-free butter by Violife makes the best American Buttercream I’ve tried. Not only the best dairy-free butter cream, but one that rivals a buttercream made with traditional butter. In fact most people I served this to remarked that it tasted “buttery” and had no idea it was in fact dairy-free. This isn’t sponsored by Violife and I wouldn’t have even developed this recipe if it wasn’t for my nephew developing an allergy to dairy, but I’m glad I did so I can share it with you and save you the trouble of trying out a bunch of different and expensive butter substitutes. I also included a Fairtrade Milk and Dark chocolate version of this buttercream below this recipe. You can see a video demonstration of this recipe as well as the dairy free version of my Easy Fluffy Vanilla Cake on my YouTube channel here.

Simmer & Stir