My 5-ingredient vegan strawberry cream cheese frosting is silky, naturally pink, and packed with real strawberry flavour. Perfect for piping onto cupcakes, spreading on bagels, or enjoying straight from the bowl, this frosting is dairy-free, soy-free, tree nut-free, and egg-free. It takes just a few minutes to make and adds a beautiful, fresh flavour to cakes, cupcakes, donuts, or even breakfast treats.
Why I Made This
I love the combination of homemade strawberry jam and cream cheese – it’s tangy, fruity, and just irresistible. Pairing it with vegan butter and icing sugar creates a frosting that’s light, fluffy and naturally coloured with visible strawberry seeds. No food dye needed! It’s my go-to frosting for cakes and cupcakes, bagels, waffles and even donuts.
Why You Should Make This
This strawberry cream cheese frosting is perfect when you are craving something allergy-friendly that takes a few minutes to make. It is:
- Quick and easy to make: just 5 minutes.
- Allergen-friendly, so no one needs to miss out.
- Versatile: cakes, cupcakes, donuts and the perfect sweet spread for your breakfast bagels.
- Indulgent yet fresh: silky, sweet, bursting with strawberry flavour.
Grab your ingredients and make this frosting today – your cupcakes (and taste buds) will thank you!
Ingredients and Substitutions
These 5 simple ingredients create a silky, naturally pink vegan frosting that’s allergy-friendly and full of flavour.
- Coconut-based cream cheese – Mild and creamy, and adds a subtle tropical note. Swap for a soy-based cream cheese if preferred.
- Vegan butter – Adds richness and structure. Check labels if you are soy-intolerant.
- Strawberry jam – Naturally sweet and adds colour. Substitute with raspberry jam or blueberry compote for a fun twist. Choose unsweetened if controlling your sugar levels.
- Vanilla bean paste – Intensifies flavour. Sub with extract if you don’t have the paste.
- Icing sugar – Sweetens and thickens the frosting. Sift if clumpy and add gradually to control texture.
- Optional: Salt – Elevates flavours and balances sweetness. Taste while making and add if needed.
How to Make Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting
Follow these simple steps to make a silky, naturally pink frosting.
Add 113g (4 oz) vegan cream cheese and 30g (2 tbsp) room-temperature vegan butter to a mixing bowl. Beat until light and fluffy using a hand mixer or stand mixer. For small batches like this, a hand mixer works best. Make sure both the cream cheese and butter are at room temperature for the smoothest texture.
Mix in 60g (3 tbsp) strawberry jam and a splash of vanilla bean paste. I love that the jam adds a natural pink hue to the frosting and that you can see all the little bits of strawberry seeds in it as well.
Gradually add 360g (3 US Cups) of icing sugar. When adding the icing sugar, I prefer to add a little bit at a time so that I don’t end up with a huge icing sugar mess everywhere. The frosting will start to thicken and become pipeable.
Top tip – taste the frosting at this stage and decide whether you want to add a little bit of salt. The salt will balance the sweetness and also help to enhance the strawberry flavour. I added a pinch of salt, and it really made a difference.
I love how the flavour of the strawberries comes through, and the subtle coconut flavour from the cream cheese complements it well. Not a fan of coconut? Use soy-based cream cheese instead.
Your frosting is ready to enjoy on cupcakes, cakes, donuts, bagels, or straight from the bowl. Our kids couldn’t wait to lick the whisk beaters!
Decorating Tips
If you plan to pipe the frosting onto a cake or cupcakes, I recommend chilling it in the fridge for 30 minutes to firm up. Rewhip slightly if the frosting is too firm after chilling.
Then transfer to a piping bag fitted with a large star tip (2D or 1M). Check out the video in the recipe card for a quick tutorial. These decorating supplies are on my Amazon storefront (affiliate link).
Storage Instructions
Proper storage ensures your frosting stays fresh and delicious:
- Refrigerator: Store in an airtight container for 1–2 weeks. Rewhip before piping.
- Freezer: Freeze up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and rewhip before use.
- Note: Frosting may soften slightly at room temperature – perfect for spreading or dipping, but refrigerate if not using immediately.
Cream Cheese Frosting Questions
This batch is enough to frost approximately 12 cupcakes or lightly cover a small cake. Adjust quantities as needed for larger projects.
Absolutely! This frosting pairs well with carrot cake. For an 8-inch cake, double the recipe to ensure you have enough frosting.
Yes. Try raspberry, apricot, or homemade fruit compote for a new twist. Each jam will naturally change the frosting colour and flavour.
Yes! You can prepare frosting a day in advance and store it in the fridge. Rewhip before piping for the best texture.
Flavour Suggestions
This frosting recipe is easily changeable – simply swap the strawberry jam for your favourite flavour and create your own fun combinations. Here are a few suggestions that we love:
- Blueberry Frosting: Substitute strawberry jam with 3-ingredient blueberry compote.
- Raspberry Frosting: Use raspberry jam for a vibrant, tangy flavour.
- Citrus Twist: Add 1 tsp lemon or orange zest for brightness.
- Chocolate-Strawberry: Fold in 1–2 tbsp cocoa powder for a strawberry-chocolate combo.
Tip: These variations are naturally vegan, dairy-free, and allergen-friendly, just like the base frosting.
Ready to Frost your Favourite Treats?
Whether you’re topping cupcakes, filling a cake, or spreading on bagels, this vegan strawberry cream cheese frosting will make any dessert extra special. Check out these amazing bakes that pair well with this frosting:
- Red Velvet Cupcakes (Vegan)
- Vanilla Cupcakes (Vegan)
- Carrot Cake (Dairy Free)
- Red Velvet Donuts (Vegan)
Bookmark this page for quick reference whenever you need a fast, allergen-friendly frosting. Try it today and share your creations! Don’t forget to show off your frosted cupcakes on Instagram – tag me @itsbakeangel – I love seeing your creations.
- Tag me on Instagram: Show off your frosted cupcakes, cakes, or bagels — I love seeing your creations!
- Pinterest inspiration: Pin your favorite flavor variation or decorating idea.
- Experiment: Swap jams, add citrus zest, or try a chocolate twist — the possibilities are endless!
Vegan Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting
Equipment
Angela’s Top Tip
Weigh your dry ingredients in grams with a scale for best results!
Ingredients
- 113 grams Vegan Cream Cheese (4 oz or half a container – room temperature)
- 30 grams Plant Based Butter (unsalted) (2 tbsp – room temperature)
- 60 grams Strawberry Jam (3 tbsp)
- 360 grams Icing Sugar (3 US Cups)
- Dash Vanilla Bean Paste
- Pinch of Salt (if needed)
Instructions
- Combine 113 grams Vegan Cream Cheese and 30 grams Plant Based Butter (unsalted)Beat until light and fluffy.
- Mix in 60 grams Strawberry Jam and a Dash Vanilla Bean Paste until evenly combined. The jam will give a natural pink colour and visible strawberry seeds.
- Gradually whisk in 360 grams Icing Sugar until the frosting is thick and pipable. I like to add the icing sugar in thirds to avoid a huge cloud of icing sugar going everywhere!
- Taste the frosting and add a Pinch of Salt if required, to balance the sweetness and enhance the strawberry flavour.
- Optional Tip – chill for piping: Refrigerate for 30 minutes if piping on cupcakes or cakes. Rewhip slightly if too firm once chilled. Transfer to a piping bag fitted with a large star tip (2D or 1M).
Video
Notes
- Yield: This recipe makes approx 3 cups of frosting, enough to ice 12 cupcakes or lightly frost a 6-inch cake. Double the recipe if filling and fully icing an 8-inch cake.
- Storage: Store your Vegan Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting in an airtight container for 1–2 weeks. Rewhip before piping if needed.
- Freezer: Freeze up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and rewhip before use.
- Tips for Piping: Chill frosting for 30 minutes before piping to firm it up. Use a large star tip (2D or 1M) for swirls. Rewhip slightly if too firm.
- Recipe Flexibility: Swap the strawberry jam for raspberry, blueberry, or homemade fruit compote for a fun twist. Add citrus zest or cocoa powder for unique flavour variations.
- Nutrition: Nutrition information is based on a ¼ cup (60 mL) serving of Vegan Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting – enough for 1 cupcake. Serving size may vary depending on use. Estimates are provided for informational purposes only.
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