3 Ingredient Vegan Coffee Buttercream Frosting

Name: 3 Ingredient Vegan Coffee Buttercream Frosting
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: 350 grams Icing Sugar ((3 US Cups - divided)); 150 grams Plant Based Butter (unsalted) ((1 & 1/3 sticks)); 1 tbsp Espresso Coffee ((15ml))

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This vegan coffee buttercream frosting is silky smooth, dairy-free, and packed with bold espresso flavour. Made with just 3 ingredients in 5 minutes, it’s the perfect coffee frosting for cakes, cupcakes, and brownies.

Vegan Coffee Buttercream Frosting swirled on a chocolate cupcake.

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Why I Made This Recipe

I absolutely adore coffee-flavoured desserts. With over two decades of baking experience, I’ve tested countless buttercream variations, and this buttercream is still my go-to frosting when I’m making birthday cakes and cupcakes. When I was a child, my Mum always used to make coffee cake filled with the most scrumptious buttercream.

So naturally, I HAD to give this recipe its own post on the blog and share it with you. This is dairy-free, egg-free, gluten-free, nut-free, and soy-free and ticks all the boxes for an allergy-friendly classic buttercream.

Why You’ll Love This Coffee Frosting

This vegan coffee buttercream is easy to make with just 3 ingredients, and versatile to use with a multitude of desserts. It is silky, smooth and full of flavour. Here’s why this recipe works so well:

Stable enough for piping on cakes and cupcakes
Strong espresso flavour without bitterness
Naturally dairy-free and allergy-friendly
Ready in just 5 minutes

A great recipe to have in your collection. Honestly, if you love coffee, you are going to be obsessed with this buttercream!

Image showing the best Vegan Coffee Buttercream Frosting swirled on top of a choclate cupcake.

Ingredients and Substitutions

This coffee buttercream uses simple ingredients that you most likely already have in your kitchen. Read on for more tips and recipe suggestions, and check out the FAQ for some commonly asked questions.

Dry Ingredients

Icing Sugar: I recommend sifting your icing sugar to remove clumps. This will ensure a smooth finish to your buttercream.

Wet Ingredients

Butter: Use room temperature unsalted plant-based butter. You can use salted butter to cut back on the sweetness of the buttercream, although the coffee does a good job of that. It has just the right balance in my opinion, but feel free to alter it to your taste preferences. For best results, choose a firm plant-based butter block rather than a spread, as spreads can create a softer buttercream.

Flavouring: I brewed up an espresso coffee pod and let it cool for this recipe. I find that espresso has a much deeper flavour, which is more robust in buttercream. And with it being the star of the show, you want to use your favourite coffee. Sub with instant coffee or coffee emulsion if you prefer.

How to Make Coffee Buttercream Frosting

This is honestly one of the easiest and most satisfying recipes that you’ll make, and this method creates a light, fluffy vegan coffee buttercream that’s perfect for spreading or piping.

Make sure your butter is at room temperature before starting. It needs to be slightly soft to allow it to whip up easily. Add to a bowl and whip the butter for 30 seconds until creamy and lighter in colour.

Whipped butter in a mixing bowl with a spatula.

Add half of the icing sugar, pulse a few times before increasing the speed, then whip for 30 seconds.

Why half? Adding all at once can create a huge puff of sugar – trust me!

Icing sugar on top of whipped butter in a mixing bowl.

Add the remaining icing sugar and the cooled espresso coffee. Pulse a few times, then whip for 30 seconds until is light and fluffy.

Icing sugar and espresso coffee on top of buttercream in a mixing bowl.

The buttercream should be airy with a pale espresso colour and smell glorious. Good enough to eat right away! If it’s too soft, add a little more icing to thicken.

Freshly made coffee buttercream frosting in a mixing bowl with a spatula in it.

How to Use on Cakes and Cupcakes

This coffee buttercream is the absolute best frosting to use on my classic dairy-free Coffee Layer Cake. With a generous amount inside the cake and on top, it is pure coffee heaven! Serve with a fresh cup of coffee for an extra caffeine boost.

A 9 inch round coffee cake decorated with coffee buttercream and cut in to 8 slices.

And why not pipe it on some cupcakes for the ultimate buttercream swirl or add a dollop to some brownies. I recommend using a star tip or round piping nozzle. Yum! It really does pair well with most baked goods, so don’t be afraid to try it on your favourite recipe.

A wide shot of Vegan Coffee Buttercream Frosting swirled on a chocolate cupcake. There is a slice of coffee layer cake and another cupcake in the background.

Storage and Freezing

You mean you didn’t eat it all? Oh, that must just be me then! Seriously, if you do have any leftovers, here’s how to store them so you can get your coffee buttercream fix at a later date.

Storage Tips: Store any leftover buttercream in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 14 days. Bring back to room temperature and stir with a spatula before using.

Freezing: This buttercream can be frozen for up to 3 months in an airtight container. Defrost in the fridge overnight before using. Make sure you whip it slightly with a spatula before using it.

Coffee Buttercream FAQs

How much buttercream does this recipe make?

This recipe yields about 3 US cups – enough to fill and frost the top of a 9-inch double-layered cake or pipe swirls on 12 cupcakes. Multiply by 1.5 times if you want to crumb coat or frost the sides of the cake as well. The recipe card has an easy upscaler if you need more.

What type of coffee can I use?

I use an espresso coffee pod for a robust flavour, but instant coffee or coffee emulsion (same quantity) works just as well. Brew your favourite coffee, let it cool before using, and you can’t go wrong.

What desserts work best with this buttercream?

I love it on my Coffee Layer Cake, a traditional British dessert which is perfect for afternoon tea. It is also amazing on chocolate slab cake, cupcakes, sugar cookies, and even brownies for the ultimate mocha flavour.

Can I decorate and pipe designs with this buttercream?

Yes! It’s a medium consistency buttercream, which is perfect for piping. Try a 1M piping swirl or simple border on a cake. If it’s too soft, add a small amount of icing sugar to thicken.

Is this buttercream vegan?

Many brands no longer use bone char to whiten their icing sugar, but check with the manufacturer if you follow a strict vegan diet. In Canada, I use Redpath Icing Sugar, which is vegan-friendly.

What to Pair with Coffee Buttercream

If you can resist eating it straight out of the bowl, this versatile buttercream pairs well with any flavour of cake, cupcakes and even brownies.

Dairy-Free Coffee Layer Cake – I love this coffee buttercream with this cake – a traditional British dessert perfect for afternoon tea.
Vegan Glute-Free Avocado Brownies – add a dollop of buttercream on top for the ultimate chocolate mocha flavour.
Dairy-Free Vanilla Cupcakes – pipe delicate swirls and details.
Chocolate Slab Cake (DF, GF) – add lashings of coffee buttercream for rich indulgence.
Sugar Cookies – sandwich together with this frosting or spread on top for a sweet explosion.

However you decide to use this buttercream, I hope you’ll enjoy it. And if you do, let me know in the comments below and tag me on Instagram @itsbakeangel – I love seeing your homemade treats.