Coffee Buttercream Frosting

Name: 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))

The silkiest vegan coffee buttercream frosting that you’ve ever tasted! So easy to make and full of espresso flavour, this buttercream pairs perfectly with cakes, cupcakes and brownies. Only 3 ingredients and 5 minutes to create this allergy-friendly classic British recipe!

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Close up of coffee buttercream frosting in a mixing bowl.

Table of Contents

Why I Made This Recipe

I absolutely adore coffee-flavoured desserts. And this buttercream is 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 Need This

Using just 3 ingredients, this buttercream is easy to make and versatile to use with a multitude of desserts. It is silky smooth, full of flavour and takes just 5 minutes to make. A great recipe to have in your collection. Honestly, if you love coffee, you are going to be obsessed with this buttercream!

Ingredients and Substitutions

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: sift your icing sugar if it is full of lumps. This will ensure a smooth finish to your buttercream.

Wet Ingredients

Butter: I’m using room temperature unsalted plant-based butter. You can use salted if you prefer to cut back on the sweetness of the buttercream. Although, the coffee does a pretty good job of that by itself, which is why I did not add salt to the recipe. It has just the right balance in my opinion but feel free to alter it to your taste preferences.

Flavouring: I brewed up an espresso coffee pod 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 Buttercream

This is honestly one of the easiest and most satisfying recipes that you’ll make.

You want to ensure that your butter is at room temperature. It needs to be slightly soft to allow it to whip up nice and easily. Add to a bowl and whip the butter for 30 seconds. It will lighten in colour slightly and become more creamy.

Whipped butter in a mixing bowl with a spatula.

Next we’re going to add in half of the icing sugar. Pulse a few times to incorporate the sugar before increasing the speed and whipping for 30 seconds.

Why half? Well, chances are if you add all of it at once, you’ll end up with a huge puff of icing sugar everywhere. Ask me how I know!

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

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

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

Once finished, it will be an airy consistency with a pale espresso colour and smell glorious. Good enough to eat right away!

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

Decorating Suggestion

This coffee buttercream is the absolute best frosting to use on my classic 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. Yum! It really does pair well with most baked goods so don’t be afraid to try it on your favourite recipe.

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 yield?

This recipe makes 3 US cups of buttercream, which is enough to fill and frost the top of a 9 inch double layered cake or pipe swirls on at least 12 cupcakes. Multiply by 1.5 times if you want to crumb coat or frost the sides of the cake as well. Feel free to scale up or down as required (hint: the recipe card has an easy upscaler for you).

What type of coffee can I use to make this buttercream?

I used an espresso coffee pod for a robust flavour but you can also use instant coffee or coffee emulsion (same quantity). Use your favourite coffee and you can’t go wrong.

What can I use this buttercream with?

I am obsessed with this coffee buttercream on my coffee layer cake, a traditional British dessert which is perfect for afternoon tea. It also pairs well with any flavour of cake, cupcakes and even brownies for the ultimate mocha flavour.

Can I decorate and pipe designs with this buttercream?

Yes, this makes a medium consistency buttercream which is suitable for piping. Why not try a 1M cupcake swirl or a nice border on a cake? If the buttercream is a bit soft, add a small amount of icing sugar to thicken.

Is this vegan? Doesn’t icing sugar use bone char for the whiteness?

Most brands do not use bone char anymore to whiten their icing sugar but I always advise that if you follow a vegan diet, double check with the manufacturer, as it may vary from country to country. I live in Canada and exclusively 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.

I love this coffee buttercream on my coffee layer cake, a traditional British dessert perfect for afternoon tea (Dairy Free)
Add a dollop to my vegan gluten free avocado brownies for the ultimate chocolate mocha flavour
Pipe a swirl on my classic dairy free vanilla cupcakes
Smother my chocolate slab cake (DF, GF) with lashings of coffee buttercream
Spread some on sugar cookies for a sweet explosion

However you decide to use this buttercream, I hope you’ll enjoy it. And if you do, please leave a 5-star rating and a comment to let me know. I love hearing from you. Have a wonderful day!