Thursday, June 25, 2026
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American Buttercream Recipe – Gretchen’s Vegan Bakery


American Buttercream Recipe ~the easiest of all the vegan buttercream recipes!

I’m all about easy nowadays and this recipe not only covers ease but it is really fluffy and delicious too!

The Best Vegan Buttercream Recipe

This American buttercream recipe is the closest one to what I used daily in my bakery!

People came from miles around to get the best buttercream and now you can make it yourself at home!

Aquafaba Italian Meringue Buttercream

Let’s Talk About Vegan Butter

Low moisture content is the key to success in any buttercream recipe!

Earth Balance is my all time favorite when it comes to vegan butter *not sponsored Although It is quite pricey at close to $5 per pound,  it is the most stable in buttercream recipes since it has the lowest moisture content
Earth Balance will also firm up upon refrigeration which is the one thing that other vegan butters typically will not do!

Be sure to do some trials and errors until you find a vegan butter brand that has the lowest moisture content. Unfortunately  this is not something that is listed on a label!

2026 Update I now use Country Crock Avocado Oil as this is the only brand I can find where I live

Adding butter emulsion is optional but because vegan butter is usually tasteless I find the addition to be essential

Since the development of this recipe back in 2017

Although the recipe below still lists shortening, I have been leaving out the shortening altogether by replacing it with that same amount of vegan butter. Shortening is tasteless and does nothing more than stabilize buttercream for cakes that are heavily decorated or that are to be displayed in hot climates or when transporting long distances. And since I do not do any of this anymore, I find the all vegan butter version to be just great! If you do need to use shortening be sure to use a Hi Ratio Cake Shortening like Sweetex brand is the best

Additionally the original formula had plant milk, however I feel that it was not doing anything to improve this recipe but rather weighted it down, So I now omit it as you will see in the recipe written below

Watch how to make roses and flowers with this recipe

the Best Vegan Buttercream

CLICK HERE FOR ALL MY BUTTERCREAM RECIPES

CLICK HERE  TO SEE HOW TO FIX A BROKEN BUTTERCREAM 

The Best Vegan Buttercream Recipe

American Buttercream Recipe

Be sure to read the Notes for Success section above the recipe!

Prep Time 15 minutes

Total Time 15 minutes

Ingredients  

  • cups Vegan Butter 336g
  • cups Hi Ratio Solid Vegetable Shortening 336g
  • 6 cups Confectioners Sugar 720g
  • 2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract 10ml
  • 1 teaspoon Butter Extract 5ml
  • pinch Salt

Instructions 

  • Whip the vegan butter & shortening (*if using) with the paddle attachment on high speed of your electric mixer to fluffy for about 3 minutes.

  • Scrape the sides & bottom of the bowl to make sure it is evenly mixed & then add the salt *if using whip for another minute

  • Stop mixer & add the sifted confectioners sugar all at once.

  • Mix on low speed until incorporated & then scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl again & mix on high speed for another 3 minutes.

  • Add the extracts last, mix well

Notes

Be sure to read the Notes for Success section above the recipe!
Storage  This recipe will store at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 6 days. Refrigerate for longer storage up to 4 weeks Freeze for 6 months

 

 



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