A silky smooth but perfectly pipeable peanut butter frosting that’s the perfect complement to any cake or cupcake. Also great for just eating by the spoonful!
Maybe you guys haven’t noticed, but I’ve been working on bulking up my “Frostings” section on the blog.
In the past, I would share cake or cupcake recipes and tag on my preferred complementary frosting, but I’m a big believer in choices. Maybe you’d rather frost your funfetti cake with chocolate frosting (or even peanut butter frosting) instead of buttercream, right? Well I wanted to have a good variety of options for you to choose from.
So far I’ve shared my favorites of the following:
- Cream cheese frosting (<—- possibly my favorite frosting of all-time)
- Chocolate frosting
- Vanilla buttercream frosting
And today I’m adding peanut butter frosting to the list.
This recipe is super easy to make, and on Monday I’ll be sharing a very complementary and very dark chocolate cupcake recipe with you, but of course you can put it on whatever you want. You can even just eat it by the spoonful, I know I did.
And yet it remains a mystery to me why my cardio sessions aren’t paying off 😭
Anyway, Peanut Butter Frosting requires just 6 ingredients to make. It’s smooth, creamy, and is great for piping on top of cupcakes or decorating a cake.
Tips for Making Peanut Butter Frosting
- While chunky or creamy peanut butter can work in this peanut butter frosting recipe, I don’t recommend using chunky unless you don’t intend to pipe the frosting. The little peanut pieces will clog up your frosting tips in a second.
- I don’t recommend using natural peanut butter (the kind that separates, you know the one that you usually need to stir before using). I haven’t tried it myself but I’m pretty certain that it wouldn’t work too nicely work with this recipe (it would be too oily).
- This peanut butter frosting pipes very nicely as written. However, for a stiffer frosting, you can add an additional ½-1 cup (65-125g) of powdered sugar.
How Many Cupcakes/How Much Cake Will this Peanut Butter Frosting Cover?
- If you’re generously frosting your cupcakes (as seen in my cupcake photo below), then this frosting will handily cover 12-15 cupcakes. If you’re being a bit more modest, it will cover 24 (I covered 24 cupcakes with peanut butter frosting rosettes using the 1M tip).
- This frosting will also cover a 9×13 sheet cake or a round 2-layer 8″ or 9″ cake. Now I’m just thinking about how I want to make a cake with this frosting and then cover it with ganache… Yum!
Enjoy!
Oh, and do you have any requests for other frosting recipes you’d like to see? I’m currently working on caramel but would love any suggestions that you have!
How to Make Peanut Butter Frosting
Peanut Butter Frosting
Ingredients
- 1 cup (226 g) unsalted butter softened to room temperature
- 1 cup (245 g) creamy peanut butter
- 3 cups (375 g) powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 Tablespoons milk
Instructions
- Combine butter and peanut butter in a large bowl and use an electric mixer to beat until creamy and well-combined.1 cup (226 g) unsalted butter, 1 cup (245 g) creamy peanut butter
- Gradually (about ⅓ cup at a time), with mixer on low speed add powdered sugar until completely combined. Be sure to scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl so all ingredients are well-combined.3 cups (375 g) powdered sugar
- Stir in vanilla extract and salt.1 teaspoon vanilla extract, ½ teaspoon salt
- With mixer on low-speed, add milk and stir until well-combined. Gradually increase speed to high and beat for 30 seconds.2 Tablespoons milk
- Spread or pipe frosting onto completely cooled cupcakes or cake.
Notes
Natural Peanut Butter
Since first sharing the recipe I have now tested this recipe with natural peanut butter and it worked just fine, though was a bit gritty.Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered an estimate only. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods, cooking method, portion sizes, and more.
Sandy
I like a very generous portion of frosting on my cakes. This recipe was very fluffy, had just the right amount of sweetness and peanut butter flavor and generously frosted a 9″ two layer cake. I followed the recipe exactly and it was perfect! I never write reviews but this was just. too perfect not to encourage others to give it a try. I give it a solid ********** ten stars plus.
Hannah Torkelson
Does this frosting need to be refrigerated or is it shelf stable with the amount of sugar? Thank you!
Sam Merritt
Hi Hannah! I personally am comfortable having it at room temperature for up to 2 days, but would refrigerate after that. 🙂
Kristina
This recipe is incredible! So light and flavorful! I used organic, natural PB and was concerned about it not being as sweet, but it was spectacular! The hubby requested chocolate cupcakes with peanut butter frosting and was not disappointed!!
Mari
I’ve never felt compelled to return to a recipe I’ve used online to write a review for it, but oh my god. This frosting was perfectly balanced, straight from the first “okay, I did all the steps, now let me taste test it” — not too sweet, the peanut butter isn’t overpowering, it’s the perfect consistency for piping, and it just melts in your mouth! If you’re scouring the internet for a peanut butter frosting recipe, let this be the review that convinces you. 10/10 will pass on to my grandchildren.
Sam Merritt
I’m so glad you enjoyed it so much, Mari! Thank you so much for leaving some feedback. I hope everyone loves it for years to come! 🙂
Petra V Holland
Delicious!!! Been making this for years for on top of cinnamon rolls. But we use leftover brewed coffee instead of milk. Game changer.
Kira C.
That sounds freaking delicious!!
Kristin Martin
Best peanut butter icing that I’ve been able to find. Goes very well with chocolate cake! Thank you!
Lori
Hear me out…. use this on a WHITE cake with a chocolate ganache drip. It is FANTASTIC. I make it for friends all the time. If you are from the Northeast and are familiar with the Tasty Kake brand of snack cakes, you will recognize this combo instantly. I love this frosting!!
Lauri Slaght
it came out nice and fluffy and not sweet at all and just the right amount of peanut butter
Sarah
I love this frosting!! How well would it take to gel coloring do you think?
Sam
I’m so glad you enjoy it so much, Sarah! It could be difficult to color due to it’s brown color.
Shari
We used purple food coloring and made a dusty lavender, it was beautiful.
Evan Smith
I was thinking about using this as a crumb coat to as a touch of peanut butter to my banana chocolate chip cake with a whipped cream frosting. Do you think this would this work for the crumb layer for the cake? I normaly use Your American butter cream but I want to cut the sweetness.
Sam
Hi Evan! This will work fine as a crumb coat. 🙂
Rachel
Amazing!!!! It’s seriously SO good- just like my grandma used to make, brought back so many nostalgic memories for me! Thank you!!
Mary Lambert
Can I freeze the leftovers ? Xx
Sam
Sure thing! 🙂
Sophie
Can I mix by hand? I don’t have a mixer.
Sam
It will be a bit difficult to do, but I suppose it won’t be impossible.
Johnni reber
Will be trying this recipe this coming weekend…I’ve made both your chocolate and regular cream cheese frost so good! Family and friends love them as well! Would love to see a lemon cream cheese frosting the can be used for piped cupcakes 😉
Michele
do I need to refrigerate cupcakes of frosting the day before
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
Hi Michele! This frosting does not need to be refrigerated 😊
Irene
what do think about a peanut butter frosting recipe with just vanilla pudding, cool whip, cold milk and peanut butter?
Sam
I’ve never tried it so I’m not sure how it would work. It doesn’t seem like it will be pipe-able.
robin casselberry
the best frosting so tasty but yet light!!
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
We are so happy you enjoyed it so much, Robin! 🩷
Luckylexi
I tried this recipe with Adam’s all natural crunchy peanut butter. can’t recommend enough.
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
Yum! Thanks for letting us know how that went for you 🩷
Lyla Laing
This is EXACTLY, peanut butter brand and texture, the comment I was looking for!! Thank you!!!