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.
Patty Moehler
So question , how many times can you taste something before you’re just full on eating it ???? Delicious! Thanks for a great , easy recipe that’s made with ingredients I had on hand !
Sugar Spun Run
I am so glad that you enjoyed the frosting, Patty! 🙂
Kim
Great frosting! Everyone loved it! I didn’t have unsalted butter, so I used salted and left out the salt. I had a little left over and we scooped it up with pretzels!
Sugar Spun Run
I am so glad that the frosting was a big hit, Kim! Thank you so much for trying my recipe. 🙂
Patricia
I don’t have a mixer can I use a blendtec?
Sugar Spun Run
A creative solution, Patricia!! I honestly have never tried making frosting in a blender before. I am not certain how it will do. If you try it, I’d love to know how it turns out. 🙂
Sara
Help please I don’t know what the heck happened but my frosting isn’t frosting first it was way too oily and gritty textured so I added a bit more sugar and now it’s just almost like a peanut butter cookie dough
Sugar Spun Run
Oh no, Sara! I am sorry that you experienced an issue with this recipe. This frosting is creamy and should not be gritty at all. Gritty and oily, by any chance did you use “natural” peanut butter?
Kathy George
Was delicious. Recipe easy to follow. This recipe is a keeper. Thanks for sharing. My son will be a happy camper when he gets home to find this cake waiting on him
Sugar Spun Run
I am so glad that you enjoyed the frosting, Kathy! I hope that the sweet treat you made makes your son’s day. Enjoy! 🙂
Jenn Rowe
Amateur baker here and first time making PB frosting…it is sooo easy AND OH SO YUMMY!!!!! I used skim milk and was still good!!!! 🤤
Sugar Spun Run
I am so glad that you enjoyed it, Jenn! Thank you so much for commenting. 🙂
Marilyn Jordan
Whole milk or heavy whipping cream? Thanks!
Sugar Spun Run
Whole Milk. 🙂
Melissa
This is simply the BEST peanut butter frosting ever!! I meant to post this sooner, but life got in the way! So, my darling daughter is a huge p.b. fan and she wanted a chocolate/ peanut butter UNICORN cake for birthday #12 🤦
I looked,and lo and behold…found this site. I already had a killer cake recipe, so I baked, whipped up a batch of this frosting, slathered it on and waited.
There was NO CAKE LEFT OVER.
I did reduce the powdered sugar slightly and added just a bit more peanut butter, since I didn’t need to chill it, added some gold unicorn ears and horn, and spent the rest of the day rolling in compliments. Genius recipe and yes… I gave you the credit!
Sugar Spun Run
A peanut butter unicorn cake?!!! I love it and I love that you found my site to help create it! I am so glad that you enjoyed the recipe. Thank you so much for commenting, Melissa. I can’t wait to see what recipe you try next. 🙂
Hilarie
Yum! Not sure this frosting will make it to the brownies as it is delicious.
Sugar Spun Run
Your comment made me laugh. lol. I am so glad that you enjoyed it, Hilarie! 🙂
Nan
Thus was simply DELICIOUS and easy to make! I’m saving tbis recipe!
Sugar Spun Run
I am so glad that you enjoyed the peanut butter frosting, Nan! Thanks for trying my recipe and for commenting. 🙂
Jen
This frosting is absolutely amazing !! Perfect piping and my peanut butter loving family is in love with this recipe ! Thank you so much for sharing ❤️
Sugar Spun Run
Thank you so much, Jen! I am so glad that you and your peanut loving family enjoyed the recipe! Thanks for commenting! 🙂
Lenna
What should I do if I only have granulated sugar?
Sugar Spun Run
Hi, Lenna! Unfortunately, granulated sugar does not dissolve easily and offers a more grainy texture. The icing will not be as smooth and creamy. 🙁
Shannel
You can make powder sugar using granulated sugar. Just put it in a blender or food processor and bam powdered sugar.
Geoff
Since a stick of salted butter contains ~1/4 tsp of salt, can you substitute salted butter for the unsalted butter and the 1/2 tsp of salt?
Sugar Spun Run
Yes, that will be fine, Geoff! 🙂
Gina
How far in advance can you make this peanut butter frosting and how would you store it?
Sugar Spun Run
Hi, Gina! You can make it a day or two beforehand. I recommend storing it in an airtight container and re-whip when ready to use. I hope that you enjoy it. 🙂
Tiffany Zuch
Loved it! My previous peanut butter frosting wasnt as creamy and too much peanut butter according to my husband. This one is perfect! I should have known…add regular butter! Yum!
Sugar Spun Run
I am so glad that you enjoyed the recipe and now have a new favorite. Butter makes everything better. Thanks for commenting, Tiffany! 🙂