This smooth and pipeable peanut butter frosting tastes amazing on fluffy chocolate cakes and cupcakes (and just about any dessert). Ready in minutes with just 5 ingredients!
Making frosting from scratch is surprisingly easy, whether it’s classic vanilla frosting or chocolate frosting, or the silky cream cheese frosting from these red velvet brownies. Now, color me officially obsessed with this homemade peanut butter frosting. This recipe produces the silkiest, smoothest, most flavorful peanut butter buttercream that’s perfectly spreadable and pipeable. Prepare to give all of your favorite desserts an upgrade!
Why You’ll Love This Peanut Butter Frosting Recipe
- Quick to make. 10 minutes, one bowl, and an electric mixer is all it takes.
- 5 ingredients. There’s a good chance that you have what you need to make this perfect peanut butter frosting in the pantry already!
- Rich peanut butter flavor. This frosting is silky smooth and perfect for piping (and eating by the spoonful!). It’s the perfect way to bring rich and creamy peanut butter goodness to all of your favorite chocolate cakes, cupcakes, brownies, and more.
Frosting Ingredients
Below, I’ve included notes on the whole 5 ingredients you’ll need to make your frosting. Don’t forget to scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of the post with the full ingredients list and recipe details.
- Butter – I recommend unsalted butter, but salted also works if you prefer a sweet-salty contrast.
- Peanut butter – You’ll need creamy, shelf-stable peanut butter (see below).
- Powdered sugar – Also called confectioner’s sugar.
- Vanilla – For the best flavor, use real vanilla extract.
- Milk – Both whole milk and 2% milk will work in this recipe.
What Type of Peanut Butter is Best for Frosting?
Make sure to use no-stir creamy peanut butter, like Jif or Skippy. As delicious as homemade peanut butter is, natural peanut butter does not work for making frosting. The oils don’t combine well and can cause the frosting to separate.
How to Make Peanut Butter Frosting
Making buttercream frosting is quick and easy! Here’s a short step-by-step on how to make this smooth and creamy frosting with peanut butter.
- Whip the butter and peanut butter. Begin by creaming together the butter and peanut butter, until completely smooth.
- Combine. Next, add the powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk. Continue to beat the frosting to get a spreadable consistency without any lumps.
Tips for Success
If you’re new to making frosting from scratch, here are some helpful tips to ensure that this peanut butter buttercream turns out perfect:
- Soften the butter. Take the butter out of the fridge and allow it to soften to room temperature ahead of time. Room-temperature butter is still cool to the touch, but soft enough that your finger leaves an indent.
- Can I use chunky peanut butter? Technically, this recipe will work with chunky peanut butter. However, I only recommend using the chunky kind if you don’t intend to pipe the frosting, as the small peanut pieces will clog the tip.
- Adjust the consistency. For thicker, stiffer frosting, add additional powdered sugar. For thinner frosting, add more milk, one tablespoonful at a time, until you reach your desired consistency.
- Don’t overbeat the frosting. Whip the frosting well so that it’s smooth and creamy and forms stiff peaks (similar to stabilized whipped cream), but don’t go overboard. Over-whipping can cause buttercream frosting to split and curdle. If this happens, try stirring in additional milk by hand, one tablespoon at a time, to see if the frosting will smooth out again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Grainy frosting could be a sign that your butter was too cold. Try placing the bowl of frosting somewhere warm-ish for 5 minutes or so, and then whip it again.
As mentioned earlier, avoid natural peanut butter (the kind that separates), and try to use a fresh jar of creamy peanut butter where possible. Older peanut butter (even the creamy kind) that’s been sitting for a while can start to separate and make frosting oily.
I don’t usually recommend dyeing this frosting. Since peanut butter comes naturally golden brown, your frosting will just end up a muddy, darker shade instead of a vibrant color.
Ways to Use Peanut Butter Frosting
I love using this creamy frosting to decorate everything from double chocolate cupcakes to air fryer cake and fudgy cake mix brownies. Or, frost this death by chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting for an indulgent chocolate and peanut butter combination. You can also use it to fill sandwich cookies and frost cookies or cookie bars, or simply eat it by the spoonful whenever a peanut butter craving hits!
How Much Frosting Does This Recipe Make?
This recipe makes approximately 2 cups of frosting. This is enough to frost about 12 cupcakes, an 8” two-layer cake, or a 9×13” sheet cake.
How to Store
- To Store. Leftover peanut butter frosting will keep for up to 1 day at room temperature, or up to 5-7 days in the fridge. Make sure to store your frosting in an airtight container. Before you use it, let the frosting come back to room temperature and give it a fresh whip if needed.
- Freeze. Store this frosting airtight in the freezer for up to 1 month. Thaw the frosting in the fridge, bring it to room temperature, and re-whip it before using.
More Peanut Butter Recipes
- No Bake Peanut Butter Bars
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies
- No Bake Peanut Butter Cookies
- Peanut Butter Cream Pie
- Peanut Butter Chocolate Balls (Buckeyes)
Peanut Butter Frosting
Smooth and creamy homemade peanut butter frosting is perfect for decorating cakes and cupcakes. Ready in minutes with just 5 ingredients!
Ingredients
- ½ cup butter
- ½ cup creamy peanut butter
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 Tablespoons milk
Instructions
- Using an electric mixer cream together the butter and peanut butter until well combined and smooth.
- Add in powdered sugar, vanilla and milk. Beat until a spreadable consistency. You can adjust the milk and powdered sugar to make the frosting thinner or thicker.
Nutrition Information
Yield
8Serving Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 361Total Fat 20gSaturated Fat 9gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 9gCholesterol 31mgSodium 172mgCarbohydrates 45gFiber 1gSugar 42gProtein 4g
Nutrition Disclaimer: All information presented on this site is intended for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and any nutritional information shared on dinnersdishesanddesserts.com should only be used as a general guideline.
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Janelle
Thursday 8th of February 2024
Oh my goodness, my kids loved this stuff. YUM!
Beti Micevska
Thursday 8th of February 2024
The peanut butter frosting was amazing! It was sweet and full of peanut butter flavor, and very creamy, so it was easy to spread on cakes and cupcakes. It's a great way to make any dessert special!
Katerina Petrovska
Thursday 8th of February 2024
I made this peanut butter frosting, and it turned out incredible! I'm already looking forward to using it in more desserts. This one's definitely going into my recipe collection!
Sandra
Wednesday 7th of February 2024
I love this frosting! It was perfect for almost anything!
Beth
Wednesday 7th of February 2024
This frosting is so rich and decadent. I made it for a chocolate cake last night, but I'm already thinking about whoopie pies!