This peanut butter frosting is silky smooth with a rich peanut butter flavor and creamy texture. Spread or pipe this decadent buttercream on cakes or cupcakes!
Peanut Butter Buttercream Frosting
This peanut butter frosting is creamy, smooth, sweet, and most of all full of peanut butter flavor! I love to use this peanut buttercream on my chocolate peanut butter cupcakes or chocolate cupcakes from scratch for a classic peanut butter chocolate combination.
It’s just as easy to make as my classic buttercream frosting but the added peanut butter adds a rich nutty flavor but also gives it a nice thick texture. Perfect for piping!
Ingredient Notes
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.
- Creamy peanut butter: Processed over natural works the best in this recipe. While both are delicious, the oily consistency in a natural nut butter can make this frosting separate. Also, opt for creamy over crunchy for a silky texture.
- Unsalted butter: If you use salted butter omit the salt.
- Powdered sugar: This sugar is fine and melts into the other ingredients which help to make the frosting so smooth. The sugar also helps to stabilize the buttercream to make it easy to pipe.
- Heavy cream: This cream makes it extra velvety. You can also use it to thin the frosting out if it seems too thick.
How to Make Peanut Butter Frosting
- Combine butter and peanut butter. Mix in a large bowl with an electric mixer until it’s smooth and fluffy.
- Add powdered sugar, cream, and vanilla. Keep mixing everything until it’s creamy. Start mixing on a low speed to prevent the sugar from flying everywhere!
- Adjust consistency. Add more cream if you want to spread the frosting or if you want to pipe it, you might need to add more powdered sugar. You can also adjust the peanut butter at this point if you want to add more for flavor.
- Frost. Pipe or spread the frosting on your favorite cupcakes, cakes, and brownies.
Expert Tips
- Room temperature butter. Leave the butter out of the fridge for one hour before you start mixing it together with the peanut butter. You want it to be soft but not runny. If you forget this step, check out these tips for how to soften butter quickly.
- Use a mixer. A hand mixer or stand mixer will whip in lots of air to give you a soft and creamy consistency. While you could try mixing it by hand, it will take you a very long time, and you might not be able to achieve the same fluffy texture.
- Scrape the bowl. Make sure you periodically scrape down the sides of your bowl with a spatula while you’re mixing. You want everything to get fully combined.
- Adjust consistency. If it is too thick, add a splash of cream. If it’s too thin, add a tablespoon of powdered sugar. Keep in mind that it will thicken slightly if you plan on storing it in the fridge.
Ways to Use Peanut Butter Frosting
This recipe makes enough to frost 12-24 cupcakes, depending now on how high you swirl the frosting. Alternatively, you can cut the recipe in half to frost a pan of brownies.
- Cupcakes: I often pipe it onto my easy chocolate cupcakes for a winning combo. See my tutorial for how to frost a cupcake for great results!
- For a cake: There’s nothing better than the classic pairing of this easy peanut butter frosting with chocolate cake.
- Cookies: Try sandwiching it between these cute chocolate whoopie pies.
- Brownies: And don’t forget brownies! Spread it on these peanut butter brownies or my classic homemade brownies for a fantastic treat!
Storage Instructions
- Refrigerator instructions: You can make this frosting ahead and keep it stored in the fridge, wrapped tightly with plastic wrap, for up to one week. Let the frosting sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before piping or spreading. You may need to whip it for a couple of minutes to make it fluffy again.
- Freezer instructions: To store it for even longer, put it into a plastic zip-top freezer bag and freeze flat for up to 3 months. Allow it to come to room temperature then whip it for a couple of minutes before piping or spreading. Add more powdered sugar or heavy cream if needed.
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Peanut Butter Frosting
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter , softened
- 1 ¼ cup creamy peanut butter , more if desired
- 3-4 cups powdered sugar , start with 3 and add more as needed
- 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
- 3-6 Tablespoons heavy cream , more if needed
- ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine 1 cup unsalted butter and 1 1/4 cups peanut butter in a large bowl and mix with an electric mixer until smooth and fluffy.
- Slowly mix in 3-4 cups powdered sugar, 1-2 Tablespoons heavy cream, 1 Tablespoon vanilla and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Add in more heavy cream as needed to thin it out. If you're looking to spread this frosting, you'll want to add more heavy cream. You can also add more powdered sugar if needed to thicken (for piping). Mix until the frosting is smooth and creamy and you’ve reached your desired consistency. Taste and add more peanut butter if you'd like.
- Frost as desired over your favorite cupcakes, cakes and brownies.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Categorized as: American, Desserts, Freezer-Friendly, Frosting, Gluten-Free, No-Bake, Vegetarian
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook and shares easy family-friendly recipes and desserts for every occasion.
I made cupcakes to take to a fundraiser. As we were getting ready to serve the cupcakes, one of the ladies asked who made the ones with the peanut butter frosting. She said we couldn’t serve them and they had to be put back. I panicked and asked why. She said, ‘They are so good that we want to keep them for ourselves to eat after the fundraiser is over!’ LOL! Everybody LOVED the peanut butter frosting. Thank you for sharing this recipe!
What a compliment! Thank you so much for sharing, Kim :) Glad everyone loved the frosting!
Are you supposed to add the sea salt while mixing, or sprinkle on top?
You’ll want to add it while mixing :)
Love how easy this recipe is. Can’t wait to try it this weekend.thank you for the recipe!
Enjoy! :)
I think this is my new favorite frosting flavor!!! So rich and delicious!