This post may contain affiliate links. I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you!
This is The Best Peanut Butter Frosting Recipe you’re going to find. It’s sweet, creamy, peanut buttery PERFECTION!
Best Peanut Butter Frosting
PIN IT TO YOUR DESSERT BOARD ON PINTEREST!
FOLLOW SUGAR & SOUL ON PINTEREST FOR MORE GREAT RECIPES!
This is the Best Peanut Butter Frosting and the ultimate frosting for cakes, cookies, and more! Happy Friday, friends! What’s everyone got going on this weekend? I’ll be in the kitchen, not like that’s anything new, though, that’s pretty much every weekend around these parts. As a baker, I spend a lot of time in the kitchen. Sometimes I’m crying over my fifth failure that day or rejoicing in the amazingness that just came out of the oven. Every weekend is a baking battle, sometimes I win and sometimes I lose.
I love my cookies and I have so much fun with my cupcakes, but it’s my frosting that’s ON POINT! Sure, a good cake is important, but it’s the frosting that MAKES it. I’ve learned that a killer frosting can save the day and that it can turn a boring box mix into something AWESOME! This is the best peanut butter frosting around, it’s so creamy and smooth with the perfect balance of sugar and peanut butter.
You guys first saw this recipe on my Chocolate & Peanut Butter Surprise Cupcakes and then again on my Chocolate & Peanut Butter Mini Layer Cakes! Sometimes I just eat it straight, because it’s peanut butter awesomeness! So if you need to frost a cake or fill some whoopie pies, this is the peanut butter frosting you want!
More Delicious Frosting Recipes!
This is The Best Peanut Butter Frosting Recipe you’re going to find. It’s sweet, creamy, peanut buttery PERFECTION!
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup peanut butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 1/4 cups confectioners' sugar
- 5 tablespoons heavy cream
-
Cream Butter using a paddle attachment. Add vanilla and peanut butter and beat until well mixed. Add confectioners' sugar a cup at a time, alternating with heavy cream. Whip on medium-high speed for 2-3 minutes until frosting is light and fluffy.
Add additional cream or confectioners sugar as needed to reach desired consistency.
Frosting can be made with hand mixer but will not be as whipped.
Post Updated March 7, 2017
Krista says
I have a recipe for peanut butter frosting but yours sounds better… I love the idea of adding cream! Yum!!
Rebecca says
Yes, just a little bit to help it whip and stay smooth and creamy!
debbie marotta says
this was awsome easy to make
Rebecca says
So glad you enjoyed it, Debbie!
Yesenia says
Yummy frosting! Made dark chocolate cupcakes with the PB frosting, and an oreo topping. My mom was very excited about her birthday cupcakes. Lol ☺☺ All her faves in one.
http://oi57.tinypic.com/14c4t2e.jpg
Rebecca says
I’m so glad she had a great birthday and you enjoyed the recipe!
Rachel Woods says
I plan on making this for my birthday cake but wanted to know if it needs to be refrigerated?
Rebecca says
You shouldn’t need to. Like most buttercreams it will crisp up slightly and should be enjoyed within a few days!
Amanda Droz says
Im a bakery chef i bake amazing desserts if i use ur recipe for my daughters bday brownies can they be left out for the day?
Rebecca says
Hi Amanda, Yes, as long as they’re not out in the sun or anything, they should be just fine! 🙂
julie says
I am planning on making a chocolate cake for mothers day this weekend, and my mom is a huge fan of chocolate peanut butter combo,
I am wondering if this is enough frosting to cover a 2 layer cake?
Also, seems like a lot of powdered sugar and my mom is not a fan of sweet, should I add more peanut butter to remove some of the sweetness?
Rebecca says
Hi Julie, Yes, this should cover a basic two layer cake, I’m guessing you’re making it between 8 and 10 inches? But it does depend on how thick you make the layers and any extra piping you do, but I think you’l be alright as long as you make sure to really whip it. The recipe covers 24 cupcakes easily.
As for the sugar, it shouldn’t be substituted for peanut butter as they’re two different consistencies. The amount of sugar is pretty standard with a buttercream frosting which is generally fairly sweet.
Are you making the cake that day? I’m wondering if a whipped cream with some peanut butter folded in might be a better bet if she doesn’t like sweets, but because it’s whipped cream based it will need to be kept in the fridge and should be made that same day. However, if your mom really loves this chocolate and peanut butter combo, I would think she’d really enjoy this frosting.
Rose Prince says
My search is over. I’ve been looking for a good peanut butter frosting recipe but I’ve always found that peanut butter seems to make any frosting gritty and not so smooth and creamy. This one is superb! It was light and creamy! Must be the cream because that’s the only difference from all the others I’ve tried in the past. Thanks for a fabulous recipe!
Rebecca says
I completely agree about peanut butter frosting being hit or miss, the heavy cream makes such a difference and lightens it up for a fantastic finish! I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe, it’s one of our all time favorites!
Pam Loftin says
I have everything to make this icing except for the heavy cream! I need to make the cake today and will have no opportunity to go to the store! Can the heavy cream be left out and the icing still be good? From the comments it seems it is mostly for smoothness and “fluffability”!
Rebecca says
Hi Pam, the heavy cream definitely helps to whip and make it fluffy, but you can replace it with milk in a pinch.
Lady says
Would you be able to use regular salter butter sticks in this recipe? I’ve got 20 cupcakes to frost and this sounds amazing! Wanna try to avoid another grocery trip lol.
Rebecca says
Hi Lady,
You can try it, but just note that it will make your frosting a bit salty, it might be okay because it’s peanut butter though.
Rebecca
Christa says
I made a mayonnaise cake today and I used this recipe but did not have heavy cream so I used French vanilla creamer instead. I am quite anxious to try it….I have to wait until after dinner.
Chrissy says
How do I store the icing?
Rebecca says
http://bakingbites.com/2014/03/how-to-store-leftover-buttercream-frosting/
Food, Faith, and Other Fabulous Finds says
This is seriously some of the best frosting I’ve ever tasted. LOVE!!!!
Rebecca says
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Linda says
Can this be made with a hand mixer and no paddle attachment , just the basic attachment beaters that come with a hand mixer?
Rebecca says
Hi Linda, you can definitely make it with a hand mixer, it just might not whip/aerate as well which could reduce the volume and make it a denser frosting, but it should taste perfectly fine!
Vicki Sise says
My Birthday & my Daughter’s Birthday are here. And my Husband is a Firm Believer of Everyone get a Birthday Cake. For their Birthday. So our Daughter said OK I’ll put you to a Challenge. She wanted a Chocolate Cake with Peanut Butter Icing. He said so I just bake you a Chocolate Cake & like Spread Peanut Butter on it? Lol Lol. She said No. Find a Icing & I have been looking for Christmas Cookies and seen the “BEST PEANUT BUTTER BUTTER CREAM ICING” And we are so HAPPY with this Icing the Taste is just Great. Can’t wait to see her Eyes tonight when she bites into her Cake he made it by himself. I just read the directions. Tyvm. For your AWESOME Recipes…. P.St MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEARS!!
Rebecca says
Hi Vicki! I’m so glad you loved the frosting, it really is the best! I hope your daughter was thrilled with the cake and you both had a wonderful birthday! And props to your husband for making the cake! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you as well!
Gina says
Hi,
I’m making this for my sons cake today. How can I make it chocolate?
Rebecca says
Hi Gina,
Are you looking for a chocolate peanut butter frosting or just a chocolate frosting? You can find my chocolate frosting recipe here: http://www.sugarandsoul.co/2015/01/best-chocolate-buttercream.html
Donna says
I made this and loved the taste of it…but it became very “oily” on my cupcakes and slide off the cupcakes. Do you know what could’ve caused it? I used a hand mixer to mix the ingredients.
Rebecca says
Hi Donna, that definitely shouldn’t have happened, it could possibly be two things. Did you by chance use a “natural” peanut butter that generally separates in the jar and has to be reblended? My only other thought is that it could have gotten warm causing the butter to melt a bit and separate from the frosting.
Maryann says
You mention in the directions to mix the butter and vanilla, but there in no mention of vanilla in your recipe. How much, if any, vanilla should be used in the Recipe? Thanks
Rebecca says
Hi Maryann, It’s 1 teaspoon, thanks for catching that. I’m slowly switching my recipe to a new recipe card format and must have left that off when I did it the other day. Enjoy!
Maryann says
Thank you, Rebecca. I actually made this last night and used a dash of vanilla to be on the safe side and the icing was a hit!! Making a second batch now. Thanks for the great recipe!
Teenielou says
Hi I really want to try this on Reese’s chocolate cupcakes for my sons wedding reception. I take it the peanut butter has to be smooth variety. Have you tried with chunky? Does it work with chunky peanut butter??
Rebecca says
I wouldn’t advise chunky just because it won’t whip as well and will have a hard time piping.
Lila Hackenberg says
I just made this for chocolate cupcakes I made for my sons birthday. I added part of a tub of chocolate frosting to the bowl during the whipping. It is so good and I have enough leftover to make sandwich cookies.
Rebecca says
Oh, what a great idea to combine the two! I’m so glad you loved it!
Karen says
First time making brownies and I wanted to do the peanut butter frosting. OMG, the frosting is absolute heaven! I had to hold back from eating the bowl while the brownies cooled down! LOL!
Rebecca says
I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe, Karen! I’d my lying if I told you I hadn’t just eaten it by the spoon from time to time!
Bea says
The BEST peanut butter frosting ever. I used Peter Pan (of the non-naturals it has the least amount of chemicals and gunk) … and used slightly less powdered sugar (no problem with consistency). I also used milk because I hate buying a container of heavy cream for just a few tablespoons … it was STILL insanely delish!
I made 1 and a 1/2 of the recipe for a super-frosting laden chocolates/peanut butter cake. I got raves from everyone; I will definitely be making this again. YUM.
Rebecca says
So glad you enjoyed it!
Jenne says
I just made this to fill these amazing chocolate cupcakes I made for MY Mother’s Day tomorrow. I didn’t have any heavy cream so I used half and half and it came out incredible! My husband wanted a fluffy peanut butter filling and this totally delivered. Thanks for posting.
Rebecca says
I hope everyone loved it!
Zoey grove says
Will one batch be able to frost a 3 layer cake with 9 inch rounds for my dads birthday or should I make 2 batches
Rebecca says
Hi Zoey, if you’re doing a “naked” style cake with thick frosting in the middle and nothing on the sides or just a thin crumb coat than this should cover it, if you’re doing it all over I would probably double it, but you’ll likely have a bit extra.
Holly Vaughn says
I so need a hand mixer! All I have is a stand mixer and it makes recipes like this just longer and more complicated for me. It looks like it would be much easier with a hand mixer. (plus I don’t have one of the awesome Kitchen Aid stand mixers. I had to opt for the crappy Hamilton Beach one. Mine has trouble reaching the bottom and breaking egg yolks if you can believe it! ARGH!)
Sharon Kalokerinos says
The recipe calls for 3 1/5 C confectioners’ sugar, Is that correct? 1/5 C is an odd measurement.
Rebecca says
Hi Sharon, it should have been 1/4 cup. Thanks for pointing that out, I’ve fixed it!
Lindsay says
I would put this on everything!!!
Jill Harmon says
I made this for my Mums 70th Birthday and she LOVED IT! Said it was as creamy as peanut butter fudge! Bravo!
Rebecca Hubbell says
Yay, Jill! So glad it was a hit!