Seriously addicting and easy to make peanut butter buttercream frosting – insanely delicious paired with chocolate cake, or cupcake, or brownies!! Learn the secret to light and fluffy peanut butter frosting you’ll ever taste.
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Confession time…
I didn’t understand all the hype about peanut butter obsession for a long time. I’ve caught my college roommate in a dark kitchen in front of the cabinets with peanut butter jar and a spoon on more than one occasion.
Personally, I could never eat it by a spoonful. I don’t hate it, but just plain peanut butter is never my thing.
Now, it’s a different story. I still don’t dig into a jar with just a spoon, but I’d slather it on my toast, or sandwich it between crackers, or make a killer frosting with it! I’m SO obsessed with peanut butter now.
OMG, this’s dangerously delicious frosting ever!!
Paired with chocolate cake, or cupcakes, or fudgy brownies, this frosting is a pure treat!!! If you haven’t seen it, my Snickers cake is loaded with this peanut butter frosting. And it’s simply outragious!!
Alright, let’s get to business.
WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS PEANUT BUTTER BUTTERCREAM:
Does internet really needs another peanut butter frosting? Umm, yes!! Here’s why?
- Unlike pretty much all the buttercream frosting recipe on the internet, my peanut butter buttercream frosting has way less sugar!!! Like most recipes call for twice as much powdered sugar than mine for the same amount of butter/peanut butter! I know, right?!! Yet, my frosting still has a beautiful pipeable consistency!
My husband and I are not huge fans of American buttercream, yet both of us LOVED this frosting so much so we couldn’t help but eat it by a spoonful!!
WHAT KIND OF PEANUT BUTTER IS BEST FOR MAKING A FROSTING?
- Get conventional peanut butter (like Jif or Skippy) instead of 100% peanut butter, because natural 100% peanut butters tend to separate and has thinner consistency.
- Choose creamy peanut butter over chunky one for the creamy and smooth frosting!
HOW TO MAKE PEANUT BUTTER FROSTING:
- First, whip butter and peanut butter until pale and fluffy. Not until just combined, I mean it should turn pale, super fluffy and increase in volume. Look at the first 4 photos below. See, how the consistency has changed?
- Add powdered sugar, salt and vanilla extract and whip until the frosting is smooth and fluffy.
Tip
Incorporating as much air into the butter mixture before adding sugar and flavorings ensures light and fluffy frosting. If the butter mixture is not whipped well, the frosting will be heavy, kind of greasy and won’t hold its shape well.
This recipe makes enough frosting for 24 cupcakes (moderately frosted), 9-inch two-layer cake, or 7-inch four-layer cake.
HOW TO STORE THIS FROSTING:
- Store the frosting in an airtight container in refrigerator for up to 1 week
Make-Ahead Tip:
- You can also freeze this peanut butter frosting, in an airtight container, for up to 3 months.
- Thaw the frozen frosting in the fridge overnight. Bring the frosting to room temperature and whip it again in the mixer until fluffy.
Peanut Butter Buttercream Frosting
Ingredients
- 2 sticks (226g) unsalted butter at room temperature
- 1 cup (260g) creamy peanut butter Note 1
- 2 cups (250g) powdered sugar sifted
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon coarse kosher salt
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl with a paddle attachment, combine butter and peanut butter and beat on medium high heat for about 2 minutes, or until pale and fluffy. Scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl with a silicone spatula half way through. TIP: Incorporating as much air into the butter mixture before adding sugar and flavorings ensures light and fluffy frosting. If the butter mixture is not whipped well, the frosting will be heavy, kind of greasy and won't hold its shape well.
- Add half of the powdered sugar and mix on low speed until sugar is incorporated.
- Then add the reamining powdered sugar, vanilla extract and salt, and start mixing on low speed. Gradually increase the speed to medium high and continue beating until the frosting is nice and smooth and fluffy, about 2 more minutes.
Tips & Notes
Nutrition
This is the best and easiest peanut butter frosting I’ve ever made! I substituted vegan butter to make it dairy free and no one could tell the difference. I’ll be making this a lot! Thank you 🙂
I just made this frosting, and it is by far the easiest and creamiest peanut butter frosting I’ve ever made. I’m refrigerating it for my husband’s birthday on Thursday. Can’t wait for everyone else to try it!
AWESOME!!! So happy you tried and loved this frosting!!! Have a great birthday celebration. Thank you for your feedback, Sandi!