This peanut butter frosting recipe is light and creamy, and it has just the right amount of sweetness. This recipe is the perfect frosting for brownies and chocolate cake!
It costs $4.67 to make twenty-four servings of this Peanut Butter Frosting. That is just $0.19 per serving.
This frosting is divine when served on top of these Triple Chocolate One Bowl Brownies, Devil’s Food Cake, and on top of Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcakes.
I love the peanut butter and chocolate combination, especially for brownies or deep, rich chocolate cake. Unfortunately, many recipes I’ve tried for peanut butter frosting were too heavy and overly sweet.
Consequently, I decided to develop my recipe by using my favorite cream cheese frosting as a guide. I took out a lot of the heaviness from traditional buttercream recipes by using a little heavy whipping cream rather than all butter. As a result, this peanut butter frosting was light, fluffy, and ah-amazingly delicious!
Peanut Butter Frosting for Brownies
My brother Jeff has an obsession with peanut butter. He puts it in his protein shakes, on his ice cream, puts a scoop on his cookies, and who knows what else he adds it to!
In addition to loving peanut butter, he also loves brownies. So because of his two loves, I knew I needed to make a Peanut butter frosting for brownies to feed his obsession.
This peanut butter buttercream is light, fluffy, and oh so delicious. Add the peanut butter frosting to my Triple Chocolate One Bowl Brownies, and you will not be sorry!
After combining these two recipes, I now understand his love of peanut butter and brownies and am now a little obsessed with myself.
Ingredients and Estimated Cost
Per Serving Cost: $0.19
Recipe Cost: $4.67
- 1 cup salted butter – $1.44
- 1 ¼ cups creamy peanut butter – $1.77
- 3 cups powdered sugar – $0.87
- ½ cup heavy whipping cream – $0.59
NOTE: The recipe prices are calculated by using grocery store websites. The actual cost of the recipe will vary depending on what ingredients you already have.
How To Make Peanut Butter Frosting?
- First, using a stand mixer, mix together the butter and peanut butter on medium-high speed for 2-3 minutes.
- Next, scrape down the sides of the bowl and then add the powdered sugar. Mix until well combined.
- Finally, add the heavy cream and beat together until smooth on medium-low. Then turn the mixer to high and beat for four minutes until the frosting is light and fluffy.
***For complete recipe instructions, see the recipe card below.
Storage Tips
SERVE: As with most recipes with dairy products, you shouldn’t leave this frosting out for longer than 2 hours.
STORE: Leftover frosting can be eaten with a spoon kept in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Or you can freeze it for up to 1 month. Just leave the frosting at room temperature until softened. Then give it a whirl in the mixer to fluff it back up.
FREEZE: You can freeze this frosting for up to 1 month. Just leave the frosting at room temperature until softened. Then give it a whirl in the mixer to fluff it back up.
Cook’s Tools:
- stand mixer OR hand mixer
- rubber scraper OR self-scraping paddle attachment(this might be my favorite kitchen gadget ever!)
- piping bag
- my favorite large icing tips
Recipe FAQ’s
It is possible for the frosting to become grainy from unsifted powdered sugar, so you may want to sift it first before mixing it into the other ingredients.
I recommend only using real peanut butter for this recipe. Natural peanut butter tends to separate and cause your frosting to separate.
Watch the Peanut Butter Buttercream frosting as you are mixing it. You want it to become light and fluffy, but if you overmix it, this can cause air bubbles, destroying the texture of the frosting.
The temperature of your kitchen can also affect the buttercream frosting. If your kitchen is too warm, your frosting may not form correctly into the light and fluffy texture we are going for. Simply lowering the temperature in your kitchen can fix this issue.
More Frosting Love
The frosting is just as important (if not more!) than the cake, brownies, or cupcakes. The flavor of frosting you go with can change the entire taste of the dessert.
If you are looking for something light and fresh-tasting, try this Fresh Strawberry Buttercream Frosting. If you want a rich-tasting frosting, go with this Homemade Chocolate Frosting paired with my Triple Chocolate One Bowl Brownies.
Oh, my chocolate! Can’t decide between chocolate or vanilla frosting? This Chocolate Vanilla Swirl Frosting has you covered. The possibilities are endless of what to pair these delicious frostings with.
More Desserts
- Puff Pastry Chocolate Croissants
- Edible Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
- Peanut Butter Cookie Bars
- No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars
- Frozen Reese’s Peanut Butter Pie
- Loaded Peanut Butter Cookies
- Deep Dish Peanut Butter Cookie Pie with Chocolate Chips
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcakes
- Peanut Butter Swirl Brownies
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Macarons
Peanut Butter Frosting
Ingredients
- 1 cup salted butter at room temperature
- 1 ¼ cup creamy peanut butter
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- ½ cup heavy whipping cream
Instructions
- In the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream butter, and peanut butter together on medium-high speed for 2-3 minutes, or until light, creamy, and lightened a few shades.
- Scrape down sides of the bowl, add the powdered sugar, and mix until combined.
- Add heavy cream and beat on medium-low until combined and smooth. Turn mixer to high and beat for 4 minutes, or until frosting is light and fluffy.
Notes
- This recipe makes enough peanut butter buttercream for an 8-inch layer cake or 24 cupcakes.
Nutrition
This post first appeared on Food Folks and Fun on September 19, 2016. I have since updated the pictures and answered some frequently asked questions.
Jenna says
This frosting is so yummy I even have put it on chocolate cookies! Thank you food folks and fun!
Jillian says
This frosting would be amazing on chocolate cookies! Thanks for the idea and thanks for stopping by!
Dayna says
Yum!! My fave!!
Beth says
I know I should use this as a topping but I think I’m just going to grab a spoon and eat it right out of the bowl! Delish!
Dayna says
This is the BEST peanut butter frosting!
Veena Azmanov says
Have never ever tried a Peanut Butter Frosting, sounds interesting and unique. Great idea to frosting them over cakes, brownies and other variations. Creamy and delicious.
Rebecca | Let's Eat Cake says
Peanut Butter frosting is my favorite! Especially with a little chocolate drizzle on top!
Beth Pierce says
I love recipes outside of the classic chocolate and vanilla! This sounds amazing!
Jillian says
Thank you!
Adrianne says
Oh wow, I am a huge peanut butter fan so I am in favour of this recipe, yum!! I love the photos of the frosting on top of the brownie , double yummy!
Alexandra says
Oh wow – I am seriously craving this right now. How delicious!! Mmm, I can’t wait to try.
Jessica says
I had to make a double batch because it was so good, I ate too much before even frosting my cupcakes.
Suzy says
Love this on chocolate cupcakes!
Calvin says
I like everything peanut butter!
Suzanne Giorgione says
This sounds delicious! Can’t wait to try it on triple fudge chocolate cake! Thank you for sharing.
Jillian says
Ohh, that sounds amazing!
Anita says
Such a lovely frosting, and peanut butter is just perfect for my favorite chocolate cupcakes.
Andrea says
Yummy! Peanut butter is my favorite and I do put it on so many things. I really love that I can freeze this. I’ll put it in individual bags and then I can have some whenever I want!
Anjali says
I love all things peanut butter but I never tried to make frosting from it before! I just made some chocolate cupcakes and this frosting would be the perfect topping for them!
Sara Welch says
Enjoyed this on some brownies and it was the perfect touch of flavor! Easy, creamy and delicious!
Vickie Rider says
I like peanut butter icing on banana cake, love it on chocolate too. Need to try it on a banana cake, really.
Kathleen says
Wowzers, is it wrong that I just took a spoon to this frosting? Loved it, use it on my brownies and with my leftovers, I piped it onto banana slices! So good!