With more than 225K page views since 2021 and still counting, this peanut butter frosting is the most popular frosting on my site. It uses just 3 ingredients to get a creamy light and fluffy frosting you will be making again and again!
Easy Peanut Butter Frosting
Making peanut butter frosting doesn’t have to be hard. I’ve created a recipe that uses just 3 simple ingredients to get a smooth, creamy, and fluffy frosting. They are ingredients are probably sitting in your pantry right now!
And, here’s a tip about making homemade frosting – just use normal store bought creamy peanut butter! Using a natural peanut butter where the oil separates on top can cause the frosting to become grainy and separated as it sits.
This recipe just uses the good old Jif or Skippy peanut butter! But be careful, it’s so addicting that my friends and family ask for this frosting on every birthday and holiday along with a nice big chocolate cake!
This easy frosting recipe makes enough to top about 18 to 24 cupcakes, one 13×9 sheet cake, or a full 8-inch round cake.
You will love this Peanut Butter Buttercream Frosting
- How to make an amazing 3 ingredient peanut butter frosting
- What you can do to make your frosting extra fluffy
- The difference between frosting and icing
- Answers to other common questions
Let’s dive in and learn about fluffiness, texture, and the ideal ingredients that make this yummy topping a staple recipe you’ll want to make time and again.
Love easy desserts? Try out these 35 Easy Cookie Recipes Made With Few Ingredients!
Peanut Butter Buttercream Ingredients
- Peanut Butter – Use traditional store-bought peanut butter like Skippy or Jif
- Powdered Sugar
- Butter – unsalted and softened
What kind of peanut butter should I use for this 3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Frosting?
The traditional store-bought kind is the best choice for this recipe. Avoid any type of crunchy varieties at the grocery store, and keep it smooth with the regular creamy option.
Natural and organic alternatives can be difficult to incorporate because of oil separation or can result in your frosting being grainy.
It’s recommended that you use peanut butter instead of other nut butters for this reason as well since many substitutes can have a rougher texture.
Easy Peanut Butter Frosting additions
You can choose to include vanilla and heavy cream for an extra layer of flavor and a fluffy texture. If you decide to mix these in, here’s how:
After step two above, add vanilla and mix well. For fluffier frosting, add heavy cream 1 tablespoon at a time, mixing for 2-3 minutes until light and fluffy.
How to make Peanut Butter Frosting
A full printable version of this recipe with ingredient measurements is available at the bottom of this post.
STEP ONE: In a medium mixing bowl, beat butter and peanut butter for 60-90 seconds, until fluffy. Scrape the sides of the bowl.
STEP TWO: Gradually mix in the powdered sugar, mixing for 1-2 minutes and adding more to suit your desired sweetness level.
STEP THREE: Spread evenly or use piping to decorate your baked goods.
I used a Wilton 1M cake tip to frost the cupcakes.
Peanut Butter Frosting piping tips
- I used a Wilton 1M tip for the cupcakes shown!
- If you don’t have a piping bag on hand, you can use a gallon-sized Ziploc bag (not a freezer bag) by cutting a small piece off the bottom corner and placing the tip inside
- Twist the end of the pip bag to close it off, but still use one hand to hold it closed
How to use this Peanut Butter Buttercream
You can use this frosting recipe to top 18-24 cupcakes, a 13 by 9-inch sheet cake, or a full 2 layer 8-inch round cake or one of these fun ideas
- As a fun addition to chocolatey brownies
- As a frosting on air fryer chocolate cake
- On top of cookies, like these peanut butter cookies or soft cut out cookies
How to store Peanut Butter Buttercream Frosting
You can store this in a sealed container on the countertop for two days, or in the fridge for about a week.
Let it warm up to room temp before using it again, so it softens up a bit. This will make it a lot easier to spread.
A quick whip from your electric mixer will fluff it up again.
Peanut Butter Buttercream Frosting FAQs
Both icing and frosting are delicious essentials to our beloved baked goods, but there are notable differences between them. A peanut butter icing recipe would give you more of an overall coating than a fluffy spread.
Frosting is generally thicker and fluffier than icing, while icing is thinner and glossy. The butter in this recipe makes it a frosting, as opposed to peanut butter icing.
This means frosting holds its shape better and is great for crowning your cupcakes with lovely piping. Icing tends to be a bit sweeter and acts more like a glaze, adding smoothness and shine.Â
Vigorous whipping can fold in unwanted pockets of air into the frosting, creating bubbles.
To prevent this, use a slower speed on your mixer or whip the ingredients by hand. You can even try these methods to remove some air bubbles if they’ve already started to form.
Softening the butter to room temperature helps your frosting to whip up more smoothly, so don’t neglect this step!
Peanut butter frosting can become oily if you use natural peanut butter. If the oil separates in the jar, it will separate on the frosting as it sits. Use a peanut butter like Jif or Skippy that doesn’t need to be mixed prior to using.
Your peanut butter buttercream can become grainy if you didn’t mix it enough, or the butter isn’t softened through. Make sure to soften it before you get started and mix thoroughly to get rid of any sugar grains.
If you’re still unhappy with the consistency, try sifting the powdered sugar before adding it to the butter and peanut butter. This helps prevent clumps too!
More like this Peanut Butter Frosting
It’s amazing how many delicious desserts you can make! If you can dream it up, just about anything is possible. Here are some more super tasty sweets for you to try out:
- Cream Cheese Frosting Without Butter
- Cool Whip Cream Cheese Frosting
- 3 Ingredient No Bake Cheesecake
- 4-Ingredient Peanut Butter Blossoms
- 2 Ingredient Peanut Butter Fudge
- Peanut Butter Hot Cocoa Balls with Marshmallows
- 3 Ingredient Banana Pudding
- Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Frosting
- 3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Balls
- Iced Thumbprint Cookies
- 4-Ingredient Oreo Balls
- Snickerdoodle Cookies With No Cream of Tartar
MORE from Everyday Family Cooking
Peanut Butter Buttercream
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened (2 sticks)
- 3/4 cup creamy peanut butter*
- 2 to 3 cups powdered sugar
Optional
- 1 to 2 tablespoons heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- In a medium mixing bowl, beat butter and peanut butter for 60-90 seconds, until fluffy. Scrape the sides of the bowl.
- Gradually mix in the powdered sugar, mixing for 1-2 minutes, and adding more to suit your desired sweetness level.
- If using, add vanilla and mix well. For a fluffier frosting, add heavy cream 1 tablespoon at a time, mixing for 2-3 minutes until light and fluffy.
- Pipe or use as intended on cupcakes, cake, and more.
FIVE++++STARS!!! OMG.
This is it!!! My late MIL always made my husband and his twin brother a chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting for their birthday, even in their motor home when they were camping. At 72, they still want it!
His brother is visiting this week and they’ll be so surprised. It is an amazing frosting, so easy to make and not too sweet (I think she may have added a pinch of salt). They’ll be my testers…good thing they’ll each have a beater!
I love how easy this is, and am not one to ever say no to peanut butter. Definitely a new fav around here.
Wow this one looks so yummy!
This is really tasty and super easy to make! Thank you so much for sharing this amazing recipe! Will surely have this again! Highly recommended!
Delicious frosting. I think one of my favorites so far. Thanks
The title says it all–the BEST peanut butter frosting! DELISH
Just made your 3 ingredient Peanut butter frosting… I did put the optional milk and vanilla in it… It was so easy and delicious… My husband loves it on our chocolate cake… Thank you so much for this delicious recipe
I’ve a question on the peanut butter. Does it call for 3/4 CUPS or is it 3-4 cups? Not sure from looking at recipe
Hi Debra,
It is 3/4 cups of peanut butter. Thank you for asking. I see how that can be confusing and we will look at changing it.
Thanks 🙂
I’m not sure why every peanut butter frosting recipe online says not to use natural peanut butter. Has anyone even tried it? Peanut butter is often stabilized with solid fats like palm oil, so you’re basically making a stabilized peanut butter when you mix it with the butter. And yes, it works just fine. And tastes amazing!!
Hi Kass,
I’m glad it worked out for you, but some brands can get a little separated when it comes to making frosting with it when it sits. This is why most recipes recommend not using natural peanut butter.
Thanks 🙂
I couldn’t find the amount of powdered sugar needed can you let me know how much is needed?
Hi Madelyn,
2 to 3 cups of powder sugar!
Thanks 🙂
Can this be made ahead of time and stored in the fridge until ready to use?
Hi Jenny,
You can store this in a sealed container on the countertop for two days, or in the fridge for about a week.
Thanks 🙂
Can I use the spread butter instead of stick?
Hi Edie,
As long as you use a cup of unsalted butter it can be in spread form or stick form.
Thanks 🙂