Peanut Butter Frosting {4 Ingredients}

Quick, easy peanut butter frosting recipe, homemade with 4 simple ingredients. Rich, creamy, fudgy, stable, holds its shape. Great for spreading and piping.

After many requests, I can finally add this icing recipe to my growing collection of Frostings and Fillings.

But first, let me be very clear: This is NOT a 3 ingredient peanut butter frosting. That one requires only peanut butter, sugar and heavy cream. The problem with that recipe is that since it uses no butter, the peanut flavor is overwhelming and the texture is not as smooth and creamy.

I have made this recipe countless times and it never fails and tastes like Reese's candy bars!

Jump to:

• How to make peanut butter frosting?
• Can I add peanut butter to store bought frosting?
• Can you color peanut butter buttercream frosting?
• How to fix separated frosting? Why is my frosting oily? How to fix it?
• What goes well with easy peanut butter icing?
• Variations
• Tips and techniques
• More peanut butter desserts
• Recipe

How to make peanut butter frosting?

1. Cream together butter and peanut butter- Make sure they are smooth and creamy.
2. Add sugar and heavy cream- Use powdered sugar, alternating with heavy cream, and continue mixing until sugar is thoroughly combined.
3. Enjoy! Spread it on your desserts with a spatula or fill it in a piping bag with various tips and decorate your cakes and cupcakes.

Can I add peanut butter to store bought frosting?

Yes, you can add ¼ cup peanut butter to a can of vanilla frosting. However, you will have to mix in more powdered sugar to thicken it again, especially if you are piping. Thinner consistency would work well if you are spreading it on sheet cakes and brownies.

Can you color peanut butter buttercream frosting?

Since it already have a light brown/ beige color, you can't really change the color that much. You cannot make any light colors like white, yellow, pink e.t.c. But, if you want to make darker shades like navy blue, dark brown e.t.c, you can use gel coloring. Don't use liquid food coloring since it can thin out the frosting consistency.

How to fix separated frosting? Why is my frosting oily? How to fix it?

That usually depends on the peanut butter you used. If you use peanut butter that has been sitting for weeks in the cabinet, it would have separated slightly and all that excess oil would end up in your icing. to fix this, you need to mix that peanut butter thoroughly before using it in this recipe.

This can also happen if your kitchen is too hot. The icing starts to break down. You can chill it in the fridge for 1-2 hours and then whip it again.

Also, remember that buttercream frosting is an emulsion of fats and liquids but if you add more liquid than required, it will start to separate. To fix it, add in 1-2 tablespoon of butter or shortening and whip it until it comes together again.

What goes well with easy peanut butter icing?

You can use it on cakes, cupcakes, cookies, brownies and bars. You can spread it with a spatula or use decorator tips for piping swirls and cake decorating. 

• Cake- Chocolate Cake is my personal favorite combination but you can also try this Best Vanilla Cake or this Chocolate Brownie Cake and this Chocolate Pound Cake (With Cake Mix) or even this Chocolate Bundt Cake.
• Cupcakes- Try it with these Best Chocolate Cupcakes or these Best Vanilla Cupcakes or these Oreo Cupcakes and even these Brownie Cupcakes.
• Brownies and Bars- Try it on these Fudgy Oreo Brownies, Cake Mix Cookie Bars and these Cake Mix Brownies.
• Cookies- This icing tastes so delicious in these Chocolate Whoopie Pies as well as these Soft and Chewy Sugar Cookies and also these Chocolate Chunk Cookies.

Variations

• Peanut butter cream cheese frosting- Reduce the amount of butter by ½ cup and replace that with ½ cup cream cheese instead.
• Chocolate peanut butter frosting- Mix in some unsweetened cocoa powder in this recipe.
• Make it crunchy- Use crunchy peanut butter instead of the smooth one.

Tips and techniques

• All ingredients should be at room temperature- Because they blend together smoothy.
• Use smooth peanut butter- For the best creamy texture. It's also easier to pipe, which is hard to do if yo use chunky peanut butter.
• Use unsalted butter- Because that prevents this icing from becoming too salty.
• How to fix thin icing? Add more powdered sugar and mix until you are satisfied with the consistency.
• How to fix thick icing? Add more heavy cream or milk and mix until icing thins enough to your liking.
• Heavy cream substitute- You can use whole milk or 2% milk but heavy cream yields the best results since it has a higher fat content.
• Does peanut butter icing need to be refrigerated? Yes! It has some heavy cream in it which can go bad, if it sits out at room temperature for long period of time.
• Quantity- This recipe is enough to frost 24 cupcakes (as long as your are making small swirls or just spreading it on top with a spatula). It's also enough to fill and frost an 8 inch round cake or 9 inch sheet cake.
• Sift powdered sugar- Because this gets rid of any lumps in the sugar, yielding the smoothest frosting ever.

More peanut butter desserts

• Chocolate Peanut Butter pie (No Bake)
• Peanut Butter and Jelly Thumbprint Cookies
• Peanut Butter Chocolate Bark
• Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies (Soft and Chewy)
• Peanut Butter Fudge (3 Ingredients)

Recipe