Homemade Vegan Peanut Butter Frosting

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Easy & delicious homemade vegan peanut butter frosting. In this recipe, coconut oil and peanut butter are combined to make the most incredible dairy-free frosting ever! Serve it on top of brownies, use it to frost a cake, or eat it with a spoon!

a vegan peanut butter frosting rose

What Iย love about this homemade vegan peanut butter frosting recipe is that it’s made with just a handful of ingredients that you probably already have on hand in 5 minutes flat!

Compared to other frosting recipes, this one is much healthier! It’s vegan, gluten-free & dairy free and if make your own powdered sugar (recipe here) it can be refined-sugar free too!

Overhead view of a bowl of homemade vegan peanut butter frosting

Vegan Peanut Butter Frosting: Ingredient s& Substitutionsย 

overhead photo of the labeled ingredients in this Vegan Peanut Butter Frosting recipe
  • Peanut Butter: I use a firm peanut butter for this recipe, like a natural peanut butter that is no stir. If you use a peanut butter that is liquid at room temperature you may need to add more powdered sugar to get it to firm up, and/or omit the almond milk all together.
  • Coconut oil. vegan butter or regular butter can be used in place of coconut oil. (Note: The coconut oil needs to be room temperature or slightly melted (not too warm), if it is hard then it will not mix well into the peanut butter).
  • Salt:ย I love the sweet/salty flavor of this frosting. You can always add a little at a time and adjust it according to your taste. If you’re using a salty variety of peanut butter you many need to add less.
  • Almond milk:ย coconut milk or any other non-dairy milk works in this recipe. It’s only needed with firm peanut butter.
Side view of two brownies frosting with homemade vegan peanut butter frosting piped on in the shape of a rose

How to Make Vegan Peanut Butter Frosting

Make sure the coconut oil is softened to room temperature, then either mix by hand or using a hand-held mixer or standing mixer, beat until they are combined.

two photos showing how to make vegan peanut butter frosting

Once the coconut oil and peanut butter are combined and smooth, add the vanilla, powdered sugar and salt and beat until you reach the desired consistency.

Add almond milk slowly. The amount of almond milk needed depends on the type of peanut butter used. Some people have reported not needing it at all. Please add it carefully so the frosting does not become too runny. If that does happen, add more powdered sugar and mix until you reach the desired consistency.

two photos showing how to make vegan peanut butter frosting

Vegan Peanut Butter Frosting: Serving Suggestions

I have a plethora of recipes that are the perfect vehicle for this delicious frosting! Check them out! (Note: the brownies in these pictures are my black bean brownies).

two brownies frosted with homemade vegan peanut butter frosting piped on in the shape of a rose

Store/Freeze

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week or freezer for up to 2 months. Thaw slowly at room temperature before using – do not microwave.

It hardens in the fridge. Please note that this Vegan Peanut Butter Frosting gets hard in the fridge. I take it out and set it on the counter about 1 hour before eating/serving time. Do not microwave.

Vegan Peanut Butter Frosting Recipe FAQs

What do I do if my frosting is too runny?

You can remedy this two ways – 1) add more powdered sugar. 2) if the ingredients are too warm it will become runny, so you can chill it in the refrigerator to firm it up a bit.

Can I cut this recipe in half?

I usually make a half recipe to frost brownies and a full to frost a cake. So yes, this recipe halves very well.

How do you pipe the frosting?

I decorate cakes often, here’s a list of the equipment I use to create these roses:
Piping bagsย – I have bothย reusableย andย disposable piping bagsย and use them all the time.ย 
Piping tipsย andย couplersย – I recommend a greatย starter tip and coupler set. However Iย alwaysย make this rosette style cake with aย Wilton 1M tipย andย large coupler.ย 

photo of vegan peanut butter frosting piped onto a brownie in a rosette pattern

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Vegan Peanut Butter Frosting

Laura
Easy & delicious homemade vegan peanut butter frosting. In this recipe, coconut oil and peanut butter are combined to make the most incredible dairy-free frosting ever! Serve it on top of brownies, use it to frost a cake, or eat it with a spoon!
4.97 from 29 votes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 16 Servings
Calories 195.8
Prep Time15 minutes
Total Time20 minutes

Ingredients 
 

Instructions 

  • Add softened coconut oil and peanut butter to the bowl of a standing mixer and beat on medium speed until well combined, scraping down the sides a few times to be sure there are no chunks of coconut oil left. (Or combine by hand in a small bowl).
  • Add vanilla and beat until combined.
  • Add powdered sugar and salt. Beat on medium/high speed until well combined, scraping sides to ensure itโ€™s mixed evenly.
  • If necessary (if your frosting is too thick) add almond milk and beat until light and fluffy. Serve on top of your favorite bars or browniesโ€ฆor eat with a spoon!
  • Store in an airtight container at room temperature (if you will be eating that day) or in the refrigerator. Take it out and let it come to room temperature before serving.

Video

Notes

  • This makes aย lot of frosting. I halve this recipe for an 8×8โ€ pan of brownies or if Iโ€™m making it just for my family.
  • I recommend starting with a small amount of almond milk and increasing it until you reach your desired consistency. Peanut butter that is liquid at room temperature may require no almond milk at all.
Ingredient Substitutions/Notes
  • Peanut Butter:ย I use a firm peanut butter for this recipe, like a natural peanut butter that is no stir. If you use a peanut butter that is liquid at room temperature you may need to add more powdered sugar to get it to firm up, and/or omit the almond milk all together.
  • Coconut oil. vegan butter or regular butter can be used in place of coconut oil.
  • Almond milk:ย coconut milk or any other non-dairy milk works in this recipe. I have even used non-dairy creamers with fantastic results.
  • Salt:ย I love the sweet/salty flavor of this frosting. You can always add a little at a time and adjust it according to your taste. If you’re using a salty variety of peanut butter you many need to add less.
Store/Freeze
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week or freezer for up to 2 months. Thaw slowly at room temperature before using – do not microwave.
Hardens in the Fridge
Please note that this vegan peanut butter frosting hardens in the fridge. Remove from the fridge and set on the counter at room temperature about 1 hour before serving. Do not microwave.

Nutrition

Serving: 2TBS | Calories: 195.8kcal | Carbohydrates: 17.6g | Protein: 3.4g | Fat: 13.1g | Sodium: 12.2mg | Potassium: 3.2mg | Fiber: 1.1g | Sugar: 15.5g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Did you enjoy this recipe? Have a question? Leave a comment below!

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4.97 from 29 votes (11 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




93 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    This is my favourite peanut butter frosting recipe! So smooth, both texture and taste are amazing!! Thanks so much!

  2. 5 stars
    I actually subbed the coconut oil for vegetable oil and it came out perfect! I will definitely be using this as my new vegan peanut butter frosting recipe, it was delicious and the perfect consistency after refrigerating.

  3. 5 stars
    I haven’t really measured the ingredients but it turned out amazing! I topped half of my cupcakes with this frostting and half with chocolate and coconut flakes and by far these peanut butter ones were eaten a lot faster (they disappeared in like 5 min).
    P.s. It does solidify in the fridge, i just mixed it up again for it to become soft and fluffy and ready to decorate!

  4. 5 stars
    This frosting tastes amazing! It did not turn out quite the same consistency as normal frosting, but it’s completely satisfactory. I put it on a fairly large cake and ended up doubling the recipe.

    1. It could be the peanut butter you used, or if your coconut oil or peanut butter is too warm. You can add more powdered sugar.

  5. Hi I would like to know if I could you vegetable oil instead of coconut oil….I really want to use this recipe for a school project.

    1. I do not recommend that substitution. Coconut oil is solid at room temperature, vegetable oil is not. If you use vegetable oil your frosting will remain a liquid. You can use butter or vegan butter instead of coconut oil.

  6. Does this recipe do better with an oil-free peanut butter or a peanut butter that contains oil? Thanks!

    1. I am not sure what you mean? Do you mean a natural peanut butter that the oil needs to be stirred into? Or a more shelf-stable peanut butter?

      1. Iโ€™m sorry…yes, by oil-free I meant a natural PB that is literally just ground peanuts (with or without salt) versus a more processed PB with added oil (like palm oil). Thanks!

    1. Hey Hannah! I’m sure you can freeze it! I just made this recipe this week too! LOL! I usually halve it if I don’t want to make too much!