This peanut butter frosting recipe is easy to make in 5 minutes. It's silky smooth, made with more peanut butter than butter and is flavored with vanilla & sea salt. It pipes well and tastes delicious on top of chocolate cupcakes and brownies and chocolate cake.
In the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or in a large bowl with a handheld mixer, beat together peanut butter and butter until smooth.
Add vanilla and sea salt and beat until combined.
Add powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, and beat until fully incorporated after each addition.
Add 1 tablespoon whole milk and beat. If necessary, add an additional 1 tablespoon milk to achieve your desired consistency.
Use to frost a chocolate cake, chocolate cupcakes, brownies, etc.
Video
Notes
Ingredient Substitutions
Creamy 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 milk.
Salted butter. vegan butter, coconut oil or unsalted butter can be used in place of salted butter (check out my vegan peanut butter frosting).
Vanilla extract. the seeds of 1 vanilla bean or vanilla bean paste can replace the extract.
Fine sea salt: The amount may depend on the saltiness of your peanut butter, so you can always add a little at a time and adjust it according to your tastes. If you're using a salty variety of peanut butter you many need to add less, unsalted peanut butter may require more.
Whole milk: half and half, heavy cream and 2% milk are suitable substitutions for whole milk.
Store/FreezeStore leftover peanut butter buttercream 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 peanut butter frosting becomes quite firm in the fridge. So you should remove it from the refrigerator and let it warm to room temperature before using/serving. Do not microwave.