Tara Teaspoon

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Cookbooks
  • Newsletter
  • Shop
  • About
    • Bloglovin
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Cookbooks
    • Newsletter
    • Shop
    • About
    • Bloglovin
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×
    TaraTeaspoon » Recipes » Frosting + Icing

    This page contains affiliate and sponsored links. See my full disclosure.

    Best Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Frosting

    Published: Jan 30, 2024 · Updated: Mar 11, 2024 by Tara Teaspoon

    Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe
    fluffy peanut butter frosting recipe pin image
    Best Fluffy Peanut Butter Frosting
    Best Fluffy Peanut Butter Frosting
    fluffy peanut butter frosting on chocolate cupcake

    Make Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Frosting like a professional baker. It's fluffy, soft and creamy, and holds for piping. With just five simple ingredients, it's easy to make and perfect to make-ahead too. It has intense nut flavor and is delicious atop cakes, cupcakes, brownies, and cookies. 

    If there's one thing I love, it's frosting. At age 4 I asked my mom, "What's the stuff that holds up the frosting?" Cake was inconsequential to the fluffy, sweet frosting on top.

    I clearly knew at that point in life that cake takes second fiddle to delicious icing or frosting, and this easy peanut butter frosting is no exception!

    chocolate cupcake with piped peanut butter frosting

    With all of my years of baking experience, frosting is definitely my favorite category. This peanut butter flavor is delicious with chocolate, and vanilla and strawberry cake or cookies.

    If you love frosting, you definitely need to try my Swiss meringue buttercream, milk chocolate frosting, and cream cheese frosting.

    Jump to:
    • Frosting vs. Icing
    • Why This Recipe Works
    • Ingredients
    • How To Make Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Frosting
    • Expert Tips for the Best Peanut Butter Frosting
    • Ways to Use Whipped Peanut Butter Frosting
    • FAQs
    • More Easy Frosting Recipes To Try
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    Frosting vs. Icing

    What's the difference between frosting and icing? For most folks, the terms can be used interchangeably. We say "ice a cake," or "put icing on the cookies," and it is most often really frosting. 

    In food terms, icing is typically a thinner, more sugary, and often used as a glaze. Frosting is known for being fluffy, whipped, and thicker.

    I like icing for certain kinds of brownies and cookies, as it's a thinner layer of deliciousness. Frosting is great for cupcakes and for building layered cakes.

    If you are looking for a non-peanut butter frosting, try my vanilla buttercream frosting with confectioners' sugar and butter. It melts in your mouth.

    Why This Recipe Works

    Inherently peanut butter frosting or icing is not as smooth as other frostings. The peanut butter can create a stiff mixture that tastes great, but doesn't pipe or spread well. 

    I use butter, as well as a bit of cream cheese, to create the smooth creaminess I want in a fluffy peanut butter frosting. That's right, this is technically a peanut butter cream cheese frosting!

    There is a very slight tang to the frosting, but the sweetness and rich peanut flavor aren't overpowered. No one will notice, but they will know it's dang good frosting. 

    The powdered sugar and a pinch of salt help balance everything out, so in the end, all you taste is pure peanut butter flavor.

    Ingredients

    • Smooth Peanut Butter: The key ingredient for the signature crowd-winning flavor that's just so good. Avoid natural peanut creamy butter, it changes the texture.
    • Unsalted Butter: The base to any good frosting recipe that give's it shape and texture.
    • Cream Cheese: Makes for a creamy and luscious flavory and texture every single time. Make sure it's room temperature before mixing.
    • Salt: Brings out all the different flavors in the recipe making them extra delicious!
    • Confectioners' Sugar: Is the sweetness for the recipe and also gives the frosting it's shape and structure.
    • Milk: Keeps the texture fluffy but light. Add more milk if it's too thick or only add a little milk if it seems just right after initially mixing.

    Pro Tip: For the best frosting texture, be sure that your ingredients are all room temperature prior to mixing!

    overhead of chocolate peanut butter cupcakes

    How To Make Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Frosting

    This is such an easy peanut butter frosting recipe! Here are the steps:

    1. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or using a hand mixer with a large bowl, beat together the peanut butter, cream cheese, butter, and salt.
    2. Reduce the speed to low and gradually mix in the confectioners' sugar. It will be quite thick at this stage, so you may need to thin it out with a little milk.
    3. Once the milk is incorporated you should be left with whipped, fluffy peanut butter frosting!

    Tip: Use a stand mixer or hand mixer to make this bakery-quality frosting fluffy and delicious. 

    Expert Tips for the Best Peanut Butter Frosting

    • Make sure the cream cheese is room temperature. Cream cheese, as I mentioned, helps the frosting with its silky texture. 
    • Avoid Natural Peanut Butter. Use smooth peanut butter rather than natural peanut butter. Natural peanut butter hasn't been homogenized and isn't as creamy. It will make a more grainy, oily icing. 
    • Don't over whip. I keep my mixer on medium speed as I add the confectioners' sugar, this is so I don't incorporate too much air. If there is too much air it will still taste good, but won't look as smooth. 
    • Frosting too loose? Add more confectioner's sugar if you'd like it to be more stiff. 

    Ways to Use Whipped Peanut Butter Frosting

    I love using this as peanut butter cake frosting! It pairs especially well with chocolate cake. The combo is classic, and this whipped peanut butter frosting is perfect.

    I took this combo a step further and used this as a peanut butter topping for brownies. My brownie cake is not only delicious but really beautiful. It is a bit of a show-stopper with the shortcut of boxed brownies. 

    Or, keep things simple and sandwich the frosting between two graham crackers. I used to love making graham cracker cookie sandwiches as a kid!

    FAQs

    Can frosting be frozen?

    Yes, the homemade peanut butter frosting can be frozen for up to 3 months. When ready to use, thaw overnight in the fridge. If the frosting looks deflated at all, simply whip it with a hand mixer for a minute or two to revive.

    Can I use natural peanut butter?

    I recommend using "traditional" peanut butter, like Jif or Skippy, to make this recipe. Natural peanut butter is much more oily, has a tendency to separate, and is not as smooth.

    Peanut Butter Frosting swirled on Chocolate cupcake in brown and white striped paper baking cup

    More Easy Frosting Recipes To Try

    • Chocolate cream cheese frosting recipe is great for a classic yellow or chocolate cake. 
    • For a milk chocolate flavor, try my fluffy chocolate frosting. 
    • Learn how to make caramel frosting that's really good with spice cake. 

    Rate this recipe! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

    Scroll to the bottom of the page to rate and comment on this recipe. Leaving comments, questions, and ratings helps other too!

    📖 Recipe

    Peanut Butter Frosting swirled on Chocolate cupcake in brown and white striped paper baking cup

    Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Frosting

    Tara Teaspoon
    Make Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Frosting like a professional baker. It's fluffy, soft and creamy, and holds for piping. With just five simple ingredients, it's easy to make and perfect to make-ahead too. It has intense nut flavor and is delicious atop cakes, cupcakes, brownies and cookies. 
    4.54 from 28 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Work Time 15 minutes mins
    Total Time 15 minutes mins
    Course Baking
    Servings 16 Makes about 2 ½ cups

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 cup smooth peanut butter
    • ½ cup unsalted butter (room temperature)
    • 4 ounces cream cheese (room temperature)
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • 3 cups confectioners' sugar
    • 2½ tablespoons milk

    Instructions
     

    • In a mixing bowl beat together the peanut butter, butter, cream cheese and salt. Mix in the confectioners’ sugar, mixture will be stiff. Add the milk and beat until smooth.
    • If piping, transfer frosting to a piping bag fitted with a #825 open star tip. Pipe or spread frosting on cupcakes, cookies, cake or brownies.

    Notes

    This is an easy peanut butter frosting that's whipped to perfection. Light and fluffy, it's great for cake, brownies, cookies or cupcakes. 
    The nutrition facts are calculated for 16 servings. 
    • Make sure the cream cheese is room temperature. Cream cheese, as I mentioned, helps the frosting with its silky texture. 
    • Avoid Natural Peanut Butter. Use smooth peanut butter rather than natural peanut butter. Natural peanut butter hasn't been homogenized and isn't as creamy. It will make a more grainy, oily icing. 
    • Don't over whip. I keep my mixer on medium speed as I add the confectioners' sugar so I don't incorporate too much air. If there is too much air the frosting will still taste good, but won't look as smooth. 
    • Frosting too loose? Add more confectioner's sugar if you'd like the frosting to be more stiff. 
    • TRY MY OTHER FROSTING RECIPES: 
    • Fluffy Vanilla Frosting for cake, cupcakes and cookies. 
    • Caramel Frosting for cupcakes and spice cake.
    • Classic Cream Cheese Frosting perfect for cake or cookies.
    • The ultimate Milk Chocolate Frosting.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 248kcalCarbohydrates: 29gProtein: 5gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 23mgSodium: 148mgPotassium: 123mgFiber: 1gSugar: 24gVitamin A: 276IUCalcium: 17mgIron: 0.3mg
    Get exclusive recipes sent to your inbox!Sign up for Tara's newsletter for more.

    The Best Frosting Recipes

    • feature square of swiss meringue buttercream from Live Life Deliciously cookbook.
      Swiss Meringue Buttercream Recipe
    • Lemon Cake feature image
      Lemon Curd Cake
    • lemon royal icing in a bowl with a spatula and cut lemons on cutting board
      Lemon Royal Icing
    • Creamy Caramel Icing on a slice of Classic Spice Cake
      Homemade Spice Cake With Caramel Icing
    • hot caramel icing in a blue bowl with spoon
      Creamy Caramel Icing Recipe For Cake
    • best frosting for chocolate cake layers
      The Best Frosting for Chocolate Cake
    • close up of whipped chocolate ganache frosting
      Whipped Chocolate Ganache Frosting
    • fluffy vanilla white frosting
      Light and Fluffy Vanilla Frosting

    Tara in kitchen making salad

    Tara Teaspoon

    I’ve been in food publishing for over 25 years, creating recipes & food-styling for magazines, books, television, food brands, & advertising. With two cookbooks under my belt and thousands of my recipes at your fingertips, I hope you'll be inspired to spend more time in the kitchen!

    More about Tara

    Recipe Tara Teaspoon. Photography Ty Mecham

    Comments

      4.54 from 28 votes (23 ratings without comment)

      Review Or Ask A Question! Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating





      This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    1. Safira Adam says

      October 07, 2019 at 1:59 pm

      I have been looking for a good peanut butter frosting for cupcakes. My son loves peanut butter. Making this soon!

      Reply
      • Tara Teaspoon says

        October 07, 2019 at 2:16 pm

        Thanks for commenting Safira! So glad you found my recipe and I look forward to hearing how you liked it.

        Reply
    2. Veena Azmanov says

      October 10, 2019 at 10:14 pm

      This Peanut Butter frosting is unique and flavorful. Sure to try it out with my next batch of cupcakes.

      Reply
    3. Cat says

      May 07, 2020 at 12:39 am

      Can you make this recipe ahead of time and store in fridge? Thanks !

      Reply
      • Tara says

        May 08, 2020 at 1:54 pm

        Absolutely! I do it all the time.
        When you want to use it bring it to room temperature and stir it well.

        Reply
    4. Mia says

      January 05, 2021 at 9:22 pm

      Delicious! Thank you, Tara Teaspoon!

      Reply
    5. Nikki says

      July 10, 2021 at 2:07 pm

      Love this frosting. I was looking for a recipe with cream cheese and landed on this one. Super fluffy, and easy to frost with!❤❤

      Reply
      • Tara Teaspoon says

        July 13, 2021 at 9:19 am

        So happy to hear it! It's definitely a crowd-pleaser!

        Reply
      • Tara Teaspoon says

        August 04, 2021 at 12:22 pm

        Awesome! Glad it was a success.

        Reply
    6. Britney F says

      August 19, 2021 at 6:54 pm

      That's it, I'm sold! I will make ANY frosting you give me, Tara. This peanut butter one is FANTASTIC!

      Reply
    fluffy peanut butter frosting recipe pin image
    Best Fluffy Peanut Butter Frosting
    Best Fluffy Peanut Butter Frosting
    fluffy peanut butter frosting on chocolate cupcake

    Hi, I'm Tara Teaspoon!

    I’ve been sharing my original ideas for years. What began as a passion, turned into a publishing career as Food Editor at Martha Stewart Living and Ladies’ Home Journal magazines.

    Now I write cookbooks, and share delicious recipes and expert cooking tips with you here! Thanks for stopping by Tara Teaspoon!

    More about me →

    Popular

    • square feature image of turkey pot pie with biscuits on top in a cast iron skillet.
      Turkey Pot Pie with Biscuits
    • featured image of the perfect slice of lemon lush icebox dessert.
      Lemon Lush
    • Three stacked Easter blondies on a small white plate.
      Mini Egg Cookie Bars
    • Polenta zucchini salad in a serving bowl.
      Chicken and Zucchini Salad with Polenta Croutons

    Cookbooks

    Tara Teaspoon Cookbooks

    Footer

    fluffy peanut butter frosting recipe pin image
    Best Fluffy Peanut Butter Frosting
    Best Fluffy Peanut Butter Frosting
    fluffy peanut butter frosting on chocolate cupcake

    Subscribe for emails and exclusive updates!

    Sign me up!
    Tara Teaspoon horizontal logo

    ↑back to top

    Explore

    • Recipe Index
    • Cookbooks
    • New Posts
    • Newsletter Subscribe

    About

    • About
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Refund Policy
    • Disclaimer & Terms

    Copyright © 2025 Tara Teaspoon, Inc • Powered by Feast+

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.