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    Home

    Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Frosting

    February 26, 2024 by stylesweet 1 Comment

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    Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe

    What happens when you cross creamy, smooth peanut butter and everyone's favorite cream cheese icing? You get this mega fluffy, slightly tangy, and completely irresistible Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Frosting recipe!

    Swirls of creamy peanut butter cream cheese frosting

    If you ever wondered how you could possibly make delicious peanut butter even better, well have you considered turning it into frosting? Mix creamy peanut butter buttercream with fluffy cream cheese, and you will be amazed how incredible it tastes on all sorts of treats.

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • Tools and Equipment
    • Instructions
    • Substitutions
    • Variations
    • Storage
    • Steps for Making Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Frosting
    • Bake Like a Pro
    • Recipe FAQs
    • More Frosting Recipes to Try
    • Recipe

    The flavor of this peanut butter cream cheese frosting is just as amazing at is sounds. You get that beloved nutty, creamy peanut butter flavor mixed with slightly tangy, sweet cream cheese.

    Often cream cheese frosting can be a bit too sweet, but by adding peanut butter, the flavors are more well balanced.

    Cream cheese frosting is pretty soft. Adding more powdered sugar to thicken it up only leads it to be too sweet. Instead, mix it with peanut butter buttercream to get a super smooth and fluffy frosting that is perfect on chocolate cake, cupcakes, brownies, and so much more. I bet it would be incredible on cinnamon rolls!

    I first made this peanut butter cream cheese frosting recipe to combat the richness of super fudge brownies, but it would also be a fantastic alternative to my Peanut Butter Chocolate Cake or on this Brownie Cake or swirled on some Brown Butter Cupcakes

    Ingredients

    You are just a handful of ingredients away from the best frosting of your life!

    Ingredients needed to make peanut butter cream cheese buttercream
    • Unsalted butter - softened to room temperature
    • Smooth peanut butter - not natural peanut butter, if you can
    • Powdered sugar - sifted as needed
    • Cream cheese - softened
    • Vanilla extract

    Tools and Equipment

    Use an electric mixer to make super smooth and fluffy frosting. You will also need:

    • Mixing bowls
    • Rubber spatula
    • Mesh sieve

    Instructions

    This cream cheese peanut butter buttercream is fluffy and creamy at the same time. It comes together in about 5 minutes, but you will need an electric mixer. A handheld or stand mixer both work.

    A glass bowl with whipped butter and powdered sugar inside

    First, mix the butter and cream cheese until ultra smooth - about 1 minute for softened butter.

    A glass bowl with whipped butter and powdered sugar inside

    Then add in the icing sugar and vanilla. Start slow then mix on medium until creamy.

    Adding peanut butter to cream cheese frosting

    Add the peanut butter and mix on medium speed until light and fluffy.

    Fluffy peanut butter cream cheese frosting in a mixing bowl

    The finished buttercream will be smooth yet fluffy!

    Substitutions

    There are not too many opportunities for substitutions here. You can try a plant-based cream cheese and butter with similar results.

    Variations

    Peanut butter is really the essence of this recipe. Also try Nutella or other smooth spreads, like in Biscoff Buttercream.

    Storage

    Peanut butter cream cheese frosting is best used just after making while it is still soft. If making in advance, store in the refrigerator. Bring to room temperature then rewhip or mix by hand until light and smooth.

    Frosting may be stored in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. Allow it to come to room temperature before remixing. 

    You may also freeze the frosting for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight.

    Swirls of creamy peanut butter cream cheese frosting

    Steps for Making Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Frosting

    Learn how to make peanut butter cream cheese frosting with either a hand or stand mixer.

    1. Mix the butter 

      Use the beaters of a hand mixer or paddle attachment on a stand mixer to smooth out the softened butter first.

    2. Add cream cheese

      Add the softened cream cheese mix until blended.

    3. Add the powdered sugar

      Along with the vanilla, mix on low speed until everything combines.

    4. Let it whip!

      Increase the speed to medium and mix until light and fluffy.

    5. Add the peanut butter

      Continue to mix until creamy.

    Bake Like a Pro

    Softened butter should be able to easily hold a fingerprint when lightly pressed. It should not feel greasy or be melted or it won't be able to hold in as much air.

    Recipe FAQs

    What is the best way to thicken runny cream cheese icing?

    Before you start adding too much powdered sugar, try putting soft buttercream in the refrigerator. The butter might have been too warm and chilling in the refrigerator may help it firm up.

    Why is my cream cheese frosting grainy?

    Make sure to sift powdered sugar to remove any lumps before mixing. Allow enough time for the butter and sugar to whip together to help the sugar dissolve into the cream cheese frosting.

    More Frosting Recipes to Try

    • Creamy biscoff buttercream piped on top of cupcakes
      5-Ingredient Biscoff Buttercream
    • A close up Nutella buttercream swirled in a bowl with sprinkles
      5-minute Creamy Nutella Buttercream
    • A close-up of a bowl of Oreo buttercream with crushed cookies on top
      Oreo Buttercream
    • A cupcake with piped vanilla whipped buttercream frosting on top
      Easy Whipped Buttercream Frosting

    Recipe

    Swirls of creamy peanut butter cream cheese frosting
    Print Recipe
    5 from 1 vote

    Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Frosting

    This delicious Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Frosting is the result of creamy peanut butter and your favorite fluffy cream cheese icing.
    Total Time5 minutes mins
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: cream cheese, cream cheese frosting, peanut butter frosting
    Servings: 12

    Ingredients

    • ½ cup unsalted butter softened
    • 4 ounces cream cheese slightly softened
    • 4 cups powdered sugar sifted, as needed
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • ½ cup creamy peanut butter

    Instructions

    • Using a hand and beaters or a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter on medium-low speed until smooth and creamy, 1 minute.
    • Add the cream cheese and mix to combine.
    • Add the powdered sugar and vanilla. Begin mixing on low speed until the ingredients come together - scraping the bowl occasionally.
    • Turn up the speed and mix at medium-high speed for 2 minutes, until the frosting is fluffy.
    • Add the peanut butter and mix until light and creamy.

    Notes

    Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Frosting is best used just after making while it is still soft. If making in advance, store in the refrigerator. Rewhip or mix by hand until light and smooth.
    Frosting may be stored in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. Allow it to come to room temperature before remixing. 
    You may also freeze the frosting for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight.
    « Quick and Easy Lemon Ricotta Cake
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Grace Fee

      April 12, 2024 at 2:17 am

      5 stars
      Lick-off-the-spoon delish!

      Reply

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    Tessa Huff

    Hi, I'm Tessa Huff! I am the cookbook author of Layered and Icing on the Cake. I bake, develop recipes, and photograph food from my home studio in North Vancouver, BC.

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