Fluffy & Creamy Vegan Peanut Butter Frosting

Rich, creamy, and irresistibly indulgent, this vegan peanut butter frosting is the ultimate topping for cakes, cupcakes, and desserts of all kinds! This recipe is made with just 5 simple ingredients, it’s smooth, fluffy, and packed with the delicious peanut flavour we all love. Perfect for any occasion, from decorating a cake for birthdays to casual sweet cravings like spreading on a cookie!

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Calling all peanut butter lovers today! This vegan peanut butter frosting is everything you’ve ever dreamed of – smooth, creamy, fluffy, and bursting with nutty goodness. You can frost your cake, decorate cupcakes, or just eat it by the spoonful (no judgment here). Well, this frosting is a must-try for sure. And as always, it’s easy to whip up! You only need 5 simple ingredients and it’s perfect for any dessert you want to make extra special and peanutty. I absolutely love this frosting on peanut cake and chocolate cake, it pairs so well! 

Main ingredients and substitutions

Let’s take a closer look at the 5 ingredients that come together to create this luscious frosting!

*Use room temperature ingredients unless otherwise instructed.

Peanut butter: I used all natural smooth peanut butter for the creamiest texture. You can opt for crunchy if you want added texture, it will be delicious too! Make sure to use natural peanut butter with no added oils or sugar for the best flavour. My favourite is Meridian. Said that, if you only have peanut butter like Skippy or Sun-Pat, feel free to use them too, it’s just going to taste a bit saltier.

Vegan butter: I used vegan butter from Flora and it worked amazingly for this recipe! Other brands like Earth Balance, Naturli, or Miyoko’s should work perfectly too. Leave the vegan butter at room temperature for a little bit for easy mixing.

Icing sugar: Sift the icing sugar to avoid any lumps in the frosting. If you don’t have any icing sugar, you can process caster sugar or granulated sugar in your food processor until they are very fine like powder too!

Vanilla extract: A splash of vanilla enhances the peanut butter flavour and adds warmth and depth to the frosting. You can omit it if you like, but I recommend adding!

Soy whipping cream: I like to use whipping cream in my frosting recipe to add lovely fluffiness and creaminess to it. It makes the frosting extra light and fluffy while ensuring a smooth consistency. Coconut cream or oat-based cream also works well if soy isn’t your go-to.

Note: Substitution may change the final taste and texture of this recipe.

*I use bone char-free sugars for all of my recipes. I cover the topic in my article Vegan Baking 101. Go to the “Is sugar vegan?” section to learn more!

Recommended equipment for this recipe

Mixing bowls: You’ll need a medium to large mixing bowl to whip up the frosting if using a hand mixer. 

Hand mixer or stand mixer: These are lifesavers for achieving the perfect fluffy consistency! I used a stand mixer. A hand whisk can work in a pinch, but you’ll need some arm strength and the consistency is probably less fluffy.

Spatula: A silicone spatula is perfect for scraping down the sides of the bowl and ensuring every bit of frosting is well-mixed.

How to make vegan peanut butter frosting

Making this vegan peanut butter frosting is as easy as it gets. With just 3 steps, you’ll have a smooth, creamy, and deliciously nutty frosting ready to use on cakes, cupcakes, cookies, and more! The key to a perfect frosting is achieving the right balance of fluffiness and richness, and I’ll guide you through every step to get that dreamy texture.

Step 1: Prep your ingredients

Before you begin, make sure your vegan butter is left at room temperature to soften a little, but still cold and not too soft. This will make it easier to cream the butter and ensure a smooth texture for your frosting. Also don’t forget to sift the icing sugar to get rid of any lumps! It makes a world of difference in texture, lump-free icing sugar = smooth frosting.

Step 2: Cream the butter and peanut butter

In a mixing bowl, use a hand mixer or stand mixer with a paddle attachment to cream the vegan butter and peanut butter together until the mixture is smooth, fluffy, and well-combined about 2-3 mins. This step is super important to achieving a light and fluffy frosting! You can also use a balloon attachment instead of a paddle attachment too if you don’t have a paddle attachment.

Step 3: Add the rest of the ingredients

Add the vanilla extract and soy whipping cream and gradually add the icing sugar, about one cup at a time, and continue beating the mixture on low speed. Once all the icing sugar is added, increase the speed to medium to high and mix until the frosting is thick, fluffy, and creamy in texture. The colour should be a little paler because of the air in the frosting but still a lovely peanuty colour!

If the frosting is too thick, add a little more soy whipping cream or soy milk and beat again, about 1 teaspoon at a time, until you reach your desired consistency. There you have it! A delicious vegan peanut butter frosting ready to decorate anything you want. Enjoy!

Serving tips and ideas

• Frost any of your favourite cakes with this peanut butter frosting! 
• Or spread it on banana bread or even muffins for an indulgent twist. Making breakfast into a dessert is my expertise.
• And of course, don’t forget to decorate your cupcakes and top with crushed peanuts or chocolate shavings for a bakery-like finish!
• Serve as a dip for fresh apple slices, pretzels, or frost vegan cookies, easy to prepare and perfect for parties or any events!

Expert tips and tricks

Use cold but slightly softened vegan butter

Rock solid vegan butter will be very difficult to beat and incorporate air into the frosting, but also too soft vegan butter can create frost that is too soft and even runny sometimes, which will make it difficult to incorporate air and frost cupcakes.

Take your vegan butter out of the fridge around 30 mins prior to whipping up this frosting. Vegan butter should be still cold but not rock solid and slightly soft to create a smooth and fluffy texture. 

Don’t skip sifting the icing sugar

Icing sugar tends to have lumps, sifting it removes all the lumps in icing sugar so your frosting will have a smooth and velvety finish. 

Adjust sweetness

If you prefer a less sweet frosting, start with less icing sugar like 2 cups and adjust as needed!

Chill the frosting

If your frosting feels too soft or a bit runny, pop it in the fridge for 10-15 minutes to firm up before spreading or piping. You can also beat it again once it’s hardened a bit to get some air back in the frosting.

Use a digital scale to weigh ingredients

Always use a digital scale rather than measuring cups when you are baking. It’s so much more accurate and measuring correctly is very important to achieve the best result.

Recipe variations

• Feeling peanut butter and chocolate? Add 2 tablespoons of cacao powder for a rich chocolatey twist, this is an ultimate combo that cannot go wrong!
• You can try adding a bit of maple syrup for a warm, cosy, and caramel-like flavour.
• Also feel free to use crunchy peanut butter instead of smooth to add some crunchy texture! 
• If you like the sound of salted dessert, add a pinch of sea salt to the frosting to make a salted peanut butter frosting! It balances the sweetness and enhances the nutty flavour.
• This kind of changes the entire recipe but why not, you can swap out peanut butter for other nut butter like almond butter or cashew butter and enjoy a different flavour!

How to store

• Room temperature: This is a butter-based frosting so I don’t recommend keeping at room temperature. 

• Refrigerator: Store any leftover frosting in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2-3 days. Before using, let it sit at room temperature for about 10-15 minutes and give it a quick whip with a hand mixer or stand mixer to restore its fluffy and creamy texture.

• Freezer: This recipe freezes beautifully too. Transfer it to a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 2-3 months. To use, thaw it in the fridge overnight, then let it sit at room temperature for about 10-15 minutes and give it a quick whip with a hand mixer or stand mixer to restore its fluffy and creamy texture.

*Although you can store this recipe in the fridge or freezer, it’s always best to consume it fresh and as soon as possible.

Q and A

You will LOVE this vegan peanut butter frosting recipe because it is:

• simple and easy to make
• so rich and creamy yet fluffy
• perfect for any cakes or cupcakes

Want more recipes like this?

Try my other delicious peanut and dessert recipes you might enjoy!

• Peanut butter chocolate chip cookies
• Cream cheese buttercream frosting
• Vanilla buttercream frosting
• Coconut buttercream frosting
• Peanut butter mug cake
• Cookie dough frosting
• Almond buttercream frosting

Visit the dessert page and recipe page for more delicious recipes!

Please leave a comment and rate this recipe with 5 stars in the comment section below if you like the recipe! Let me know and tag me @thechestnutbakery on Instagram too. Thank you for making my recipe, friends!