This silky smooth peanut butter cream cheese frosting will put a delicious twist on your favorite desserts! In this easy five-step recipe, I eliminate the butter and cut back the sugar to create a creamy, delicious balance of sweetness and rich peanut butter flavor. In just five minutes, you’ll have a finger-licking topping that you can use for cakes, cupcakes, cookies, or even ice cream!
Why this is the best recipe
- It is easy to make - There are only a few steps involved in making this creamy peanut butter cream cheese frosting. Even beginners with no experience can make it!
- It does not take too much time - This recipe takes just five minutes and does not require waiting for the ingredients to come to room temperature. It is one of the quickest go-to recipes for satisfying your cream cheese frosting needs!
- It is the most delicious - Unlike most peanut butter cream cheese frosting recipes that use butter and a ton of sugar, I eliminate the butter entirely to create the perfect balance of sweetness and peanut buttery flavor.
- It does not require special ingredients or equipment - Making this recipe requires only five simple ingredients and two pieces of equipment. You likely already have everything you need at home!
- It is incredibly versatile - Since this peanut butter frosting recipe uses my base cream cheese frosting, you can customize it with just about any flavor you want.
Ingredients
Check out the original Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Frosting recipe at Spatula Desserts for more information and a printable recipe card.
2 cups Cream cheese full fat (33%+) e.g., Philadelphia
⅔ cups Mascarpone full fat (41%+)
¾ cups Powdered sugar, sifted
½ cups Peanut butter, smooth
1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
Also read: Learn more about mascarpone substitutes and heavy cream substitutes for more options, including a homemade mascarpone recipe.
How to make the recipe
Check out the original Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Frosting recipe at Spatula Desserts for more information and a printable recipe card.
- Slowly whip the cold cream cheese, mascarpone, and sifted sugar in a large mixing bowl using an electric hand mixer.
- Start the mixer at low speed and gradually increase as you continue to whip.
- Just before the mixture thickens, add the vanilla extract and peanut butter. Continue whipping.
- Stop mixing as soon as the mixture turns into a fluffy, pipeable frosting. It is crucial to stop mixing immediately, as overmixing can cause the frosting to separate and become runny.
- Enjoy the frosting as desired!
Top Tip: If you find that your cream cheese frosting is not as firm as you’d like, place it in the refrigerator for 30-60 minutes before using. Using the right ingredients and avoiding overwhipping at all costs is important to prevent runny frosting.
Flavor variations
Different nut butter: Instead of peanut butter, try this recipe with almond butter or with my homemade walnut butter, cashew butter, pistachio butter, hazelnut butter, or pecan butter.
With chocolate: Swap out the peanut butter for cocoa powder to make chocolate cream cheese frosting. Or, keep the peanut butter and add cocoa powder for a rich chocolate peanut butter cream cheese frosting.
Other flavors: Mix in coffee, strawberry reduction, caramel, or lemon zest (minus the juice). You can also swap out the vanilla extract for other extract flavors such as peppermint, maple, or orange.
With spices: Add some warm flavor to the frosting by sprinkling in pumpkin spice, ground cinnamon, or ground ginger.
Different colors: In addition to enhancing the flavor, you can also use food coloring to change the color. Whenever possible, use gel-based food coloring as liquid products can cause the frosting to become runny.
Expert tips
- If using sweetened peanut butter, make sure to reduce the amount of powdered sugar so the cream cheese doesn’t turn out too sweet.
- Always sift the powdered sugar beforehand to avoid any lumps in the frosting.
- Only whip the frosting for approximately 2-3 minutes. Stop whipping as soon as it gets fluffy. Otherwise, you risk overmixing and causing the frosting to break.
- You can also use a stand mixer with a whisk attachment (do not use the beater) to mix the ingredients at medium speed, but do not walk away! It is important that you monitor the frosting to avoid overmixing.
- Chill the frosting for 30 minutes before decorating your baked goods for the best results.
- This recipe yields enough frosting for approximately ten cupcakes or a small two-layer cake, but you can always multiply or divide the portions to make a different amount.
Check out the original Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Frosting recipe at Spatula Desserts for more information and a printable recipe card.
How to use peanut butter cream cheese frosting
If you have been searching for the ultimate peanut butter cake recipe that will be the talk of the town, look no further! This showstopper is made with moist, fluffy sponge cakes and is topped with a smooth and creamy peanut butter cream cheese frosting. Equally old-fashioned and modern, this peanut butter cake is perfect for a special occasion or a casual afternoon snack. Who knew that putting peanut butter in cake could be so good?
Go to the recipe: Peanut Butter Cake
Chocolate Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
The addition of fluffy cream cheese frosting elevates this moist and tender chocolate cake, resulting in a rich and decadent cake; chocolate cake with cream cheese frosting. The recipe is quick and easy, with only 15 minutes needed for preparation before baking. The chocolate flavor is pure and not overly sweet, making it a perfect choice for any chocolate lover.
Go to the recipe: Chocolate Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
Brownies with Cream Cheese Frosting
Ultra moist and rich, these brownies with cream cheese frosting are made with both dark chocolate and cocoa powder for the ultimate chocolate lover’s dream. They're topped with the perfect cream cheese addition that makes this one of the tastiest whipped cream cheese desserts. Still, these cream cheese brownies are a decadent but not excessively sweet treat.
Go to the recipe: Brownies with Cream Cheese Frosting
More Frosting Ideas
This 3-ingredient cream cheese frosting without butter recipe is the easiest and quickest frosting to whip up for your cakes and cupcakes. Unlike several frosting recipes out there, this no-butter cream cheese frosting recipe doesn't include tons of sugar so it is very well-balanced in sweetness. Make this delicious, velvety-smooth, easy-to-pipe frosting in 3 minutes!
Go to the recipe: Cream Cheese Frosting Without Butter
German Buttercream
Easy German buttercream (or crème mousseline) is my favorite buttercream frosting. It's a simple pastry cream enriched with butter, so it is a bit more complex to make, but it isn't as sweet as American buttercream. It's super smooth and silky and the best cake filling for a variety of desserts, from layer cakes and cupcakes to French macarons.
Go to the recipe: German Buttercream
Nutella Frosting
Rich chocolate cake with Nutella frosting has to be one of the most popular birthday cake flavors and fillings. Because who doesn't love the rich and smooth chocolate hazelnut spread? The nutty flavor tames the sweetness slightly, but overall this is a super decadent cake filling for serious chocoholics only. Make sure to try these Nutella cupcakes and Nutella cake.
Go to the recipe: Nutella Frosting
Namelaka
Chocolate Namelaka is the most delicious cream that you can use to fill, frost, or beautifully decorate your desserts. Its texture is the perfect mix of ganache, pastry cream, and mousse, making it rich, silky, delicate, and light. You can make namelaka with dark chocolate, milk chocolate, or white chocolate too, so it is super versatile.
Go to the recipe: Namelaka
Diplomat Cream
Diplomat cream or crème diplomate has a unique taste and texture. It is lighter than pastry cream yet richer than simple whipped cream filling. Therefore, there are numerous diplomat cream uses. It works well in a tart; it's a delicious cake filling, a classic eclair filling, or even makes a tasty small dessert dish on its own.
Go to the recipe: Diplomat Cream
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This article was originally published as Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Frosting recipe at Spatula Desserts.
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