America's Test Kitchen LogoCook's Country LogoCook's Illustrated LogoAmerica's Test Kitchen LogoCook's Country LogoCook's Illustrated Logo

Creamy Peanut Butter Frosting

By America's Test Kitchen

Published on February 24, 2011

Time

30 minutes

Yield

Makes about 2 1/4 cups

Creamy Peanut Butter Frosting

Ingredients

½ cup granulated sugar 2 large egg whites ⅛ teaspoon table salt 12 tablespoons (1 ½ sticks) unsalted butter, softened and cut into 1-tablespoon pieces½ teaspoon vanilla extract ⅔ cup creamy peanut butter

Before You Begin

The frosting can be made up to 24 hours in advance and refrigerated in an airtight container. When ready to frost, place frosting in a microwave-safe container and warm briefly on high power until just slightly softened, 5 to 10 seconds. Once warmed, stir until creamy.

Instructions

  1. Combine sugar, egg whites, and salt in bowl of stand mixer; place bowl over pan of simmering water. Whisking gently but constantly, heat mixture until slightly thickened, foamy, and registers 150 degrees on instant-read thermometer, 2 to 3 minutes.
  2. Place bowl in stand mixer fitted with whisk attachment. Beat mixture on medium speed until consistency of shaving cream and slightly cooled, 1 to 2 minutes. Add butter, 1 piece at a time, until smooth and creamy. (Frosting may look curdled after half of butter has been added; it will smooth with additional butter.) Once all butter is added, add vanilla and peanut butter; mix until combined. Increase speed to medium-high and beat until light, fluffy, and thoroughly combined, about 30 seconds, scraping beater and sides of bowl with rubber spatula as necessary.
Creamy Peanut Butter Frosting

Creamy Peanut Butter Frosting

Headshot of America's Test Kitchen
By America's Test Kitchen
Save

Time

30 minutes

Yield

Makes about 2 1/4 cups

Ingredients

½ cup granulated sugar
2 large egg whites
⅛ teaspoon table salt
12 tablespoons (1 ½ sticks) unsalted butter, softened and cut into 1-tablespoon pieces
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
⅔ cup creamy peanut butter

Test Kitchen Techniques

Ingredients

½ cup granulated sugar
2 large egg whites
⅛ teaspoon table salt
12 tablespoons (1 ½ sticks) unsalted butter, softened and cut into 1-tablespoon pieces
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
⅔ cup creamy peanut butter

Test Kitchen Techniques

Ingredients

½ cup granulated sugar
2 large egg whites
⅛ teaspoon table salt
12 tablespoons (1 ½ sticks) unsalted butter, softened and cut into 1-tablespoon pieces
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
⅔ cup creamy peanut butter

Test Kitchen Techniques

Why This Recipe Works

For a refined peanut butter frosting recipe to complement our chocolate cupcakes, we opted for a cooked buttercream frosting of the Swiss meringue variety, where egg whites and granulated sugar are heated over a double boiler, then whipped with knobs of softened butter. This gave us a creamy peanut butter frosting recipe that crowned our chocolate cupcakes perfectly.

Before You Begin

The frosting can be made up to 24 hours in advance and refrigerated in an airtight container. When ready to frost, place frosting in a microwave-safe container and warm briefly on high power until just slightly softened, 5 to 10 seconds. Once warmed, stir until creamy.

Instructions

  1. Combine sugar, egg whites, and salt in bowl of stand mixer; place bowl over pan of simmering water. Whisking gently but constantly, heat mixture until slightly thickened, foamy, and registers 150 degrees on instant-read thermometer, 2 to 3 minutes.
  2. Place bowl in stand mixer fitted with whisk attachment. Beat mixture on medium speed until consistency of shaving cream and slightly cooled, 1 to 2 minutes. Add butter, 1 piece at a time, until smooth and creamy. (Frosting may look curdled after half of butter has been added; it will smooth with additional butter.) Once all butter is added, add vanilla and peanut butter; mix until combined. Increase speed to medium-high and beat until light, fluffy, and thoroughly combined, about 30 seconds, scraping beater and sides of bowl with rubber spatula as necessary.

Gift This Recipe

Enjoyed this dish? Let others know by sharing it as a gift recipe.

This is a members' feature.