• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Plant Based Jess

menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • About
  • Recipes
  • 📧 SUBSCRIBE
  • Contact Me
  • Privacy Policy
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home » Dessert » 4-Ingredient Healthy Peanut Butter Frosting

    4-Ingredient Healthy Peanut Butter Frosting

    Published: Apr 22, 2021 · Modified: Jan 30, 2023 by Jessica

    JUMP TO RECIPE PIN SHARE

    This healthy peanut butter frosting is easy, extra fast (5 minutes!) and super delicious. It's perfect to generously slather over muffins, pancakes, brownies or simply enjoy by the spoon!

    There is a white bowl containing a peanut butter frosting with on the side a few squares of homemade vegan brownies with one of them that's topped with some of the frosting. There is silver butter knife in the bowl of frosting.

    I have been making this healthy frosting for a while now, but was debating if I should add it to the blog. Not that it is not worth sharing, but I considered this recipe to be more of a kitchen hack than a recipe itself. I mean, making this 5-minute frosting is as easy and simple as whisking 4 common pantry ingredients together.

    I actually originally made this peanut butter frosting to go with my black bean brownies. I change things up a bit when updating and improving older recipes, so I decided to take the PB frosting away to simplify the brownie recipe (and they are so darn good already they don't need anything added to them!). But, after getting a few people desperately yelping to have it back, the famous peanut butter frosting is back in force.

    There are 2 vegan brownie squares on a white plate with one of them topped with a peanut butter frosting. There are more brownies as well as frosting on the side and a polka dots hand towel on the side.

    And now, I can see why it needs its own little place on the blog. I was underestimating the magic happening when whisking peanut butter with a liquid sweetener and milk. It creates a super creamy texture that's absolutely divine.

    But let me first make something clear before we keep going: if you are looking for a light and whipped buttercream kind of frosting, this recipe is not the one for you (check out this vegan dark chocolate frosting for a fluffier textured frosting). I totally agree that fluffy rich frostings are definitively essential in this world we are living in. But also, they are usually filled with saturated fat, which makes them less of a good choice on a daily basis (I make this vegan peanut butter frosting for the special occasion).

    My version is an all day, everyday, kind of treat. It is a thick and sticky vegan frosting that's healthier, super quick to make and perfect to go over just about any baked goods. Or morning toasts. (Or by the spoon.)

    There is a white bowl containing a peanut butter frosting with on the side a few squares of homemade vegan brownies with one of them that's topped with some of the frosting. There is a hand holding on a silver butter knife while digging in the bowl of frosting to show the texture.

    Ingredients to make a healthy peanut butter frosting

    This frosting recipe could not be simpler! And I bet you got everything in your pantry to make it.

    • Peanut butter (I bet you saw this one coming)
    • Maple syrup
    • Vegan milk
    • Vanilla extract
    Showing are the ingredients needed to make this recipe: nut butter, maple syrup, vanilla extract and vegan milk.

    What kind of peanut butter to use

    Well, this one is on you. A creamy peanut butter will give you a... smoother frosting. If you like textured frostings, then go for the crunchy one.

    In any case, I recommend to use an unsweetened kind of peanut butter. You will then be able to really dose how sweet you want it to be and just have better control over the recipe. And let's face it, it will be healthier as well.

    How to make it

    It really only takes maximum 5 minutes to create this simple and most delicious frosting!

    Add all the ingredients to a bowl and whisk until super creamy. The mixture will look clumpy at first as the fat from the peanut butter is slowly mixing with the milk and sweetener. But keep going until it is uniform and smooth.

    And use a large enough bowl so you can whisk intensively, this will help create a better texture.

    Close up on a large white bowl containing a peanut butter frosting with a whisk stirring in the frosting.

    Watch how to make this healthy peanut butter frosting

    Super versatile sweet peanut butter sauce

    I find myself using this recipe in so many ways in the kitchen! I use it most often to spread over baked goods, BUT you can add more or less vegan milk to make a thinner or thicker sauce to use as a:

    • fruit dipping sauce (my kids go crazy dipping apple slices in),
    • oatmeal or overnight oats topping
    • pancake peanut sauce (add more milk to make a pourable sauce)
    • ice cream topping
    There is a white bowl containing a peanut butter frosting with on the side a few squares of homemade vegan brownies with one of them that's topped with some of the frosting. There is a silver butter knife on the table with some of the frosting and a small bowl with sea salt on the side as well.

    Storage

    This recipe makes a little over 1 cup of frosting, so if it makes more than you need, then store it in the fridge for 3-4 days. It will get thicker as it cools down, so let it warm up a bit and add a splash of milk if needed before whisking again.

    You can also freeze it for up to 3 months.

    There is a white bowl containing a peanut butter frosting with on the side a few squares of homemade vegan brownies with one of them that's topped with some of the frosting. There is a silver butter knife on the table with some of the frosting and a small bowl with sea salt on the side as well.

    Other sweet dessert sauce you might like

    • Vegan date caramel
    • Cherry marmalade
    • Coconut whipped cream
    • Vegan cashew vanilla icing
    • Vegan dark chocolate frosting
    • Frosting on these vegan carrot cake cupcakes

    More peanut butter recipes you might like

    • No bake peanut butter fudge
    • Peanut butter avocado smoothie
    • Tofu buddha bowl
    • Vegan peanut noodle bowl
    • 3-Ingredient peanut butter cookies
    • Peanut butter frosting

    I hope you enjoy this peanut butter frosting recipe as much as we do! If you try it, please leave a comment below and rate the recipe to let me know how it was. Your feedback is so helpful!

    Let's stay in touch with Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook. Also, don't forget to subscribe to my newsletter to be sure not to miss anything.

    Close up on a piece of vegan brownies that's covered with some homemade peanut butter frosting. There is a silver knife covered with more frosting on the side and more brownies in the background.
    There is a white bowl containing a peanut butter frosting with on the side a few squares of homemade vegan brownies with one of them that's topped with some of the frosting. There is silver butter knife in the bowl of frosting.

    4-Ingredient Healthy Peanut Butter Frosting

    5 from 1 vote
    This healthy peanut butter frosting is easy, extra fast (5 minutes!) and super delicious. It's perfect to generously slather over muffins, pancakes, brownies or simply enjoy by the spoon!
    PRINT RECIPE PIN RECIPE
    Prep Time5 mins
    Cook Time0 mins
    Total Time5 mins
    Author Jessica Laroche

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 cup smooth peanut butter - unsweetened
    • 6 tbsp maple syrup
    • 4 tbsp vegan plain milk
    • 1 tsp vanilla extract

    Instructions
     

    • In a medium size bowl, whisk together all the ingredients until very smooth. This can take a minute or so. Keep whisking until the frosting turns into an almost whipped texture. Taste and adjust the sweetness and texture by adding more maple syrup or vegan milk if necessary. You can easily make a sweet peanut butter by adding more milk (perfect for pancakes)
    • Store in the fridge for up to 5 days. Can also be frozen.
    • Use over cupcakes, cakes, brownies, or even on morning toast.

    Video

    CLICK TO SUBSCRIBE FOR UPDATES!
    SHARE ON FACEBOOK SHARE BY EMAIL

    Pin it for later!

    « Broccoli Hummus (Oil-free healthy recipe)
    Quinoa Poke Bowl with Tomato Tuna »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. nancy says

      April 25, 2021 at 2:41 pm

      5 stars
      This frosting is amazing. I never would have believed those ingredients would mix so well and be so good. Thank goodness this is back on the blog. I was having a panic attack!

      Reply
      • plantbasedjess says

        April 25, 2021 at 3:04 pm

        hahahah that's funny! No need for panic attack! 🙂

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published.

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    SEARCH


    ABOUT JESS


    Profile picture for Plant Based Jess in the kitchen.

    Hi there! I’m Jessica, a pasta obsessed French Canadian now living in beautiful Maine. I’m a mom of two, experienced foodie and ninja meal planner. I believe everyone can make stress-free plant-based meals with wholesome ingredients that your family and friends will love. 

    Join me in my kitchen to discover fun and creative recipes or click to find out more. Welcome!

    CONNECT WITH ME


    COMFORT FOOD RECIPES


    • Gnocchi Marinara Skillet
    • Vegan Kimchi Ramen Noodles
    • Creamy Gochujang Pasta
    • Flatbread Bruschetta with Pesto and Balsamic Glaze

    POPULAR RECIPES


    • Green Pasta Sauce (Quick and Healthy)
    • Easy Buckwheat Bread (No yeast, No kneading!)
    • Avocado Peanut Butter Green Smoothie
    • 3-Ingredient Almond Flour Peanut Butter Cookies

    Footer

    Copyright © 2021 Plant Based Jess