Easy, five minute peanut butter glaze makes glossy drizzle for donuts, cakes, brownies, cookies, and more! Peanut butter lovers will rejoice over this frosting that hardens into gooey sweet and salty glaze.

Adding peanut butter to desserts takes any sweet treat to the next level. Whether combining it with chocolate, banana, or oats, it’s hard to resist!
I love the versatility of this peanut butter glaze recipe. It may be used to drizzle over chocolate cake, bundt cakes or as icing for donuts. Alternatively, spread on a thick layer, like fluffy buttercream, to frost cakes, brownies, and cookies.
how to use Peanut butter glaze
Once you taste this peanut butter drizzle recipe, you will have a hard time not spreading it on everything! Unlike other sweet frosting recipes, the peanut butter flavor adds a hint of salt to balance flavors.
Below are my favorite ways to use this frosting, either as a thick glaze or shiny drizzle. The ingredients stay the same, no matter the consistency, but adaptations are made to the amounts.
Donuts
To make a peanut butter glaze for donuts, either keep the recipe as is for a thick layer of frosting or adjust it to make a drizzle. For a thinner glaze, reduce the amount of powder sugar to ¾ cup and increase the amount of milk until you have reached a desired consistency.
cakes
To make a icing for cakes, make the recipe as written. However, for a thicker, sturdier frosting, transfer the prepared frosting to a bowl and beat at medium speed with a mixer until thick and spreadable.
- Bundt cakes
- Sheet cake
- Cupcakes
- Layer cake – Use on cakes such as, gluten-free chocolate cake, banana cake with banana filling, or almond flour cake
- Pound cake
- Makes a great topping for angel food cake
Brownies
Let the bars or brownies cool completely on a wire rack before icing. Peanut butter glaze would make a great addition to banana bars, zucchini brownies, or any boxed or homemade brownie recipe.
bread
This also makes a great addition to sweet, quick breads, such as banana bread, chocolate zucchini bread, or peanut butter bread.
To make a drizzle for breads, reduce the amount of powder sugar to ¾ cup and increase the amount of milk until you have reached a desired consistency.
Ingredient Notes
- Peanut Butter – Use smooth or chunky for a bit of salty crunch. I have not tried this recipe with alternative nut butters.
- Milk – I recommend at least 2% milk, but half and half or heavy cream may be used for a thicker glaze. For a dairy-free recipe, substitute non-dairy milk.
- Butter – Cube the butter before adding to the saucepan so it melts quicker. Vegan butter sticks may be substituted for a dairy-free peanut butter glaze.
how to make peanut butter glaze
To make frosting out of peanut butter you will need a medium saucepan, basic kitchen ingredients, and only five minutes. Bake your dessert before beginning and allow time for it it cool.
However, like this peanut butter chocolate cake recipe, I have also spread peanut butter frosting on slightly warmed cakes to make a gooey topping.
(Below shows step-by-step photos and modified instructions. For the complete recipe, along with ingredient amounts, scroll down to the recipe card.)
- Frosting will harden as it cools, so you will want to spread it on immediately. Bake and cool the dessert first, then remove from the pan to a serving platter before beginning.
- Combine peanut butter, butter and milk in saucepan over medium heat. Heat until thick, smooth, and just starts to boil.
- Turn off the heat and add powdered sugar and vanilla. Stir vigorously until lumps disappear.
- Spread on immediately or drizzle on. If a thinner consistency is needed for drizzling, stir in additional milk.
peanut butter drizzle that hardens
Depending on the dessert to be frosted, you may want a drizzle that hardens completely. To do this use less powdered sugar. Start with ¾ cup and increase the amount of milk until you have reached a desired consistency.
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step-by-step web story instructions for this recipe!
more peanut butter recipes
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Rice Krispies Treats
- Almond Flour Peanut Butter Cookies
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie
- Peanut Butter Cookie Sandwiches
- Tiger Butter
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Peanut Butter Glaze
Ingredients
- ⅔ cup peanut butter (smooth or chunky)
- ½ cup unsalted butter, cubed
- 6 tablespoons milk
- 2 ½ cup powdered sugar (see recipe notes for drizzle)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Combine peanut butter, butter and milk in saucepan over medium heat. Heat until thick, smooth, and just starts to boil.
- Turn off heat, but leave on burner. Add powdered sugar and vanilla. Stir vigorously until lumps disappear.
- Spread on immediately or drizzle on. If a thinner consistency is needed for drizzling, stir in additional milk. Makes enough for a 9X13 inch cake, brownies, or bundt cake.
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Recipe Notes
Peanut Butter Drizzle that hardens
For a thinner glaze that hardens, you will want to use less powdered sugar. Start with ¾ cup and increase the amount of milk until you have reached a desired consistency.Nutrition
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Jan says
I halved the recipe for an 8×8 glass pan that I made a peanut butter/chocolate swirl cake in for my husband’s birthday. It was an absolutely delicious frosting that we all loved, and my teenage daughter specifically commented on how good it was!
Melissa Erdelac says
Thank you, Jan! I appreciate you and taking the time to share!
Best,
Melissa
NYNONA says
I made your gluten free white bread recipe today.It was THE BEST GF BREAD I ever tasted. It was soft, and moist, without being gritty. Thank you for such a delicious and easy recipe! Now I will never waste money on store bought again.
Melissa Erdelac says
Thank you so much! I really appreciate this!
Best,
Melissa