do you HAVE to use butter to make frosting?

i want to make a peanut butter frosting, here's the recipe:

1 cup confectioners' sugar
1 cup creamy peanut butter
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
3/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/3 cup milk


i dont want to use butter, so i was wondering if i could simply just whip the peanut butter to get it light and fluffy, and maybe add the powedered sugar, i dont know yet.

i want to use it for a chocolate cake :)

what do you think?

citygrl2009-11-09T19:49:08Z

Favorite Answer

i dont know since i was little ive been seeing my parents make their frosting by just whipping egg wites and adding sugar and food coloring so i dont know why people elaborate on this so much

anam4cara2009-11-09T17:27:47Z

It MAY work if the peanut butter is slightly warm and smooth enough. However, the result will be thick, heavy fudge-like product and maybe difficult to spread on a cake.

True frostings, which your recipe creates, require a fat (butter, margarine, or shortening). The fat becomes emulsified (fluffed with air). If you can't use butter, which adds a greater dimensional flavor, substitute shortening or margarine.

Good luck.

Anonymous2009-11-09T17:24:00Z

You need something with properties similar to butter for the recipe to work right. So if you don't want to use butter, try a shortening like Crisco, but do not omit the ingredient totally.

Nutmegggggg2009-11-09T17:26:32Z

Technically, yes, you could leave the butter out. But it would not have the same texture. I think It would be ok to leave out the butter in this particular recipe because peanutbutter already has oil in it.

Anonymous2009-11-09T17:45:41Z

you can also use Crisco or any other shortening available to you .