Crowd-Pleaser Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake Recipe

Published Jun 27, 2024 By Elle Ann

Image credit: RecipeTin Eats via YouTube

Peanut butter has a great flavor and is one of the best spreads for bread, but they are also amazing when used in desserts! One of my favorite ways to use peanut butter is by making this recipe by RecipeTin Eats on YouTube.

It’s a soft cake with the perfect balance of sweet and salty, and it also has lots of toppings which makes it more fun to eat. You can make this easily and serve it for special occasions or other family functions, too. Learn how now.

Ingredients for Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake:

Flour Mixture

1¾ cups of plain or all-purpose flour
¾ cup of cocoa powder, unsweetened, sifted
1½ tsp of baking powder
1½ tsp of baking soda or an extra 4½ tsp of baking powder
2 cups of white sugar
1 tsp of cooking or kosher salt

Wet Mixture

2 eggs
1 cup of milk, full or low-fat
½ cup of vegetable oil or other neutral-flavored oil
2 tsp of vanilla extract
2 tsp of instant coffee powder
1 cup of boiling water

Peanut Butter Frosting

2 sticks of unsalted butter, softened
4 cups of powdered sugar, sifted
½ cup of smooth peanut butter spread
¼ tsp of cooking or kosher salt
1 tbsp of milk

Toppings

½ cup of chocolate chips or melts
2 tbsp of cream
3 tbsp of peanut butter, warmed until runny
4oz of mini Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
10 or more mini Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, halved
¼ cup of salted peanuts, finely chopped

How to Make Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake:

Step 1

Preheat your oven to 350°F, then grease a 9×13-inch rectangle pan with butter, and line it with parchment paper with an overhang on the sides. In a large bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, white sugar, and salt, then give them a good whisk, and then add in the eggs, milk, oil, and vanilla.

Step 2

Continue to whisk until smooth and combined, then add the coffee and boiling water, and keep whisking until incorporated. Pour the batter into the prepared pan, then spread it evenly, and place it in the preheated oven.

Step 3

Allow it to bake for about 45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted at the center comes out clean. Let it cool for at least 10 minutes, then invert the pan on a wire rack, and allow it to cool completely.

Step 4

For the frosting, beat the butter over high speed for about 3 minutes, then gradually add the powdered sugar, and beat until incorporated. Add the peanut butter while beating continuously and continue to mix for another 3 minutes, then add the milk, vanilla, and salt, and beat over high speed for a final 30 seconds.

Step 5

Spread the frosting over the cooled cake, then drizzle then melt the chocolate chips with the cream at 15-second intervals stirring in between each interval, and drizzle half of it over the frosting. Drizzle the peanut butter, then top it with a layer of Reese’s, drizzle more chocolate, and then add the peanuts. Cut, serve, and enjoy!