Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake

Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Additional Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 40 minutes
Post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.

This Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake is an extra moist, rich, three layer chocolate cake with creamy peanut butter frosting and a sweet chocolate glaze on top! Prepare to fall in love!

Looking for more chocolate and peanut butter desserts? Here are my most popular recipes: Chocolate Peanut Butter Sheet Cake, Peanut Butter Blossoms, and Peanut Butter Cup Cookies.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake

Chocolate and Peanut Butter — a combination after my own heart. If you are craving an extra rich chocolate cake with a thick peanut butter frosting and a layer of chocolate ganache, this cake is for you. This is one of the moistest cakes I have ever made. Every layer is sheer perfection.

I have made this Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake for countless birthdays – I will always contend that it is THE perfect birthday cake. It is one of Jorge’s favorites so it makes it perfect for Father’s Day as well. Heck,  you don’t even need a special occasion. This cake will disappear on a random Tuesday just as fast. I promise. 

Ingredients for Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake

Do I need any special ingredients for Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake?

I know the list of ingredients might appear daunting, but I promise the hardest part is waiting for the cake to cool! This chocolate cake contains fairly standard cake ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry:

  • Flour
  • Cocoa Powder
  • Baking Powder
  • Baking Soda
  • Salt
  • Water
  • Sugar
  • Butter
  • Vanilla Extract
  • Vegetable Oil
  • Eggs
  • Dark chocolate

I recommend a good quality dark chocolate and cocoa powder, you’ll be surprised the difference it will make in your final product. Creamy peanut butter will be essential to the peanut butter frosting.

It is always important to test the freshness of your baking powder and baking soda – this helps yield a proper rise on your cake layers. To do this for baking powder – drop a healthy pinch of powder into about ½ cup of hot water. For baking soda – drop a healthy pinch into about a ½ cup of hot water with ¼ teaspoon vinegar. If they fizz – they are still good to use!

How to make Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake

First we make the chocolate layers for the cake. This batter is pretty straight forward, don’t be nervous when it’s a little thinner of a batter than some cakes are. It will bake up perfect and moist!

Once the cake layers are cool, beat together the peanut butter frosting until it’s light and fluffy. Frost that cake in thick layers of this peanut butter frosting and then pop it into the fridge while you make the chocolate ganache to go on top. 

Chocolate Ganache

For the “cherry” on top of this delectable cake… let’s talk about the chocolate ganache! It really takes this Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake to the next level. It honestly makes it taste just like a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup, but in cake form! 

This Chocolate Ganache is easy to make, you don’t need any fancy skills! And the key to the perfect texture for using on top of desserts or ice cream is corn syrup. I know, corn syrup. However, you absolutely cannot skip the corn syrup in the ganache if you want that glistening perfect texture to drizzle on the cake. It’s just two teaspoons worth! 

Slice of Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake on a plate.

Tips for making the best Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake:

  • Use a good quality dark chocolate and cocoa powder. 
  • Do not rush the melting of the chocolate or sugar. Doing so may burn the ingredients and making it unusable and you will have to start over again. 
  • Ensure your cake batter is spread evenly between all three cake pans so they bake evenly. 
  • Allow proper cooling time before assembling or frosting cake, otherwise you are going to have a messy melted cake on your cake plate. 
  • Give the ganache enough time, about 5 minutes, to firm up so it properly drizzles and adheres to the chocolate peanut butter cake. 

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake on a cake plate with chocolate drizzled on top.

Can I make this cake ahead? How do I store it?

Yes. It’s best within the first 2-3 days after baking it…but, good luck keeping it around that long! It’s always gone so fast in my house, we just can’t stop taking a bite here and there. 

If it’s going to be longer than a few hours before you serve it, I recommend storing this Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake in the fridge just to be on the safe side. Before serving it, allow the cake to come to room temperature for best flavor and texture. 

Up close image of Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake

I have made this Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake every year for Jorge’s birthday for the past 7 years. It has become his officially birthday cake! Sometimes I swap the peanut butter frosting recipe for my favorite chocolate buttercream frosting to create an epic chocolate on chocolate cake!

I can’t wait for you all to try it out — I know it’s going to be your new favorite too! Please leave a review/comment below letting me know how it turns out for you! 

Chocolate and Peanut Butter Dream Cake -- it tastes like a giant Reese's cup in cake form! Start with a crazy moist, rich chocolate three layer cake with creamy peanut butter frosting and top it with a sweet dark chocolate glaze! #Chocolate #Cake #PeanutButter
4.5 from 247 votes
Print Pin Recipe
Yield: 12 slices

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake

This Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake is an extra moist, rich, three layer chocolate cake with creamy peanut butter frosting and a sweet chocolate glaze on top!
Prep Time30 minutes
Cook Time25 minutes
Additional Time45 minutes
Total Time1 hour 40 minutes

Ingredients

Chocolate Cake

  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • ¼ cup cocoa powder
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups water
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 5 oz dark chocolate, chopped
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 large eggs

Peanut Butter Frosting

  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1 ¼ cup creamy peanut butter
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 2 tablespoons milk
  • Chocolate Sauce

Instructions 

Cake

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter three 8 inch round cake pans. Set aside.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
  • In a medium saucepan over medium high heat, combine water and sugar. Bring to a boil and stir until sugar dissolves, about 1 minute. Remove from heat and add chocolate and butter, stirring occasionally, until melted.
  • Whisk in vegetable oil and vanilla extract. Quickly beat in eggs (do this quickly so they don’t cook) into the chocolate mixture until combined. Whisk in dry ingredients, until smooth.
  • Divide batter evenly between prepared pans and bake for 20 to 23 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  • Let cakes cool in pans until cool to the touch – then frost.

Frosting

  • Cream butter and peanut butter in a stand mixer. Add vanilla and salt. Gradually add powdered sugar, one half cup at a time, beating well on medium speed. Scrape sides and bottom of bowl as needed.
  • When all sugar has been mixed in, icing will appear dry. Add milk, one teaspoon at a time, and beat at medium speed until light and fluffy.
  • Assemble the three cake layers with a thick layer of frosting in between the layers. Then apply a thin crumb coat on the top and sides. Pop cake in the freezer to harden the crumb coat for about 10 minutes.
  • Apply one final thick and even layer around the outside of the cake and top with chocolate sauce if desired!

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 1 slice, Calories: 744kcal, Carbohydrates: 82g, Protein: 11g, Fat: 44g, Saturated Fat: 20g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g, Monounsaturated Fat: 15g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 85mg, Sodium: 679mg, Potassium: 309mg, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 59g, Vitamin A: 716IU, Calcium: 82mg, Iron: 3mg

Categories:

Post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.

Related Posts

Comments

Welcome!

Jessica
I'm a trial & error, self taught, sugar addict who thankfully learned how to survive in the kitchen! I am also a wife, mama of 3.