Decadent Buckeye Layer Cake: The Ultimate Chocolate Peanut Butter Dream Recipe
Prepare for an extraordinary dessert experience with this show-stopping Buckeye Layer Cake! Often hailed as the ultimate combination of chocolate and peanut butter, this cake is a true indulgence. Featuring two incredibly fudgy chocolate cake layers, generously filled with a velvety smooth peanut butter cream, and draped in a luscious chocolate ganache, it’s a celebration in every single bite. This cake isn’t just a recipe; it’s a testament to the irresistible pairing of these two beloved flavors, designed to delight every chocolate and peanut butter enthusiast.
This week marks a significant milestone for my blogging journey—nine incredible years! It’s ironic, as this past month has brought its fair share of frustrations. The ever-changing landscape of social media algorithms, particularly on platforms like Pinterest and Instagram, has made it increasingly challenging for new content to find its audience. It often feels like I’m sharing my creations into a vast abyss, hoping that somewhere out there, someone is finding joy in my work, even if they don’t always leave a comment or a ‘like’.
A Journey of Passion: Nine Years of Baking and Sharing
This blog is more than just a collection of recipes; it’s deeply interwoven with my identity and passion. My last professional chapter didn’t end well, making me profoundly grateful for this opportunity to share my love for baking. I know many would happily trade places, and that perspective keeps me grounded. I often remind myself why I started this journey: to share high-quality, delicious recipes born from genuine talent and dedication, not just to chase numbers. While my self-confidence occasionally wavers, leaving me with more questions than answers about my reach, I’ve come to accept that I may never achieve viral popularity with millions of page views. And frankly, that’s okay.
My commitment has always been to quality over quantity. I never take shortcuts in my recipes or my craft, striving to deliver the very best to you. Getting that off my chest feels good, but today isn’t about self-pity; it’s about celebration! I want to extend my deepest gratitude to each of you for reading and supporting my blog for the past nine years. Without your continued visits and engagement, I wouldn’t still be here, sharing my passion for baking.
And what better way to celebrate than with a truly spectacular cake? This Buckeye Layer Cake is dedicated to you, my wonderful readers, because I know many of you share my profound love for the magical combination of chocolate and peanut butter. I genuinely hope you adore it as much as I do!
Crafting the Ultimate Anniversary Cake
Deciding on the perfect anniversary cake was a delightful challenge. I knew it had to be chocolate – that was non-negotiable. But I’ve already shared my beloved Devil’s Food Cake. What other chocolate masterpiece could I create? Then, it struck me: peanut butter! It was the obvious, perfect partner for a truly celebratory cake. After careful consideration and perfecting the frosting, the Buckeye Layer Cake was officially born.
Imagine this: two layers of incredibly rich, fudgy chocolate cake, generously layered with a luscious, creamy peanut butter filling, all enrobed in a smooth, decadent chocolate ganache. If that doesn’t scream “celebration,” I don’t know what does! This cake is designed to be a showstopper, a centerpiece for any special occasion, or simply a magnificent treat to brighten your day.
The Buckeye Inspiration: A Nod to a Classic Treat
The delightful combination of chocolate and peanut butter is affectionately known as “buckeye,” taking its name from the popular Buckeye candy. These beloved confections originate from Ohio and consist of peanut butter fudge balls partially dipped in chocolate, resembling the nut from the Ohio Buckeye tree. Our Buckeye Layer Cake captures that same iconic flavor profile, translating it into an impressive, multi-layered dessert.
The Fudgy Chocolate Cake Layers
For the cake layers, I adapted my tried-and-true Devil’s Food Cake recipe, a fan favorite for its deep chocolate flavor and moist, tender crumb. The core structure remains, but with a special addition: peanut butter to the batter! This enhances the overall flavor profile, creating a nuanced richness that perfectly complements the filling and ganache. The batter for this cake will be wonderfully thick, almost like frosting, which might make transferring it to the cake pans a little challenging – primarily because you’ll be tempted to lick every last bit off your spatula! This thick consistency is key to achieving that signature fudgy texture we all crave in a truly decadent chocolate cake.
The Creamy Peanut Butter Filling
Nestled between the fudgy chocolate layers is a generous spread of creamy peanut butter filling. This filling is light yet rich, with that unmistakable salty-sweet peanut butter flavor that perfectly cuts through the intense chocolate. It’s whipped to a beautiful fluffy consistency, making each bite an absolute dream. The key is to beat it until it’s wonderfully smooth and airy, providing a delightful textural contrast to the dense cake.
The Silky Chocolate Ganache Glaze
The crowning glory of this Buckeye Layer Cake is the lustrous chocolate ganache glaze. Ganache is a simple yet elegant mixture of melted chocolate and hot heavy cream, whisked together until it reaches a perfectly smooth, glossy consistency. As it cools, it thickens, transforming into a soft yet sliceable coating. By using a 1:1 ratio of chocolate to cream, we achieve a ganache that is firm enough to hold its shape beautifully once set, yet soft enough to cut through cleanly without any crunch. This specific ratio adds another wonderful element of fudge to the cake, ensuring every component contributes to a truly indulgent experience.
For a detailed, step-by-step guide on mastering this essential technique, be sure to learn how to make ganache, complete with helpful photos.
Baking Tips for Your Perfect Buckeye Cake
- Room Temperature Ingredients: Ensure your butter, peanut butter, and eggs are at room temperature for smooth mixing and a well-emulsified batter and filling.
- Don’t Overmix: After adding the flour, mix only until just combined to keep the cake layers tender and moist. Overmixing can lead to a tough cake.
- Leveling the Cake: For a professional-looking layer cake, use a long serrated knife to level any domed cake tops once they are completely cool. This ensures even layers and stability.
- Ganache Consistency: Pour hot (not boiling!) cream over finely chopped chocolate. Let it sit for a few minutes before whisking to ensure all the chocolate melts thoroughly and smoothly. If your ganache seems too thick, you can gently warm it slightly; if too thin, let it cool a bit more.
- Chilling is Key: After assembling and pouring the ganache, allow the cake to chill briefly to help the ganache set. This makes for cleaner slices and a firmer texture.
Variations and Customizations
- Chocolate Choices: Experiment with different types of chocolate for the ganache. While semi-sweet is classic, bittersweet will yield a more intense chocolate flavor, while milk chocolate will create a sweeter, milder ganache.
- Peanut Butter Preference: If you prefer a bit of crunch, you can try using crunchy peanut butter in the filling, though creamy offers a smoother texture. You can also lightly toast some peanuts and sprinkle them on top for extra texture.
- Garnish Galore: Beyond chopped peanut butter cups, consider adding a sprinkle of sea salt flakes to enhance the chocolate and peanut butter flavors, mini chocolate chips, or even a drizzle of melted caramel for an extra layer of sweetness.
Storage and Serving Suggestions
Store your Buckeye Layer Cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3-4 days. If your kitchen is particularly warm, or if the ganache starts to soften too much, transfer it to the refrigerator. If refrigerated, let it come to room temperature for about 30 minutes before serving for the best flavor and texture. This cake is quite rich, so thin slices are often sufficient, though who are we kidding? You’ll probably want a generous slice!
My blogging journey may not make me the most popular blog in the universe, but that’s perfectly fine. What matters most is the quality of the content I create and the joy it brings to those who find it. And at the very least, I know for certain how to make a truly exceptional cake!
Buckeye Layer Cake (Chocolate and Peanut Butter Fudge Cake)
10-12 servings
1 hour
30 minutes
1 hour 30 minutes
Ingredients
Cake
- 1 1/3 cups all purpose flour
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 3 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 ounces bittersweet chocolate, melted
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- 1/2 cup hot coffee or hot water
Peanut Butter Filling
- 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
Chocolate Ganache
- 8 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- Chopped peanut butter cups, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F (175C). Lightly grease two 8 x 1 1/2 inch round cake pans then line the bottoms with parchment paper (cut to fit the bottoms only).
- For the cake: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat together the softened butter, creamy peanut butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until light and creamy, about 2-3 minutes. Beat in the vanilla extract and eggs, one at a time, until fully incorporated (don’t be concerned if the mixture looks slightly curdled at this stage). Beat in the melted chocolate until well combined.
- Add the dry flour mixture alternately with the milk, adding the flour in 3 additions and the milk in 2 additions (begin and end with dry ingredients). Mix until just combined. The batter will be quite thick, similar to frosting. Carefully add in the hot coffee or water, mixing until smooth.
- Divide the batter evenly between the two prepared pans. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cakes comes out clean. Cool in the pans for about 15 minutes, then run a knife along the edge of the pan to loosen, and invert onto a cooling rack or plate. Cool right-side-up completely before assembling.
- For the filling: In a large mixing bowl, beat the peanut butter, softened butter, and powdered sugar together until smooth and creamy, about 2-3 minutes. Add the vanilla extract and heavy whipping cream. Beat for an additional 2-3 minutes until the filling is light and fluffy.
- For the ganache and assembly: Once the cake layers are completely cool, if they have rounded tops, use a long serrated knife and a gentle sawing motion to carefully cut off the rounded part to create flat, even layers.
- In a large heatproof bowl, add the finely chopped semisweet chocolate.
- In a large saucepan, heat the heavy cream over medium heat until it is hot and just barely simmering (but not boiling). Pour the hot cream over the chopped chocolate. Let it sit undisturbed for 5 minutes, then whisk everything together gently until the chocolate is completely melted and the ganache is smooth and glossy.
- Place one cake layer on a cooling rack set over a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, or directly onto your desired serving plate. Using a long metal icing spatula or an offset spatula, cover the top of this layer evenly with the prepared peanut butter filling. Carefully place the second cake layer on top (top side up) and gently press down to adhere.
- Pour the warm ganache slowly over the entire cake, allowing it to drip down the sides and fully cover the cake. Use a spatula to gently guide the ganache if needed. Immediately top with chopped peanut butter cups for garnish. Let the chocolate ganache harden at room temperature before moving and serving. If the chocolate ganache starts to soften too much in a warm environment, store the cake in the refrigerator. Store any leftover cake in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
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Source: Adapted from Baking: My Home To Yours
More Delicious Layer Cake Recipes to Explore
If you’ve enjoyed this decadent Buckeye Layer Cake, you’re in for a treat! Here are more of my favorite layer cake recipes, perfect for any occasion: