Indulge in the Ultimate Make-and-Take Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake with Fluffy Frosting

If you’re a devoted fan of peanut butter cups, prepare to have your dessert dreams come true. This incredible Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake combines a rich, decadent chocolate fudge cake with a luxurious, fluffy peanut butter frosting, all crowned with an generous scattering of everyone’s favorite candy: peanut butter cups. It’s not just a cake; it’s an experience, designed to be as easy to make as it is delightful to devour.

The timeless combination of chocolate and peanut butter is a dessert pairing that transcends generations, and for very good reason. Unless you have a nut allergy, it’s exceptionally rare for anyone to resist a single bite of this harmonious duo, especially when those irresistible peanut butter cups are involved. This Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake stands out as the absolute best way to experience this classic flavor profile. Imagine a deeply flavorful chocolate cake base, smothered in a light and airy peanut butter frosting, and generously adorned with countless miniature peanut butter cups. It’s a symphony of textures and tastes that will leave you craving more.

As much as I adore cake, I often shy away from baking them because the decorating process can be incredibly daunting. I’ve finally mastered the art of piping cupcakes – a simple pipe and swirl is all it takes. I even ventured into decorating a mini ice cream cake once, and it didn’t turn out *too* bad. But a full-sized, elaborately decorated cake? That’s a whole different ballgame. Let’s just say I’m incredibly thankful that my family values taste over elaborate presentation. Have you ever watched those talented decorators on Food Network Challenge, sculpting intricate Disney characters or haunted houses out of cake? That level of artistry is simply not in my wheelhouse. What I excel at, however, is making a cake look like a beautiful, inviting cake – which is precisely why I’m passionate about “make and take” cakes. With this method, you bake the cake directly in its serving pan, frost the top simply, and sprinkle on a generous amount of peanut butter cups. Sophisticated simplicity, I know. Perhaps I deserve a blue ribbon for this culinary innovation!

The beauty of make-and-take cakes lies in their unparalleled ease and convenience. They are, without a doubt, the simplest cakes you’ll ever prepare. The genius of this concept is that you both bake and serve the cake directly from the same pan, transforming it into the perfect travel companion. My own 13×9 inch baking pan even comes with a convenient lid that clips securely, making it effortless to transport in the car to any gathering. This single-pan approach also means you only need to concern yourself with frosting the top surface, eliminating any worries about intricate side decorations or multiple layers. It’s a game-changer for stress-free baking and entertaining.

This hassle-free baking method is a long-standing tradition in my family. My mom has been preparing these simple, delicious cakes for birthday celebrations for as long as I can remember. Her routine is wonderfully straightforward: bake the cake in a sturdy pan, frost the top generously, and then simply stick a candle in it. Even our beloved dog, Murray, got to enjoy the festive spirit with his very own birthday cake. While he couldn’t partake in the chocolatey goodness himself, the joy it brought was undeniable.

Don’t worry! He didn’t actually eat the chocolate cake, as it’s harmful to dogs.

Every bite of this chocolate peanut butter cake is an indulgence, a truly rich and sinful delight. The decadent, intensely chocolatey cake base provides the perfect foundation, while the fluffy, creamy peanut butter frosting adds a melt-in-your-mouth contrast. This is the kind of dessert that necessitates a tall, cold glass of milk to truly balance its richness (or a steaming cup of coffee, if you’re like me and prefer that over milk). What makes this chocolate cake exceptionally moist and intensely flavorful, even days after baking, is a secret ingredient: coffee! Used more as an enhancer than a flavor component, the coffee deepens the chocolate’s complexity, ensuring your cake will taste purely of glorious chocolate, not coffee. It’s a subtle trick that makes all the difference, transforming a great cake into an unforgettable one.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake

Yield:
15-20 servings

Prep Time:
20 minutes

Cook Time:
40 minutes

Total Time:
1 hour

If peanut butter cups are your favorite candy, then you’re going to love this make and take chocolate fudge cake with peanut butter frosting and peanut butter cups.

Ingredients

• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup whole milk
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 cup hot coffee or water

Peanut Butter Frosting:

• 1/2 cup (4 ounces or 8 tablespoons) unsalted butter, softened
• 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
• 2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
• Pinch of salt
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups chopped peanut butter cups

Instructions

1. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together sugar, flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
2. Add the eggs, milk, oil, and vanilla. Beat on low speed for 1 minute then increase the speed to medium and beat until smooth, about 2-3 minutes.
3. Stir in the coffee until incorporated (batter will be really thin).
4. Pour batter into the prepared pan. Bake 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean (the top of the cake will be sticky to the touch). Cool cake completely.
5. For the frosting: In the bowl of a stand mixer with the whisk attachment (or in a large bowl with a hand mixer), beat on high speed the butter, peanut butter, sugar, and salt until smooth and creamy, about 2-3 minutes.
6. Add milk and vanilla then beat on high speed until light and fluffy, another 2-3 minutes. Spread on top of the cooled cake. Top with peanut butter cups.

Did you make this recipe?

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Sources: Cake adapted from Hershey’s Make It Chocolate; Frosting adapted from 125 Best Cupcake Recipes

More Chocolate and Peanut Butter Recipes to Love

If you’re as enamored with the chocolate and peanut butter combination as we are, you’re in luck! Here are a few more irresistible recipes that celebrate this classic pairing, perfect for any occasion:

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake Squares

Buckeye Cheesecake Bars

Peanut Butter Cup Bars

Double Peanut Butter Surprise Cookies

Peanut Butter Cup Ice Cream (No Cook, Egg Free)

This recipe was originally posted as a guest post on The Spiffy Cookie. We’re delighted to share it again here for all chocolate and peanut butter enthusiasts!