Peanut Butter Cake Recipe with Chocolate Frosting

Name: Peanut Butter Cake Recipe with Chocolate Frosting
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 42 min
Total time: 52 min
Ingredients: Cake; 3/4 cup creamy peanut butter; 1/4 cup butter (softened); 2 cups sugar; 2 large eggs; 1 1/2 cups buttermilk; 1 teaspoon vanilla; 2 1/4 cups all purpose flour; 2 teaspoons baking powder; 1 teaspoons baking soda; Frosting; 1 1/2 sticks butter (3/4 cup butter, softened); 3/4 cup cocoa powder; 3 cups powdered sugar; 5-6 tablespoons milk; 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla

This Peanut Butter Cake Recipe is a perfectly flavored sponge slathered in a rich and creamy chocolate frosting. Enjoy this chocolate peanut butter cake with a simple layer of icing, or with your favorite toppings. This cake recipe is easy, fluffy, and full of flavor!

two square slices of peanut butter cake with creamy chocolate frosting

Why You’ll Love This Peanut Butter Cake

This cake is for all you peanut butter lovers out there! The sponge itself is full of creamy peanut butter flavor and it has the perfect consistency, while the frosting adds a burst of chocolate flavor and even more moisture!

As someone who loves all things peanut butter and chocolate, this cake is a dream. You can add more chocolate and peanut butter combos with your toppings, or let this cake’s flavors sing all on their own.

This is a pretty easy recipe to whip up, so you’ll be enjoying it by the forkful in no time!

Ingredients

You’ll need ingredients for both the peanut butter cake and the chocolate frosting, but there’s some overlap between both lists. Check out the recipe card down below for exact measurements and instructions!

Peanut Butter Cake Ingredients

Peanut butter – creamy
Butter – softened
Sugar
Eggs
Buttermilk
Vanilla
All-purpose flour
Baking powder
Baking soda

Chocolate Frosting Ingredients

Butter
Cocoa powder
Powdered sugar
Milk
Vanilla

overhead photo of a square of peanut butter cake topped with chocolate frosting on a small plate

How to Make Moist Peanut Butter Cake

Step 1: Preheat and Prep

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease and flour a 9×13-inch baking pan and set it aside for later.

Step 2: Mix Batter + Bake

In the bowl of your stand mixer (or use your hand mixer), cream the peanut butter, butter, and sugar until it’s light and fluffy. Add in the eggs one at a time and mix well after each addition. Add the buttermilk and vanilla, mix well, and then slowly add in the flour, baking powder, and baking soda.

Pour the batter in your prepared pan and bake for 38-42 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let the cake cool completely before frosting.

Step 3: Make Frosting

Beat the butter until it’s smooth and then add in the remaining ingredients. Beat until smooth and fluffy, and then spread it over the top of the cake.

thick square of peanut butter cake with chocolate frosting

FAQs

What kind of peanut butter should I use in a cake?

The best kind to use in a cake is smooth and creamy peanut butter! I would also recommend getting an unsweetened (or less sweetened) kind if possible because then it makes it easier to control the amount of sweetness in the cake. Finally, don’t go for an oily natural brand. The oils will change the texture and bake time of the cake, unfortunately.

What other variations of this cake could I make?

Oh, the options are endless! I think it’d be a great idea to chop up some Reese’s cups and add those to the top of the cake, or get creative with frosting piping and add whole Reese’s to stick out of the frosting. You can also lean more into the chocolate side of things and add mini chocolate chips, or crumbled Oreos. Let me know if you have any other ideas!

How do you store peanut butter cake?

Store your cake in the refrigerator, ideally in an airtight container, but covered at the very least. It’ll last up to five days.

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