Dreamy Peanut Butter Chocolate Layer Cake Recipe for Sweet Teeth

Decadent layers of rich chocolate and creamy peanut butter dance together in this irresistible peanut butter chocolate layer cake recipe that promises pure indulgence.

Every slice whispers sweet seduction with its perfect balance of flavors.

The moist chocolate cake layers nestle between silky peanut butter frosting, creating a dessert that stops conversations.

chocolate and peanut butter form a classic combination that never disappoints hungry dessert lovers.

Each forkful delivers a symphony of textures and deep, comforting tastes.

Bakers of all skill levels can master this showstopping cake that turns ordinary moments into delectable celebrations.

Get ready to become the star of your next gathering with this unforgettable dessert.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 45 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes

Calories: 482 kcal

Servings: 13

Ingredients for Peanut Butter Chocolate Layer Cake

• All-Purpose Flour: The sturdy foundation that gives structure and softness to your chocolate cake masterpiece.
• Sugar: Sweetens and helps create a tender, moist crumb with perfect caramelization.
• Natural Unsweetened Cocoa Powder: Delivers rich, deep chocolate flavor with intense darkness.
• Baking Soda: Creates light, airy texture by helping the cake rise and develop soft crumb.
• Baking Powder: Provides additional lift and ensures even, smooth cake texture.
• Salt: Enhances and balances all the sweet and chocolate flavors.
• Milk: Adds moisture and helps blend ingredients smoothly.
• Vegetable Oil: Keeps cake incredibly moist and tender with soft crumb.
• Vanilla Extract: Adds warm, aromatic depth to chocolate flavor.
• Eggs: Bind ingredients together and provide rich, creamy structure.
• Hot Water: Intensifies chocolate flavor and helps create smooth batter.

• Salted Butter: Creates creamy, rich base with subtle salty undertones.
• Peanut Butter: Adds nutty, indulgent flavor and smooth, luxurious texture.
• Powdered Sugar: Provides sweetness and helps create silky, spreadable frosting.
• Water or Milk: Adjusts frosting consistency for perfect spreadability.
• Reese's Candies: Adds delightful chocolate-peanut butter crunch and visual appeal.

• Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips: Delivers intense, glossy chocolate layer with balanced sweetness.

Tools Needed for the Layered Chocolate-Peanut Butter

• Stand Mixer or Hand Mixer: Essential for beating butter, peanut butter, and creating smooth, creamy frosting.
• Large Mixing Bowls: Perfect for combining dry and wet cake ingredients separately.
• 8-inch Cake Pans (3): Crucial for creating even cake layers with consistent thickness.
• Parchment Paper: Helps cake layers release easily and prevents sticking.
• Wire Cooling Rack: Allows cakes to cool evenly and quickly after baking.
• Offset Spatula: Helps spread frosting smoothly and create decorative cake stripes.
• Whisk: Useful for mixing ganache and ensuring chocolate melts evenly.
• Microwave-Safe Bowl: Needed for preparing chocolate ganache.
• Serving Plate: Provides a beautiful presentation for the finished cake.

Step-by-Step to Make Peanut Butter Chocolate Cake

Chocolate Peanut Butter Dream Cake

• Cake Foundation Preparation

Gather your baking tools and set the oven to a warm 350°F. Line three cake pans with smooth parchment, creating the perfect canvas for your delicious creation.

• Batter Magic

Blend dry ingredients in a spacious bowl, creating a chocolatey landscape. In a separate vessel, whisk together liquid components until silky smooth. Marry the wet and dry mixtures, letting hot water bring everything together with a gentle stir.

• Baking Symphony

Pour the rich batter into prepared pans, allowing them to transform in the oven’s warm embrace for about 25 minutes. Let the layers cool completely, becoming the foundation of your spectacular cake.

• Creamy Peanut Butter Frosting

Whip butter and peanut butter into a cloud-like mixture. Gradually incorporate powdered sugar, creating a luscious, spreadable dream that’ll make taste buds dance.

• Cake Assembly

Carefully stack the chocolate layers, generously spreading peanut butter frosting between each. Coat the entire cake in a smooth layer of frosting, creating a canvas for pure deliciousness.

• Chocolate Ganache Finale

Warm cream until it’s just about to whisper steam, then pour over chocolate chips. Whisk until glossy and smooth. Drizzle this liquid gold over the cake, letting it cascade dramatically down the sides.

• Finishing Touches

Sprinkle chopped Reese’s pieces across the top, creating a crunchy, sweet crown that promises pure indulgence. Slice and serve this showstopping dessert that’s guaranteed to create moments of pure joy.

Tips & Twists for the Chocolate PB Combo

• Baking Brilliance: Insider tips to elevate your Peanut Butter Chocolate Layer Cake experience.
• Room Temperature Magic: Ensure eggs, milk, and butter are at room temperature for smoother batter and more consistent cake texture. Cold ingredients can create lumpy mixtures and uneven baking results.
• Moisture Master Technique: Add hot water gradually to activate cocoa's rich flavor and create an incredibly moist cake. This secret step helps develop deeper chocolate notes and prevents dry cake layers.
• Frosting Finesse: Keep peanut butter frosting at the perfect spreading consistency by adding liquid in small increments. If too thick, splash a little milk; if too thin, sprinkle more powdered sugar until you achieve a silky, spreadable texture.
• Make-Ahead Mastery: Bake cake layers in advance and wrap tightly in plastic wrap. Store at room temperature for 1-2 days or freeze for up to three weeks. Thaw completely before assembling to maintain maximum freshness and flavor integrity.
• Decorative Flair: Use a piping bag with different tips to create elegant border designs or dramatic chocolate drizzle patterns. Crushed Reese's pieces add delightful crunch and visual appeal to your stunning dessert creation.

How to Serve the Ultimate Chocolate PB Cake

• Party Slice Perfection: Cut generous wedges that showcase the beautiful layers and drizzled ganache, perfect for birthday celebrations or special gatherings.
• Chocolate Lover's Dream: Serve alongside a scoop of vanilla ice cream to balance the rich chocolate and peanut butter flavors, creating a luxurious dessert experience.
• Coffee Companion: Pair with a hot espresso or cappuccino to complement the deep chocolate notes and enhance the cake's decadent taste profile.
• Casual Indulgence: Wrap individual slices in parchment paper for picnics, potlucks, or spontaneous dessert moments that will delight friends and family.

Storage & Planning for Chocolate PB Cake Leftovers

• Smart Slice Storage: Wrap individual cake slices in plastic wrap or aluminum foil, keeping them fresh in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Air-tight containers work wonderfully to maintain moisture and prevent flavor absorption.
• Freezing Magic: Whole cake or separated layers freeze beautifully for 2-3 months. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe container. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving, ensuring peak deliciousness.
• Room Temperature Timing: Allow chilled cake to sit at room temperature for 30-45 minutes before serving. This gentle warming helps restore the frosting's creamy texture and enhances the cake's rich flavor profile.
• Make-Ahead Strategies: Bake cake layers up to 2 days in advance, storing them wrapped at room temperature. Prepare frosting and ganache a day ahead, refrigerating separately. Assemble the cake several hours before serving for optimal taste and presentation.

Decadent Peanut Butter Chocolate Layer Cake Recipe

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4.6 from 38 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
• Yield: 13 1x

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Description

This rich chocolate peanut butter layer cake combines intense cocoa depths with creamy peanut butter frosting. Chocolate and peanut butter lovers will savor each decadent bite of this irresistible dessert that promises pure indulgence.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 2 cups (414 grams) sugar
• 1 ¾ cups (228 grams) all-purpose flour
• ¾ cup (85 grams) natural unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 ¼ tsps baking soda
• ½ tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup (240 ml) milk
• ½ cup (120 ml) vegetable oil
• 1 ½ tsps vanilla extract
• 1 cup (240 ml) hot water
• 2 cups (448 grams) salted butter, room temperature
• 1 ¼ cups (350 grams) peanut butter
• 9 cups (1035 grams) powdered sugar
• 6–7 tbsps (90–105 ml) water or milk
• 6 Reese’s, chopped
• 6 oz (1 cup) semi-sweet chocolate chips
• ½ cup (120 ml) heavy whipping cream
• 8 Reese’s, cut in half
• Crumbled Reese’s

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Instructions

1. Preparation: Prepare three 8-inch cake pans with non-stick spray and parchment paper. Position oven rack in center and preheat to 350°F (176°C).
2. Dry Ingredient Fusion: Sift flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt into a large mixing bowl, ensuring uniform texture and eliminating potential lumps.
3. Liquid Component Integration: Whisk milk, vegetable oil, vanilla extract, and eggs in a separate vessel until completely emulsified, creating a homogeneous liquid mixture.
4. Batter Formation: Merge wet and dry ingredients, stirring gently until just combined. Gradually introduce hot water, mixing on low speed to develop a silky, thin consistency.
5. Pan Distribution: Divide batter evenly among prepared pans, ensuring uniform depth and level surfaces for consistent baking.
6. Baking Process: Slide pans into preheated oven and bake for 22-25 minutes. Test doneness by inserting a toothpick into cake center – it should emerge clean. Transfer to wire rack for complete cooling.
7. Frosting Technique: Cream butter and peanut butter until luxuriously smooth. Incrementally add powdered sugar and liquid, whipping until achieving a light, airy texture.
8. Cake Assembly: Level cake layers if needed. Position first layer on serving plate, spread frosting generously, and sprinkle chopped Reese’s pieces between each tier.
9. Frosting Finish: Apply delicate crumb coat across entire cake. Frost top and sides smoothly, using offset spatula to create elegant vertical striations.
10. Ganache Creation: Heat heavy cream until barely bubbling. Pour over chocolate chips, allowing brief resting period before whisking to glossy perfection.
11. Decorative Finale: Artfully drizzle ganache around cake edges and center, permitting natural cascading effect. Embellish with halved and crushed Reese’s pieces for dramatic presentation.
12. Stabilization: Refrigerate cake for minimum 30 minutes to set frosting and ganache, ensuring pristine texture and structural integrity before serving.

Notes

• Precision Matters: Always sift dry ingredients to prevent lumps and ensure an even, smooth cake texture.
• Temperature Control: Use room temperature eggs and milk for better ingredient integration and consistent baking results.
• Mixing Technique: Stir batter until just combined to avoid overmixing, which can lead to a dense, tough cake.
• Cooling is Crucial: Allow cakes to cool completely before frosting to prevent melting and maintain structural integrity.

• Prep Time: 45 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Category: Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 13
• Calories: 482
• Sugar: 52 g
• Sodium: 300 mg
• Fat: 23 g
• Saturated Fat: 10 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 65 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 6 g
• Cholesterol: 38 mg