Want more cake recipes? Try my Hershey’s Chocolate Cake, Missippi Mud Cake, or Berry Cake! Talk about a chocolate lover’s dream, this Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake has it all with decadent, moist chocolate cake and delicious blend of two of my favorite flavors. This is a great cake to make in stages ahead of time, making it really easy for any occasion!
Variations:
One Layer Cake: Grease 9×13” pan with non-stick cooking spray. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake at 350 degrees F for 35 to 40 minutes. Cool before frosting with a layer of peanut butter frosting. Refrigerate to harden the frosting, then add a layer of chocolate frosting, if desired. Cupcakes: Line cupcake pan with paper liners and fill 2/3 full with batter. Bake cupcakes for 22 to 25 minutes. Cool completely completely before frosting. Makes 24-30 cupcakes. I think it’s fun to scoop a small piece of cake out of the center of each cupcake and pipe some peanut butter frosting in the center. Then frost the cupcakes with chocolate frosting and add a mini Reese’s cup on top.Bundt Cake: Properly grease and flour the pan and cook the chocolate cake for about 50-55 minutes. Cool for 15 minutes in the pan before inverting onto a wire cooling rack. Frosting alternating lines of chocolate and peanut butter frosting.
Make Ahead and Freezing Instructions:
To Make Ahead: The baked cake and frostings can be made a day or two in advance. Wrap cakes tightly, and store frosting in an airtight container. Allow frosting to come to room temperature before using. Add wet ingredients: eggs, milk, oil, and vanilla and beat on medium speed for about 2 minutes. Stir in boiling water or hot coffee (batter will be very thin). pour batter into greased round cake pans with parchment paper liners at the bottom. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool in pan for 10 minutes then invert onto cooling racks to cool completely. Cut cakes in half, horizontally, using a sharp serrated knife, so you end up with four, thin cake rounds. Peanut Butter Filling: Add ⅓ of the peanut butter frosting on top of the first cake layer on the serving plate. Repeat, adding frosting between the remaining 3 cake layers. Make Chocolate Frosting: Pour melted butter in a large mixing bowl and stir in cocoa powder. Add powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla and beat with electric mixers until smooth. Thicken or thin, as needed. Spread frosting evenly over the outside of the cake. Decorate (optional) the top of the cake with piped swirls of chocolate frosting on top and mini Reese’s peanut butter cups, if desired. To Freeze: Allow cakes to cool completely, then cut in half horizontally and wrap each round in plastic wrap. Place in a freezer ziplock bag and freeze for up to 3 months. Freeze frosting in a freezer safe, air-tight container and allow to come to room temperature before using.
FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST for more great recipes!
RATE and COMMENT below! I would love to hear your experience. I originally shared this recipe March 2016. Updated September 2021. This post contains affiliate links.
