Description
Sinful dark chocolate peanut butter cake delights dessert enthusiasts with rich layers of intense flavor. Chocolate and peanut butter create a perfect harmony that satisfies sweet cravings while offering pure indulgence you cannot resist.
Ingredients
Scale
Cake Dry Ingredients:
- 1 3/4 cups (220 grams) all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup (75 grams) unsweetened cocoa powder (dark or Dutch-processed)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons (7.5 milliliters) baking powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons (7.5 milliliters) baking soda
- 1 teaspoon (5 milliliters) salt
- 2 cups (400 grams) granulated sugar
Cake Wet Ingredients:
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) buttermilk
- 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) vegetable oil (or melted coconut oil)
- 2 teaspoons (10 milliliters) vanilla extract
Liquid Ingredient:
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) hot water (or hot coffee for deeper flavor)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and thoroughly coat two 9-inch round cake pans with non-stick spray or butter.
- Sift together the dry ingredients – flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt – ensuring no lumps remain.
- In a spacious mixing bowl, combine sugar, eggs, buttermilk, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract, whisking until the mixture becomes uniform and silky.
- Gently fold the dry ingredient mixture into the wet ingredients, stirring until just incorporated. Carefully blend in hot water or coffee to enhance the chocolate depth.
- Evenly distribute the batter between the prepared pans, creating smooth surfaces. Bake for 30-35 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center emerges clean.
- Allow cake layers to cool completely on a wire rack, which prevents condensation and maintains texture.
- Prepare the peanut butter frosting by creaming together peanut butter and butter until light and fluffy. Incorporate powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt. Adjust consistency with heavy cream.
- Create the dark chocolate ganache by heating cream and pouring over finely chopped chocolate. Whisk until glossy, then incorporate butter for richness.
- Assemble the cake by spreading peanut butter frosting between layers and over the entire surface. Drizzle warm ganache across the top, allowing it to cascade elegantly down the sides.
Notes
- Swap buttermilk with dairy-free alternatives like almond milk mixed with apple cider vinegar for a vegan version.
- Use natural unsweetened cocoa powder for a deeper, more intense chocolate flavor that balances the sweet peanut butter frosting.
- Add a pinch of espresso powder to the dry ingredients to enhance the chocolate’s richness without adding a coffee taste.
- For a gluten-free adaptation, replace all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend to maintain the cake’s tender texture.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 295 kcal
- Sugar: 27 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 44 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 37 mg