Description
Rich chocolate peanut butter cake delivers a symphony of indulgent flavors from classic American dessert traditions. Sweet layers combine creamy peanut butter frosting with deep chocolate notes, offering chocolate enthusiasts a memorable culinary experience you won’t soon forget.
Ingredients
Scale
Cake Base Ingredients:
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients:
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup boiling water
Frosting Ingredients:
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1/2 cup butter (softened)
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream
Instructions
- Heat oven to 350°F and prepare two 9-inch cake pans by coating with grease and flour to prevent sticking.
- Combine dry ingredients in a mixing bowl, ensuring cocoa powder, flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt are thoroughly whisked together.
- In a separate container, blend sugar, eggs, milk, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract until smooth and well-incorporated.
- Gradually fold dry ingredients into wet mixture, creating a consistent batter. Carefully stir in boiling water until mixture is thin and glossy.
- Distribute batter evenly between prepared cake pans, ensuring uniform thickness.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes in preheated oven until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
- Remove cakes from oven and allow to cool completely on wire rack, which prevents condensation and maintains cake’s texture.
- Prepare frosting by creaming peanut butter and butter until silky and unified.
- Gradually incorporate powdered sugar, mixing until frosting becomes light, airy, and spreadable.
- Once cakes have cooled, carefully layer and frost, covering top and sides with smooth, even strokes of peanut butter frosting.
Notes
- Swap milk with plant-based alternatives like almond or oat milk for a dairy-free version that maintains the cake’s rich, moist texture.
- Reduce sugar content by using natural sweeteners like honey or maple syrup, which can add depth and complexity to the chocolate flavor.
- For gluten-sensitive individuals, replace all-purpose flour with a reliable gluten-free blend to ensure the cake’s structure and taste remain consistent.
- Toast chopped peanuts and sprinkle them around the cake’s exterior for added crunch and an enhanced nutty flavor profile that complements the chocolate and peanut butter.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 386 kcal
- Sugar: 37 g
- Sodium: 245 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 44 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 7 g
- Cholesterol: 45 mg