Chocolate Layer Cake Recipe with Peanut Butter Perfection

Peanut butter chocolate layer cake combines two beloved flavors that dance together in delightful harmony.

Rich, velvety chocolate meets creamy, nutty peanut butter for an irresistible dessert experience.

Decadent layers promise a symphony of textures that melt seamlessly on your palate.

Bakers seeking the ultimate indulgence will find this recipe both challenging and rewarding.

The contrasting ingredients create a balanced profile that enhances an ordinary cake into an extraordinary culinary masterpiece.

chocolate lovers and peanut butter enthusiasts alike will swoon over this magnificent dessert.

Prepare to elevate your baking skills and impress everyone with a showstopping treat that demands attention.

Why You’ll Love Peanut Butter Chocolate Layer Cake

• Indulge in Decadent Layers: This cake delivers an irresistible combination of rich chocolate cake and creamy peanut butter frosting that creates a mind-blowing flavor explosion in every single bite.
• Master a Showstopping Dessert: The multi-step process transforms ordinary ingredients into an extraordinary cake that looks professionally crafted, making you feel like a true baking champion without requiring advanced culinary skills.
• Quick and Crowd-Pleasing Creation: With simple mixing techniques and accessible ingredients, this cake comes together in under an hour of active preparation, guaranteeing a dessert that will wow family and friends at any gathering.
• Texture Sensation Guaranteed: Soft, moist chocolate layers combined with silky peanut butter frosting and crunchy Reese's pieces provide a delightful sensory experience that keeps everyone coming back for more delicious bites.

Ingredient Breakdown for Chocolate Layer Cake

• All-Purpose Flour: A classic baking staple that provides structure and texture to the chocolate cake layers.
• Granulated Sugar: Sweetens the cake and helps create a tender crumb.
• Unsweetened Cocoa Powder: Delivers rich chocolate flavor and deep color to the cake layers.
• Baking Soda, Baking Powder: Essential leavening agents that help the cake rise and become light.
• Salt: Enhances overall flavor and balances the sweetness.

• Whole Milk: Adds moisture and helps bind the cake ingredients together.
• Vegetable Oil: Ensures a moist and tender cake texture.
• Large Eggs: Provide structure, richness, and help bind the ingredients.
• Vanilla Extract: Adds depth and enhances the chocolate flavor.
• Hot Water: Activates the cocoa and helps create a smooth, rich batter.

• Unsalted Butter, Creamy Peanut Butter: Create a smooth, rich base for the frosting with a nutty flavor.
• Powdered Sugar: Provides sweetness and helps achieve the right frosting consistency.
• Water or Milk: Thins the frosting to the desired spreadability.
• Chocolate Chips: Used for creating a smooth, glossy ganache topping.
• Heavy Cream: Helps create a silky chocolate ganache.
• Reese's Peanut Butter Cups: Adds crunch, decoration, and extra peanut butter flavor.

How to Assemble the Chocolate Layer Cake

Step 1: Prepare Baking Setup

Warm up the oven to 350°F. Grab 3 cake pans and coat them with non-stick spray. Line bottom with parchment paper for easy removal.

Step 2: Mix Dry Ingredients

• Flour
• Sugar
• Cocoa powder
• Baking soda
• Baking powder
• Salt

Step 3: Blend Wet Ingredients

• Milk
• Vegetable oil
• Vanilla extract
• Eggs

Pour wet mixture into dry ingredients and mix thoroughly.

Step 4: Create Cake Batter

Slowly add hot water while mixing on low speed. Scrape bowl sides to ensure everything blends smoothly.

Step 5: Bake Cake Layers

Divide batter evenly among prepared pans. Bake for 22-25 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool completely on wire rack.

Step 6: Whip Up Peanut Butter Frosting

Beat butter and peanut butter until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar. Mix in water or milk until reaching desired consistency.

Step 7: Assemble Cake Layers

Trim cake tops to create even layers. Place first layer on serving plate. Spread frosting and sprinkle chopped Reese’s pieces. Repeat with remaining layers.

Step 8: Create Chocolate Ganache

Heat cream until just boiling. Pour over chocolate chips. Let sit 2-3 minutes, then whisk until silky smooth.

Step 9: Finish Decorating

Drizzle ganache over cake. Top with Reese’s halves and crumbles for extra texture.

Step 10: Chill and Serve

Refrigerate cake until ganache sets. Bring to room temperature before serving for best flavor.

Tips for Perfect Cake Texture

• Measure Precisely: Use exact measurements for flour, cocoa, and other dry ingredients by leveling with a straight edge for consistent cake texture.
• Water Temperature Matters: Add hot water gradually to activate cocoa's rich flavor and create a moist, tender chocolate cake crumb.
• Butter Softening Trick: Let butter and peanut butter sit at room temperature for 30-45 minutes to ensure smooth, lump-free frosting.
• Cake Layer Leveling: Use a long serrated knife to create flat cake layers, ensuring stable and professional-looking stack.
• Ganache Perfection: Allow chocolate ganache to cool slightly before drizzling to achieve the ideal thick, glossy consistency that will beautifully cascade down the cake sides.

How to Keep the Layer Cake Fresh

• Refrigerate cake in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Cover completely with plastic wrap or place in a sealed cake carrier to prevent drying out. Keep away from strong-smelling foods to maintain flavor integrity.
• Freeze individual slices by wrapping tightly in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil. Store frozen cake slices for 2-3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving to preserve texture and taste.
• Reheat refrigerated cake at room temperature for 30 minutes before enjoying. If desired, warm individual slices in the microwave for 10-15 seconds to restore softness. Avoid overheating to prevent drying out the delicate chocolate and peanut butter layers.

Great Complements for Chocolate Layer Cake

• Pair with Creamy Milk Stout: The rich chocolate cake finds its soulmate in a smooth, slightly sweet milk stout that echoes the dessert's decadent chocolate notes while cutting through the dense peanut butter frosting.
• Complement with Salted Caramel Espresso: A shot of espresso with a touch of salted caramel syrup perfectly balances the cake's sweet intensity, providing a robust counterpoint to the chocolate and peanut butter layers.
• Match with Fresh Raspberry Sorbet: The tart, bright raspberry sorbet serves as a refreshing palate cleanser, offering a light contrast to the heavy, indulgent cake and creating a delightful flavor harmony.
• Serve with Cold Whole Milk: A classic, ice-cold glass of whole milk provides a simple, creamy accompaniment that softens the cake's richness and brings out the pure, nostalgic flavors of chocolate and peanut butter.

Flavor Twists for Chocolate Layer Cake

• Nutty Chocolate Fusion: Swap Reese's with almonds or pecans for a different crunch and nutty flavor profile, enhancing the cake's texture and complexity.
• Salted Caramel Peanut Butter Remix: Drizzle homemade salted caramel sauce between cake layers and incorporate caramel bits into the frosting for a rich, decadent experience.
• Dark Chocolate Espresso Upgrade: Replace regular cocoa with dark cocoa powder and add a shot of espresso to the batter for an intense, sophisticated chocolate flavor that complements the peanut butter.
• Vegan Chocolate Peanut Butter Dream: Use plant-based milk, flax eggs, dairy-free butter, and vegan chocolate chips to create a compassionate version of this indulgent cake without sacrificing taste or texture.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Layer Cake Recipe

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4.9 from 35 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
• Yield: 12 1x

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Description

Indulgent Peanut Butter Chocolate Layer Cake celebrates rich chocolate and creamy peanut butter in perfect harmony. Layers of moist chocolate cake paired with smooth peanut butter frosting create an irresistible dessert sure to satisfy serious chocolate and peanut butter cravings.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Cake Dry Ingredients:

• 1 ¾ cups (228g) all-purpose flour
• 2 cups (414g) sugar
• ¾ cup (85g) natural unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 ¼ teaspoons baking soda
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt

Cake Wet Ingredients:

• 1 cup (240 milliliters) milk
• ½ cup (120 milliliters) vegetable oil
• 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup (240 milliliters) hot water

Frosting and Topping Ingredients:

• 2 cups (448 grams) salted butter, room temperature
• 1 ¼ cups (350 grams) peanut butter
• 9 cups (1035 grams) powdered sugar
• 6–7 tablespoons (90-105 milliliters) water or milk
• 6 Reese’s, chopped
• 6 ounces (1 cup) semi-sweet chocolate chips
• ½ cup (120 milliliters) heavy whipping cream
• 8 Reese’s, cut in half
• Crumbled Reese’s

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Instructions

1. Prepare three 8-inch cake pans by lightly coating with non-stick baking spray and lining the bottom with parchment paper. Preheat the oven to 350°F (176°C).
2. In a large mixing bowl, thoroughly combine the dry ingredients: all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, unsweetened cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
3. In a separate medium bowl, whisk together whole milk, vegetable oil, pure vanilla extract, and large eggs until fully incorporated.
4. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry mixture, beating until a smooth batter forms with no visible lumps.
5. Slowly add hot water to the batter, mixing on low speed to maintain a consistent texture. Scrape down the sides of the bowl to ensure even mixing.
6. Evenly distribute the chocolate cake batter among the prepared pans, using a spatula to smooth the tops.
7. Bake for 22-25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely on a wire rack.
8. For the peanut butter frosting, cream together softened unsalted butter and creamy peanut butter in a stand mixer until light and fluffy.
9. Gradually incorporate powdered sugar, alternating with small amounts of water or whole milk to achieve a smooth, spreadable consistency.
10. Using a serrated knife, carefully level the cooled cake layers to create even surfaces.
11. Place the first cake layer on a serving plate, spreading a generous layer of peanut butter frosting and sprinkling with chopped Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups.
12. Repeat the frosting and Reese’s layering with the second cake layer, then top with the final cake layer.
13. Apply a thin crumb coat of frosting, then refrigerate for 15 minutes to set. Add a final smooth layer of frosting over the entire cake.
14. Prepare the chocolate ganache by heating heavy cream until it just begins to boil. Pour over semi-sweet chocolate chips and let sit for 2-3 minutes.
15. Whisk the chocolate and cream until smooth and glossy. Allow to cool slightly before drizzling over the frosted cake.
16. Decorate the top with halved and crumbled Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups for added texture and visual appeal.
17. Refrigerate the cake for 30 minutes to allow the ganache to set. Bring to room temperature before serving for optimal flavor and texture.

Notes

• Bake with precision by using room temperature ingredients for smoother cake batter and more even mixing.
• Ensure cake layers are completely cool before frosting to prevent melting and sliding of layers.
• Create clean cake slices by chilling the assembled cake for at least 30 minutes before cutting.
• Opt for natural peanut butter with minimal additives for a richer, more authentic flavor profile.
• Save time by preparing cake layers and frosting a day ahead, storing separately in airtight containers.
• Enhance chocolate ganache’s shine and smoothness by adding a tablespoon of corn syrup or butter while whisking.

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

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 12
• Calories: 682 kcal
• Sugar: 78 g
• Sodium: 384 mg
• Fat: 42 g
• Saturated Fat: 22 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
• Trans Fat: 1 g
• Carbohydrates: 75 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 7 g
• Cholesterol: 105 mg