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Laughing Spatula / Recipe Index / Cake Recipes / The Best Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake

The Best Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake

By Kathi & Rachel

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The Best Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake!  –  This easy to make incredibly delicious treat will become your favorite cake everrrrr!  The peanut butter layer is just that…plain peanut butter slathered onto of delicious chocolate cake!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake

I have been waiting for this cake my entire life…. period.  Drop the mic.  Walk away.  Boom and Booyah!    Chocolaty cake, smothered in peanut butter and topped with chocolate ganache frosting.  I am speechless, (which could be from the peanut butter stuck to the roof of my mouth…I am a spoon licker).

I used our easy one bowl Best Chocolate Cake recipe, topped it with peanut butter straight from the jar…which is how peanut butter is best.   Then covered it with a two ingredient ganache that you make in your microwave in 2 minutes!

Birds sang, the skies parted and there was cake!  The Best Chocolate and Peanut Butter Cake ever!

My favorite part of making this cake is spreading the peanut butter, right from the jar, onto the cooled cake!  I make this for everyone I love….I just like to watch them eat it and smile through their chocolate and peanut butter coated teeth!  Heaven!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake slathering on the peanut butter

Chill in the fridge for a bit.  Then top with this 5 minute microwave Chocolate Ganache!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake frosting

Slip this beauty back in the fridge for 30-60 minutes before slicing, and everybody is your friend!

The cake and frosting are not overly sweet, which makes the peanut butter the star of the show.  If you have a peanut butter lover in your life, this Peanut Butter Chocolate Cake will be their forever favorite!

Have I mentioned how much I love this cake?  I love this cake!

 NOTE:  THERE ARE TWO RECIPE CARDS BELOW.  8 X 8 size for a small PB binge or a 9 x 13 for when a small cake just won’t do!  

To the best cake in the world!

Clink!

Kathi

8 x 8 SIZE PEANUT BUTTER AND CHOCOLATE CAKE

This recipe serves 8 and is made in an 8 x 8 pan.  Delicious chocolate cake topped with peanut butter straight from the jar and topped with an easy frosting you make you make in  the microwave!  
4.45 from 49 votes
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
cool time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour
Servings: 8
Author: Kathi & Rachel

Ingredients

For Ganache - make this so it can cool while your cake is baking

  • 1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla

Cake

  • 1 egg
  • 1 cup white granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup sour cream or greek yogurt do not use fat free
  • 1/4 cup vegetable oil
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1/2 cup brewed coffee, cooled you can not taste the coffee, it simply enhances the chocolate flavor
  • 1 cup flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

Peanut Butter Layer

  • 1 cup creamy peanut butter

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees and prepare ganache frosting. 
  • For Ganache Frosting
  • Pour chocolate chips in large microwave save bowl and microwave for one minute until just soft.
  • In another microwave safe bowl heat cream until it just begins to simmer around the edges.  About 2 minutes.
  • Pour hot cream over chocolate chips and let sit for 2-3 minutes.
  • Using a wire whisk, mix well. Chocolate will melt and will become a creamy consistency.  Be patient, it takes a bit of stirring.
  • Add vanilla. Cool in fridge for while cake is baking to thicken the ganache.
  • Cake
  • Spray an 8 x 8 pan with non stick spray.
  • In large mixing bowl combine egg, sugar, sour cream, vegetable oil and vanilla until well blended.
  • Add cocoa powder and coffee. Mix until no lumps are evident.
  • Add flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt.  Mix until combined.
  • Pour into prepared pan.
  • Bake for about 35-40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  • Completely cool cake. Spread peanut butter on top with a spatula.
  • Chill cake in refrigerator until peanut butter is firm to the touch, about 15 minutes.
  •  Top with cooled chocolate ganache. If your ganache is to firm, microwave for 10 seconds at a time stirring until spreadable but not heated through. 
  • Chill 30-60 minutes, slice and serve!

Nutrition

Calories: 687kcal | Carbohydrates: 59g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 46g | Saturated Fat: 23g | Cholesterol: 70mg | Sodium: 465mg | Potassium: 510mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 36g | Vitamin A: 570IU | Vitamin C: 0.3mg | Calcium: 86mg | Iron: 3.6mg
peanut butter cake sliced and ready to serve

9 x 13 Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake

THIS RECIPE SERVES 16 AND IS MADE IN A 9 X 13 PAN - Delicious chocolate cake topped with peanut butter straight from the jar and topped with a two ingredient chocolate ganache frosting!
4.86 from 21 votes
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Cool time: 1 hour
Total Time: 50 minutes
Servings: 16
Author: Kathi & Rachel

Ingredients

Ganache Chocolate Frosting - make this first so it can chill while your cake cooks

  • 2 cups semi sweet chocolate chips
  • 2 cups heavy cream
  • 2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Cake

  • 2 eggs
  • 2 cups white sugar
  • 1 cup sour cream or greek yogurt do not use fat free
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla
  • 1 cup brewed coffee, cooled you can not taste the coffee, it simply enhances the taste of the chocolate
  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt

Peanut Butter Layer

  • 2 cups smooth peanut butter not the unstirred oil on top kind. Jif or Skippy works great

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees and spray a 9 x 13 cake pan with non stick spray.
  • For Chocolate Ganache Frosting
  • Pour chocolate chips in microwave safe bowl and microwave for one minute until just soft.
  • In another microwave safe bowl heat cream until it just begins to simmer around the edges. About 2 minutes. Pour hot cream over chocolate chips and let sit for 2-3 minutes
  • Using a wire whisk, mix well. Chocolate will melt and will become a creamy consistency. Be patient, it takes a bit of stirring
  • Add vanilla. Coo ganache l in fridge while cake is baking, this will thicken it up.

Cake

  • In large mixing bowl combine egg, sugar, sour cream, vegetable oil and vanilla until well blended.
  • Add cocoa powder and coffee. Mix until no lumps are evident.
  • Add flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Mix until combined. Pour into prepared pan.
  • Bake for 30-35 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted into he center comes out clean.
  • Completely cool cake.   Spread peanut butter on top of cooled cake with spatula.  Chill until peanut butter is firm to the touch.
  • Top with cooled chocolate ganache. If your ganache is to firm, microwave for 10 seconds at a time stirring until spreadable but not heated through.  
  • Chill for 30- 60 minutes, slice and serve!

Nutrition

Calories: 652kcal | Carbohydrates: 61g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 40g | Saturated Fat: 21g | Cholesterol: 70mg | Sodium: 455mg | Potassium: 435mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 36g | Vitamin A: 570IU | Vitamin C: 0.3mg | Calcium: 77mg | Iron: 2.9mg
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Filed Under: Cake Recipes, Desserts, Holidays, Most Popular Recipes

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Comments

  1. Cassandra says

    June 24, 2017 at 9:07 pm

    5 stars
    I made this 2 ways- as written, and the other I made a pb buttercream in place of straight pb. These cakes are amaaaaaaazing!!! I was skeptical of the coffee/sour cream in the cake, especially with no butter but this is delicious. Using the buttercream instead of straight pb was my favorite.

    Reply
    • Kathi @ LaughingSpatula.com says

      June 24, 2017 at 9:20 pm

      Thank you Cassandra! totally thrilled you loved it as much as I do and the buttercream sounds delicious!

      Reply
    • Teresa says

      April 19, 2021 at 2:50 pm

      How did you make the peanut butter buttercream? Sounds great!!

      Reply
      • Kathi & Rachel says

        April 19, 2021 at 4:33 pm

        It isn’t butter cream…it’s just peanut butter straight outta the jar! Easy and delicious!

        Reply
  2. Meghan Willis says

    June 4, 2017 at 3:25 am

    5 stars
    Made this tonight- used a dark pan and found it was done at 30 minutes. I also used crunchy natural peanut butter and not all of the ganache frosting. Was amazing! My husband said it was the best cake I’ve ever made and I bake a lot! Served it with chocolate peanut butter ice cream- really good!

    Reply
    • Kathi @ LaughingSpatula.com says

      June 4, 2017 at 1:23 pm

      I am so glad you loved it! I can’t keep it in the house because we can’t stop eating it…but every special occasion and I whip this up! Thank you for taking the time to send such a nice note!

      Reply
  3. Kelly says

    May 1, 2017 at 5:00 pm

    I really want to make this but my husband wouldn’t like thw coffee. What could I substitute? My first thought is milk or just water? Thanks!

    Reply
    • Kathi @ LaughingSpatula.com says

      May 1, 2017 at 7:31 pm

      Hi Kelly! You truly can not taste the coffee. It simply enhances the flavor of the chocolate. But if you really need to pass on it, just sub 1/2 cup water. Shouldn’t affect the taste too much. The peanut butter is the star of the show! :).

      Reply
  4. Poorvi says

    April 29, 2017 at 4:00 pm

    5 stars
    Hi just wondering how long this will keep in the fridge? Made this yesterday and it was perfect! Thank you 🙂

    Reply
    • Kathi @ LaughingSpatula.com says

      April 29, 2017 at 4:59 pm

      Well in my house it lasts about a day! LOL! But would probably go 4 days and I’d probably still eat it on day 5 in a pinch!

      Reply
  5. George says

    March 20, 2017 at 1:24 pm

    This looks de-licious! Is it okay to make it as a round cake rather than in a brownie style?

    Thanks!

    Reply
    • Kathi @ LaughingSpatula.com says

      March 20, 2017 at 2:33 pm

      Hello George, yes a round pan is fine. An 8 x 8 pan holds about 7 cups of batter (it’s an 8 cup pan but you don’t want it to go to the top). You would want your round pan to be about the same. Not sure how much some of the smaller round cake pans hold. Hope that helps!

      Reply
  6. Hirut says

    January 21, 2017 at 10:18 am

    Hello again, I made it and it is really good. Thanks.

    Reply
    • Kathi Kirk says

      January 21, 2017 at 4:34 pm

      It’s my favorite cake of all time! I am so glad you loved it!

      Reply
  7. Hirut says

    January 17, 2017 at 4:41 pm

    Wow wow wow, looks yummy, I was searching for a chocolate and peanut butter cake. Glad I found you. I’m gonna try it to night and let you know how it turned out. So excited. Brava.

    Reply
  8. Jilara says

    October 17, 2016 at 2:20 am

    I made this cake and it was delicious and easy – I NEVER bake and I had no troubles. I used crunchy peanut butter instead and it added a lovely crunch. Highly recommend.

    Reply
  9. plasterer bristol says

    September 13, 2016 at 3:49 pm

    This sounds really nice. gonna make this for tea tonight. Thanks. Simon

    Reply
  10. Megan says

    August 22, 2016 at 2:40 pm

    I’m literally drooling all over my keyboard over this chocolate PB cake and that is NOT a bad way to start the day! Now to get into the kitchen and whip these babies up…that’ll make this Monday even better!

    Reply
    • Kathi Kirk says

      August 22, 2016 at 4:47 pm

      Ha ha Megan! I love when I can create keyboard drool! Thanks for the note!

      Reply
  11. Luci says

    August 22, 2016 at 2:08 pm

    5 stars
    A fellow self-confessed spoon licker, love it! And… chocolate cake, peanut butter AND chocolate ganache? Who wouldn’t! I can practically taste it all the way from here just from the photos and your descriptions :O

    Reply
    • Kathi Kirk says

      August 22, 2016 at 4:48 pm

      Thanks Luci! This cake is a keeper for sure!

      Reply
  12. Kathi Kirk says

    August 20, 2016 at 7:40 pm

    Thank you Taylor..what a sweet note! Even sweeter given that you can’t eat it! Hopefully you can save it for later!

    Reply
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