The Best Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake has layers of chocolate and peanut butter frosting and is topped with Reese’s peanut butter cups. It’s the perfect dessert for chocolate lover’s.
CLICK HERE TO PIN THIS RECIPE FOR LATER!
Whenever we go out to eat, I love to check out the dessert menu. It doesn’t matter if we have been to that restaurant a thousand times before. I am still going to sit and drool over the desserts.
It’s like I have a thing for desserts or something. Especially if it is chocolate cake. I definitely have a weakness for that sweet goodness!
Now some times we leave room for dessert, and sometimes we walk away. Mainly because I either ate way too much dinner, or there is some crazy dessert like this Thin Mint Cheesecake Brownie Cake or these Chocolate Lava Cakes already waiting in our kitchen at home.
But then sometimes we say no to dessert because we can’t justify the price. Who wants to pay $9 for a slice of soft moist chocolate cake?
Especially when I know that I can bake an entire homemade chocolate cake for that same price.
I do love a good chocolate cake, so I started looking for the best chocolate cake recipe that I could give a BruCrew twist to for my birthday. Of course, peanut butter had to be involved too.
As soon as I saw a cake that was called the Best-Ever Chocolate Cake, I knew that was the first one I was going to make and see if it was worthy of the name. Not that I doubted it was good, but I was very curious to see if it would live up to my particular sweet tooth expectations.
I have to admit that I have become a very, very picky dessert eater in the last few years.
It was so fun to look at the chocolate cake recipe and see what little tweaks and changes I would make based on how I like to bake.
How to make The Best Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake:
Make sure to beat the butter until light and fluffy, then add the sugar and beat it again.
Add the eggs and vanilla and mix it one more time.
Stir together the dry ingredients in a bowl and add them alternately with the milk and coffee mixture. Trust me. You will not taste the coffee in this cake. Coffee just enhances the chocolate flavor making it more intense and delicious.
Bake the chocolate cake batter in a 9×13 pan that has been greased very well. Let it cool for 15 minutes in the pan, then flip it out on a wire rack to cool completely.
Make a batch of homemade chocolate frosting for the center of the cake layers. Sometimes I switch it up and use this Dark Ch0colate Buttercream Frosting. It just depends what mood I’m in. Either one is delicious!
Cut the cake in half, making two 4 1/2 x 6 1/2 inch cake rectangles. Set aside 1/2 cup of the homemade chocolate frosting, then frost the top of one of the layers with the rest of the chocolate frosting. Top it with the other cake layer.
Cover the entire cake with the Best Honey Peanut Butter Frosting. Use the reserved chocolate frosting to pipe a border around the top of the cake with an icing tip 21 or 27.
Add chopped up peanut butter cups to the top of the cake and halved peanut butter cups around the bottom.
I do have to admit that this was seriously one of the best homemade chocolate cakes I have ever tried. In fact, it was so good that it is hands down my new go-to recipe when I want to make chocolate cake from scratch.
So, if you are looking for an impressive dessert to make, this is your cake. It looks like a lot of work, but it really is very easy to put together.
The best part is that you will getting the entire Best Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake for the price of one cake slice. I’d say that is winning at dessert!
More chocolate recipes you may like:
Three times the chocolate makes these Mini Triple Chocolate Cheesecakes a dream dessert for the chocolate lovers in your life.
These Chocolate Cookies and Cream Cheesecake Bars will get rave reviews when you bring them to parties and picnics.
I love all the chocolate and marshmallow goodness in these Hot Chocolate Cookies.
A graham cracker crust, chocolate pudding, and a marshmallow topping make this Chocolate S’mores Pudding Cake the perfect summer dessert.
A creamy coffee frosting and a layer of chocolate makes these decadent homemade Coffee Cream Brownies a great dessert.
Connect with Inside BruCrew Life! Follow us on social media, so you never miss a post.
Email Subscription | Facebook | Pinterest | Twitter | Instagram | Bloglovin
I also created a fun new Facebook group, and I would love for you to join. It’s a group where you can share your favorite recipes, ask questions, share photos, and see what’s new with the BruCrew. If you would like to check it out, you can request to join HERE.
Recipe adapted from BHG's Best Ever Chocolate CakeBest Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake
Ingredients
For the Cake
For the Chocolate Frosting
Instructions
Notes
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
14 Serving Size:
1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 617 Total Fat: 28g Saturated Fat: 15g Trans Fat: 1g Unsaturated Fat: 11g Cholesterol: 90mg Sodium: 396mg Carbohydrates: 85g Fiber: 3g Sugar: 63g Protein: 8g
*The post and recipe for the Best Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake was first published on February 4, 2015. The photos have been updated and it was republished on April 9, 2019.
Erin @ misscrambledegg.com says
February 4, 2015 at 6:52 AMJocelyn, this cake looks too good to be true! Everything I love mixed into one delicious dessert! The Reese’s Cups give this cake such a nice touch. I know my entire family would devour this one. Thank you for posting it.
Jocelyn Brubaker says
February 16, 2015 at 1:11 PMThank you Erin. My family was looking forward to this one…until I decided to share it with some friends. Time to surprise them with another one I think!
Chrisi says
July 17, 2019 at 4:31 AMHi could I make this cake in 2 round tins
Jocelyn says
July 17, 2019 at 2:12 PMI have not tried baking this in 2 round pans, but I think it would work if you used two 8 inch round pans. I’m also not sure on the baking time, so I would start checking the cakes at about 28 minutes and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with just a few crumbs.
Kristen @ A Mind Full Mom says
February 4, 2015 at 7:21 AMChocolate and Peanut Butter are my absolute weakness and this does look like perfection! I wish I had a shovel to dig in!
Jocelyn Brubaker says
February 16, 2015 at 1:12 PMI cannot be trusted around chocolate and peanut butter! And a shovel would be perfect for this cake 🙂
Taylor @ Food Faith Fitness says
February 4, 2015 at 7:51 AMHaha, I am so like you! ALWAYS check out the dessert menu first. You know, something on it might sound better than ordering “real food” for dinner 😉
I love that you put Honey PB frosting on chocolate cake. Totally drooling! Pinned!
Jocelyn Brubaker says
February 16, 2015 at 1:13 PMhahaha, yes! If a dessert sounds good, then I know I’m only going to order a small dinner 🙂
Beth says
February 4, 2015 at 7:58 AM*swoon* I’m in love!!!
Tiffany says
February 4, 2015 at 8:23 AMAll the layers on this cake are so pretty!! Love the peanut butter cups on top, too!
Jocelyn Brubaker says
February 16, 2015 at 1:13 PMThank you Tiffany!
Averie @ Averie Cooks says
February 4, 2015 at 9:19 AMThis really does look like the best cake EVER!!! Pinned 🙂
Jocelyn Brubaker says
February 16, 2015 at 1:13 PMThank you so much for the pin love girlie 🙂
Tonia from TheGunnySack says
February 4, 2015 at 9:27 AMOkay, you win…that really is the best chocolate peanut butter cake ever!
Jocelyn Brubaker says
February 16, 2015 at 1:14 PMLOL! No, BHG wins…it really was the best ever!!!
Jen @ Baked by an Introvert says
February 4, 2015 at 9:42 AMI just want to dive in head first! This cake is everything I love! Pinned!
Jocelyn Brubaker says
February 16, 2015 at 1:15 PMThank you so much for sharing 🙂
Julie @ Tastes of Lizzy T says
February 4, 2015 at 11:11 AMGorgeous cake! I’ve been looking for a homemade chocolate cake recipe. Looks like I’ve found it!
Jocelyn Brubaker says
February 16, 2015 at 1:15 PMOh, definitely try this one…it was so good!!!
Kathleen @ yummy crumble says
February 4, 2015 at 11:19 AMI’m so in love. Forget red velvet! This is my kind of cake
Jocelyn Brubaker says
February 16, 2015 at 1:15 PMI agree…bring on the dark chocolate goodness!!!
Mir says
February 4, 2015 at 11:56 AMJocelyn, you have done it. I have had a lot of favorites on your blog, but this is going to take the cake, no pun intended. I am in LOVE. Deep, lasting love. You know I can’t stay away from anything with PB and chocolate!
Jocelyn Brubaker says
February 16, 2015 at 1:16 PMHahaha! I love it! I am with you…chocolate and peanut butter is my biggest weakness!
Stephanie says
February 4, 2015 at 12:39 PMI so want to get cake faced with this cake!
Pinning
Stephanie
Chels+R. says
February 4, 2015 at 1:40 PMDoes this ever look incredible!! My goodness-it certainly looks like the best ever chocolate cake with all that peanut butter around it.
Cyndi @ My Kitchen Craze says
February 4, 2015 at 1:45 PMThis cake looks amazing Jocelyn! I always look at the desert menu first too. I also tell myself not to eat to much because I really want desert, but guess what happens. I eat waaayy to much so I have to forgo desert. Bummer. I agree about the prices and I honestly think our homemade cakes and desserts taste way better. This looks amazing. I’d love a slice right about now. Pinned. 🙂
Jocelyn Brubaker says
February 16, 2015 at 1:17 PMI usually end up doing the same thing at restaurants…but that’s ok because I love trying to recreate their desserts at home! Thanks for the pin love 🙂
Best Juicer says
February 4, 2015 at 3:17 PMPeanut butter cups on a cake, winning combination.
Jenny Flake says
February 4, 2015 at 4:55 PMWHOA!! This cake looks AMAZING!! Mmmmmm 😀
Jocelyn Brubaker says
February 16, 2015 at 1:17 PMThank you 🙂
Nancy says
February 4, 2015 at 6:54 PMI want a piece, no, two pieces, no, the whole cake!!! Yum!!!!!
amanda @ fake ginger says
February 4, 2015 at 7:46 PMYep, I’m pretty sure this is the best chocolate peanut butter cake ever ever ever. I want a piece!
Jocelyn Brubaker says
February 16, 2015 at 1:18 PMI totally agree with you! And now I’m wishing I had a big slice to munch on!
kita says
February 4, 2015 at 9:59 PMI would TOTALLY save room for this!!!
Michelle { A Latte Food } says
February 4, 2015 at 10:27 PMOh my gosh, this cake. That’s all I can say–it looks that good. Your recipes always look amazing, but this one looks straight up incredible!
Jocelyn Brubaker says
February 16, 2015 at 1:18 PMAwe, thank you so much!!! You just made my day 🙂
Lisa @ Healthy Nibbles & Bits says
February 5, 2015 at 2:01 AMI would definitely pay $9 for a pice of that! I can’t say no to peanut butter cups on my cake!
Jocelyn Brubaker says
February 16, 2015 at 1:19 PMThis one would definitely be worth the $9 price tag!!!
[email protected] Well Floured Kitchen says
February 5, 2015 at 7:20 AMI can never say no to peanut butter and chocolate! And this cake is over the top amazing! I agree- the prices for desserts have gotten a little bit out of control. Much better to stay home and whip up something like this 🙂
Liz says
February 5, 2015 at 1:34 PMWhat a gorgeous, decadent creation!!! LOVE this cake!
Jocelyn Brubaker says
February 16, 2015 at 1:19 PMThank you Liz!!!
Barbara @ Barbara Bakes says
February 5, 2015 at 3:05 PMIt does look like the best chocolate peanut butter cake ever.
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says
February 5, 2015 at 7:58 PMI love how thick and gorgeous this cake is, Jocelyn! Definitely a dessert for pb and chocolate lovers everywhere! Pinned!
Jocelyn Brubaker says
February 16, 2015 at 1:19 PMI agree with that! thank you for pinning!
Crystal says
March 31, 2015 at 7:36 PMWhere did the recipe go? I’ll I see is weird text. I’d love to try this for my husband’s bday in April.
Jocelyn says
March 31, 2015 at 7:49 PMHi, Crystal. There was never an actual recipe on my post because of how I had to share it with BHG. You can click through the link that says read more HERE to see the post I did on their site. Or you can email me and I can send you the recipe exactly how I made it 🙂
haley says
November 24, 2015 at 3:48 PMthis i’m am so going to bake and try
KElly says
February 2, 2016 at 3:26 PMSo none of the stores in my area sell Dark Cocoa powder, would I be able to use regular cocoa powder as I already have that on hand?
Jocelyn says
February 2, 2016 at 7:52 PMYes, you can use the regular cocoa powder. It just won’t be quite as dark, but it will still taste delicious. I hope you enjoy the cake!
Jack Jordan says
April 14, 2016 at 1:49 PMI suppose with 9″ round pans the baking time would be close to the same?
Jocelyn says
April 14, 2016 at 6:22 PMYes, the baking time for 8 inch or 9 inch pans would be about the same. Just bake them until when a toothpick is inserted it comes out with just a few crumbs on it.
Stacy says
October 23, 2016 at 10:56 PMDo I use powdered or confectioners sugar for cake? What kind of flour? How long will this cake keep? I want to make it Thurs or Friday for a birthday party on Saturday.
Jocelyn says
October 24, 2016 at 1:29 AMThe recipe calls for sugar and brown sugar for the cake. Any time you see just sugar, it means granulated sugar. The frosting calls for powdered sugar. I also used all purpose flour for this particular cake. It should keep for a few days as long as you keep it covered. I hope you enjoy it as much as we did.
Sommer says
April 10, 2019 at 10:23 AMThis cake is every kind of amazing! Going to make this for my husbands birthday cake.
Erin says
April 10, 2019 at 11:33 AMThis cake was made for me. I love everything about it and wish I had a slice right now!
Julie says
April 10, 2019 at 11:42 AMChocolate and peanut butter is the best combination! This cake looks heavenly.
Becky Hardin says
April 10, 2019 at 12:20 PMThis cake!!! The pictures you have in this post look so so good! Yum!
Jennifer says
April 10, 2019 at 3:32 PMI made this for my husband for his birthday and everyone LOVED it!!! So good!
Linda says
July 18, 2019 at 5:18 PMI will be making this for my grown up son who LOVES peanut butter and chocolate together. Does it matter whether the peanut butter is old fashioned “just peanuts”? Or is something like Jif or Skippy better? Thanks for a yummy sounding recipe!
Jocelyn says
July 18, 2019 at 9:07 PMI have never tried this recipe using a “peanuts only” peanut butter or a natural peanut butter. The recipe here was tested using Jif, so that is what I would recommend using. I hope you and your son enjoy the cake!