Dreamy Peanut Butter Chocolate Layer Cake Recipe for Dessert

Sweet memories flood back when combining rich chocolate and creamy peanut butter layer cake in this irresistible dessert.

Chocolate lovers will swoon over every decadent bite of this indulgent treat.

The layers meld together in a symphony of smooth, velvety textures that dance across your palate.

Each slice promises a perfect balance between deep cocoa notes and nutty peanut butter richness.

Soft, moist cake combines with silky frosting for a dessert that feels like a warm embrace.

Baking this cake turns an ordinary afternoon into a celebration of pure deliciousness.

You’ll want to share every heavenly slice with those closest to your heart.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour

Calories: 480 kcal

Servings: 12

Peanut Butter Chocolate Layer Cake Ingredient List

• All-Purpose Flour: Provides structure and soft texture for the cake's foundation.
• Cocoa Powder: Delivers rich chocolate flavor and deep brown color.
• Baking Powder: Helps cake rise and creates fluffy, light crumb.
• Baking Soda: Balances acidity and enhances browning.
• Salt: Amplifies overall flavor and balances sweetness.

• Granulated Sugar, Brown Sugar: Creates sweetness and helps retain moisture.
• Eggs: Binds ingredients and adds richness.
• Vegetable Oil: Ensures cake remains tender and moist.
• Vanilla Extract: Adds depth and enhances chocolate flavor.
• Buttermilk: Provides tanginess and helps activate baking soda.

• Hot Coffee or Water: Intensifies chocolate flavor and creates smooth batter texture.

Tools That Help Layer This Dessert Like a Pro

• Large mixing bowls: Essential for combining dry and wet ingredients separately.
• Whisk: Perfect for smoothly blending flour, cocoa, and other dry ingredients.
• Electric mixer or hand mixer: Great for creaming sugars and mixing wet ingredients efficiently.
• 9-inch cake pans: Exactly the right size for creating two cake layers.
• Parchment paper: Helps line cake pans for easy cake removal.
• Toothpick or cake tester: Crucial for checking cake doneness.
• Cooling rack: Allows cakes to cool evenly and quickly.
• Offset spatula: Ideal for spreading frosting smoothly between cake layers.

How to Make Peanut Butter and Chocolate Cake That Stuns

• Warm Up the Oven

Crank your oven to a toasty 350°F and give your cake pans a quick spray and parchment paper hug.

• Create the Dry Magic

Grab a big bowl and whisk together the powdery ingredients, blending them into a rich chocolate canvas.

• Mix the Wet Wonders

In another bowl, dance together the sugars, eggs, oil, vanilla, and buttermilk until they become best friends.

• Marry the Mixtures

Gently fold the wet and dry ingredients, then splash in some hot coffee to create a silky smooth batter that’ll make your taste buds do a happy dance.

• Bake to Perfection

Pour the batter into your prepared pans and slide them into the oven. Let them bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean and your kitchen smells like chocolate heaven.

• Cool and Calm

Take the cakes out and let them chill completely before you start decorating – patience is key to cake magic!

Add Crunch or Salt for a Bold Flavor Hit

• Cake Cooling Hack: Allow cakes to cool in pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to prevent soggy bottoms and ensure perfect texture.
• Make-Ahead Magic: Bake cake layers a day in advance and wrap tightly in plastic wrap to intensify moisture and flavors before frosting.
• Gluten-Free Option: Swap regular flour with a gluten-free all-purpose blend, adding xanthan gum for better structure and texture.
• Dairy-Free Twist: Replace buttermilk with almond milk mixed with apple cider vinegar, and use dairy-free chocolate for a lactose-free version of this decadent cake.
• Decoration Pro Tips: Use a rotating cake stand for smooth frosting, and create beautiful chocolate drips by letting ganache cool slightly before pouring over the cake layers.

Serve With a Glass of Milk or a Spoon

• Decadent Dessert Companions: Peanut Butter Chocolate Layer Cake Serving Suggestions
• Creamy Milk Pairing: Serve each slice with a cold glass of whole milk to balance the rich chocolate and peanut butter flavors, creating a classic dessert experience.
• Elegant Garnish Touch: Sprinkle chopped roasted peanuts or chocolate shavings on top of each slice for added texture and visual appeal that elevates the cake's presentation.
• Ice Cream Dream: Add a scoop of vanilla or chocolate ice cream alongside the cake slice to create a delightful temperature contrast and enhance the dessert's indulgent profile.
• Coffee Companion: Offer a freshly brewed espresso or cappuccino to complement the cake's deep chocolate notes and provide a sophisticated finishing touch to the dessert course.

Store With Care to Keep It Moist and Rich

• Refrigerator Storage Strategy: Keep cake covered in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Wrap individual slices in plastic wrap to maintain moisture and prevent flavor absorption from other foods.
• Room Temperature Freshness: Store cake at cool room temperature for 2-3 days if serving within a short period. Place under a cake dome or cover with loose plastic wrap to prevent drying out.
• Freezing for Future Enjoyment: Slice cake into portions and wrap tightly in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil. Freeze up to 3 months for quick dessert options. Thaw overnight in refrigerator before serving to retain texture and taste.
• Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare cake layers in advance and store separately from frosting. Wrap cooled layers in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 days or freeze for longer storage. This technique helps maintain cake's moisture and simplifies final assembly.

Decadent Peanut Butter Chocolate Layer Cake Recipe

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4.6 from 23 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour
• Yield: 13 1x

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Description

Classic peanut butter chocolate layer cake delivers rich, indulgent flavors from smooth chocolate layers and creamy peanut butter frosting. Rich dessert delights chocolate and peanut butter enthusiasts with its balanced, irresistible combination.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 2 lg eggs
• 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
• ½ cup (100 g) brown sugar
• 1 ¾ cups (220 g) all-purpose flour
• ¾ cup (75 g) unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 tsps baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ cup (120 ml) vegetable oil
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup (240 ml) buttermilk (or milk + 1 tsp vinegar)
• ½ cup (120 ml) hot coffee or hot water
• 1 cup (225 g) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup (250 g) creamy peanut butter
• 3 cups (360 g) powdered sugar
• ½ tsp salt
• ¼ cup (60 ml) heavy cream or milk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• ½ cup (120 ml) heavy cream
• ½ cup (85 g) semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1 tsp butter (for extra shine)

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Instructions

1. Oven Preparation: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and meticulously line two 9-inch cake pans with parchment paper, ensuring thorough greasing to prevent sticking.
2. Dry Ingredient Fusion: In a spacious mixing bowl, whisk cocoa powder, flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until achieving a uniform, lump-free powder blend that promises a velvety cake texture.
3. Wet Ingredient Amalgamation: Create a silky mixture by combining sugars, eggs, vegetable oil, vanilla extract, and buttermilk in a separate bowl, whisking until the composition reaches a smooth, glossy consistency.
4. Batter Integration: Delicately fold the liquid ingredients into the dry mixture, stirring methodically to prevent clumping and create a luxurious chocolate batter with a satiny finish.
5. Liquid Enhancement: Incorporate hot coffee or water, stirring until the batter transforms into a rich, glossy chocolate canvas with deep, complex flavor undertones.
6. Baking Process: Distribute the batter evenly between prepared pans, smoothing the surfaces, then bake for 30-35 minutes until a toothpick inserted centrally emerges clean, indicating perfect doneness.
7. Cooling and Preparation: Remove cakes from the oven and transfer to wire racks, allowing complete cooling to room temperature, which stabilizes the cake’s structure and prepares it for frosting and layering.

Notes

• Temperature Precision: Use an accurate oven thermometer to ensure exact 350°F for consistent cake texture and even baking.
• Mixing Technique: Fold wet and dry ingredients gently to prevent overmixing, which can lead to dense, tough cake layers.
• Coffee Enhancement: Use freshly brewed hot coffee to intensify chocolate flavor and create deeper, more complex cake moisture.
• Room Temperature Ingredients: Bring eggs, buttermilk, and other liquid ingredients to room temperature for smoother batter integration and better cake rise.

• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 13
• Calories: 420
• Sugar: 36 g
• Sodium: 250 mg
• Fat: 24 g
• Saturated Fat: 10 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 48 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 6 g
• Cholesterol: 40 mg