Description
Treat yourself to the ultimate Peanut Butter Chocolate Layer Cake, featuring moist chocolate cake, fluffy peanut butter frosting, silky chocolate ganache, and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. This bakery-style dessert is perfect for birthdays, holidays, family gatherings, and anyone searching for an easy dessert recipe, homemade cake recipe, chocolate cake, peanut butter dessert, or impressive dessert ideas. Every slice is rich, creamy, and guaranteed to satisfy chocolate and peanut butter lovers alike.
Ingredients
Chocolate Cake
- 1¾ cups (228g) all-purpose flour
- 2 cups (414g) granulated sugar
- ¾ cup (85g) natural unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2¼ teaspoons baking soda
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup (240ml) milk
- ½ cup (120ml) vegetable oil
- 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup (240ml) hot water
Peanut Butter Frosting
- 2 cups (448g) unsalted butter, softened
- 1¼ cups (350g) creamy peanut butter
- 9 cups (1035g) powdered sugar
- 6–7 tablespoons water or milk
- 6 Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, chopped
- Pinch of salt
Chocolate Ganache
- 6 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips
- ½ cup heavy whipping cream
- 4 Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, halved
- Crumbled Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 300°F (149°C) and prepare three greased 8-inch cake pans with parchment paper.
- Whisk together the dry cake ingredients.
- Add the milk, oil, vanilla, and eggs, then mix until smooth.
- Slowly stir in the hot water until fully combined.
- Divide the batter evenly among the prepared pans.
- Bake for 30–35 minutes and cool completely.
- Beat the butter until fluffy, then mix in the peanut butter.
- Gradually add the powdered sugar, alternating with water or milk.
- Fold in the chopped Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups.
- Frost between each cake layer and cover the entire cake.
- Heat the cream and pour over the chocolate chips to make the ganache.
- Allow the ganache to cool slightly before pouring over the cake.
- Decorate with frosting swirls, halved Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, and crumbled candy.
- Chill briefly before slicing and serving.
Notes
- Let the cake layers cool completely before frosting to prevent melting.
- Chill the cake before adding the ganache for smooth, beautiful drips.
- For the cleanest slices, refrigerate the cake for 20 minutes before serving and wipe the knife between cuts.
- Prep Time: 45 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 16 servings
- Calories: 890 kcal per serving
Keywords: peanut butter chocolate layer cake, chocolate peanut butter cake, Reese's layer cake, homemade chocolate cake, peanut butter frosting, chocolate layer cake, birthday cake recipe, easy dessert recipe