Description
A rich, moist chocolate cake layered with creamy peanut butter frosting and covered in smooth chocolate buttercream. Topped with chopped Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups for the ultimate treat for chocolate–peanut butter lovers.
Ingredients
Chocolate Layer Cake
1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
1 ¾ cups granulated sugar
¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder (Dutch process recommended)
1 tsp baking powder
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 cup buttermilk
½ cup vegetable or canola oil
2 large eggs (room temp)
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup strong hot coffee
Peanut Butter Frosting
½ cup salted butter (room temp)
1 cup creamy peanut butter (Skippy or Jif preferred)
2 cups powdered sugar
3 tbsp milk or heavy cream
Chocolate Buttercream
1 cup salted butter (room temp)
½ tsp salt
2 tsp vanilla extract
3 ½ cups powdered sugar
½ cup cocoa powder
4 tbsp heavy cream
Topping
Chopped Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups (optional)
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350 °F (175 °C). Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans.
2. Whisk flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl.
3. In a mixer, blend buttermilk, oil, eggs, and vanilla. Slowly add dry ingredients on low.
4. Pour in hot coffee and mix until combined (batter will be thin).
5. Divide batter into pans and bake ~25 min or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool on racks.
6. Peanut Butter Frosting: Beat butter and peanut butter for 2 min. Add 1 cup powdered sugar, mix. Add 2 tbsp cream, beat, then add remaining sugar. Add more cream if needed for spreadability.
7. Chocolate Buttercream: Beat butter 1–2 min until creamy. Add salt and vanilla. Slowly mix in powdered sugar and cocoa. Add cream gradually until desired consistency. Beat 1 min on medium.
8. Assemble: Place one cake layer on a plate, spread peanut butter frosting on top. Add second cake layer and cover with chocolate buttercream. Pipe peanut butter frosting or top with chopped Reese’s.
9. Store airtight at room temperature.
Notes
Dutch process cocoa enhances the chocolate flavor.
Use strong coffee for deeper taste (won’t make cake taste like coffee).
Frostings can be made ahead and chilled—bring to room temp before use.
- Prep Time: 1 hr
- Cook Time: 25 min
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 460
- Sugar: 38g
- Sodium: 320mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 58g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 55mg