The Best Chocolate Cake with Peanut Butter Frosting

Chocolate and Peanut Butter combine wonderfully, making The Best Chocolate Cake with Peanut Butter Frosting.

This is my favorite chocolate peanut butter cake that’s flavorful, moist and has just the right sweetness and chocolate flavor. The best made-from-scratch chocolate cake recipe I keep on hand for all occasions. Always a winner and requested often.

Chocolate and Peanut Butter combine and seem to make the perfect combination, and these No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies are amazingly delicious.

If you’re looking for the Best Chocolate Cake recipe, look no further- THIS IS IT! Incredibly chocolaty with the best creamy peanut butter frosting and ganache. 

Chocolate cake on a cake stand with frosting and chocolate candy with text overlay.

Why You’ll Love this Recipe

  • Delicious: This homemade chocolate cake is so much better than a boxed cake. It’s a moist cake, uses simple ingredients, and it’s tasty.
  • Simple Ingredients: There are no special ingredients for this cake. This is my go-to chocolate cake recipe.
  • Peanut Butter Buttercream Frosting: Frosting is my favorite part of a cake. The entire cake is covered with this delicious frosting. Creamy peanut butter makes the frosting extra creamy and spreadable.
  • Rich Chocolate Flavor: The chocolate powder mixes with the hot coffee and does something magical to this cake batter. It turns an ordinary chocolate cake into a rich chocolate cake in moments.
  • The Chocolate Ganache: The ganache tops this cake off with just the right amount of flavor. The chocolate drips running down the sides of your cake; add to the frosting and each bite. 

You could undoubtedly frost your cake and keep it simple, but trust me, adding the ganache to the top is the finishing touch this cake needs and takes it to a new level.

Ingredients for Homemade Chocolate Cake

See the recipe card below for the full ingredient list and measurements.

The cake is made with simple pantry and refrigerator ingredients found in most homes. The secret ingredient is hot coffee. It mixes with chocolate, and magic happens. 

  • flour
  • sugar
  • unsweetened cocoa powder
  • baking soda
  • baking powder
  • salt
  • buttermilk 
  • vegetable oil
  • eggs
  • vanilla extract
  • hot coffee

Ingredients for Peanut Butter Buttercream

See the recipe card below for the full ingredient list and measurements.

This is a rich peanut butter frosting and the creamiest I have ever made for a cake. Be generous with the frosting on the tops of the cake layers. Everyone wants a lot of frosting on their birthday cake, especially me. I like to use creamy peanut butter. When spreading between the chocolate cake layers, it makes a smoother and creamier frosting.

Peanut butter frosting is one of our favorite and easiest buttercream frosting recipes. It’s the perfect frosting for this cake and works well with the chocolate flavor.

butter

powdered sugar

salt

vanilla extract

heavy cream

peanut butter

Ingredients for the Best Chocolate Ganache and Toppings

See the recipe card below for measurements.

The ganache is made with two ingredients found in your local grocery store. It takes this Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake to the next level. This is a simple process and turns out perfect every single time. You could undoubtedly frost your cake and keep it simple, but trust me, adding the ganache to the top is the finishing touch this cake needs and takes it to a new level.

semi-sweet chocolate chips

heavy cream

The toppings for this cake are left up to you, and the candy you like the best. I like to top my cakes with mini peanut butter cups, mini Hershey bars, and chocolate kisses.

Need more cake? This Carrot Cake Recipe always appears on the dessert table during holidays and special occasions. It is my most requested dessert; I better not show up without it!

Chocolate Cake with Peanut Butter Frosting on a cake plate with text overlay.

How to Make Peanut Butter Chocolate Cake

For complete step-by-step instructions, see the recipe card below.

  • Mix Dry Ingredients. In a medium bowl, stir all dry ingredients until incorporated.
  • Mix Wet Ingredients. In a separate bowl, whisk all the wet ingredients except the coffee.
  • Mix Dry with Wet Ingredients. Once these ingredients have been mixed, add the coffee and stir well. Pour batter into prepared pans.
  • Bake and cool the cakes.
  • Make the Frosting and frost the cakes.
  • Add the Ganache.
  • Add the toppings.

Peanut butter frosting is one of our favorite and easiest buttercream frosting recipes. It’s the perfect frosting for this cake and works well with the chocolate flavor.

You could undoubtedly frost your cake and keep it simple, but trust me, adding the ganache to the top is the finishing touch this cake needs and takes it to a new level.

This is undoubtedly a show-stopping cake and would be fantastic for special occasions, especially a birthday celebration, anniversary, or holiday dessert. Therefore, I have sometimes doubled the recipe (cake & frosting) to make a four-layer cake for birthdays. 

Recipe Tips:

*Use whole-fat buttermilk.

*Cool cake layers on a wire rack.

*Let cakes cool in pans for 30 minutes before turning them onto racks to cool completely.

*Make sure your cake has completely cooled before adding the frosting.

*To make it easier to frost, add a crumb coat. First, frost the top and sides of the cake with a thin layer of frosting, smoothing as you go. Don’t worry about crumbs. Then, pop the cake into the refrigerator for about 30 minutes. This locks all of the crumbs into place. 

*Use an offset spatula to spread the frosting. This works best for me.

*Allow the ganache to cool for 10 minutes before adding it to the top of the frosting.

How to Serve This Cake

Serve at room temperature or straight from the refrigerator. I prefer it cold, but the option is up to you.

How to Store This Dark Chocolate Cake

It is best to store this cake in the refrigerator. Cover tightly with several layers of plastic wrap or place in an airtight container. This cake will last several days in the fridge and is best kept cool and covered so it won’t dry out.

Chocolate Cake with peanut butter frosting and chocolate ganache on a cake stand, and topped with candy. Birthday presents and text overlay.

Recipe FAQs

I usually make this recipe with smooth peanut butter. This allows for a smooth and creamy frosting.

Insert a toothpick into the center of the cake. If it comes out clean, it’s done.

For More Chocolate Dessert Recipes:

Milk and Cookies Oreo Dessert

Chocolate Lush

Chocolate Brownie Trifle

More of My Favorite Cakes:

Best Ever Carrot Cake

Southern Caramel Cake

Lemon Blueberry Cake

More Chocolate and Peanut Butter Recipes:

Chocolate Marble Butter Cake

Salted Caramel Chocolate Fudge

Peanut Butter Cookies

Peanut Butter Balls

This recipe was featured in Lake Martin Living Magazine. Read about it here.

Chocolate Cake with Peanut Butter Frosting

The Best Chocolate Cake with Peanut Butter Frosting

Gina Abernathy
If you're looking for the Best Chocolate Cake recipe, look no further- THIS IS IT! Incredibly chocolaty with the best creamy peanut butter frosting and ganache. 
5 from 7 votes
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 16 servings

Ingredients
  

Dry Ingredients:

  • cup all purpose flour
  • 2 cups sugar
  • ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt

Wet Ingredients:

  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • ½ cup vegetable oil
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup hot coffee

Peanut Butter Buttercream Frosting:

  • 1 cup unsalted butter
  • cups powdered sugar
  • pinch salt
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 4 tablespoons heavy cream
  • 1 cup creamy peanut butter

Ganache:

  • ½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • ½ cup heavy cream

Toppings:

  • Mini peanut butter cups, chocolate chips, sprinkles, and shaved chocolate Your favorite candies

Instructions
 

Cake:

  • Preheat oven to 350F. Grease two 9-inch round cake pans and line the bottoms with parchment paper.
  • In a large bowl, mix all dry ingredients.
  • In a separate bowl, whisk all wet ingredients EXCEPT the coffee.
  • Slowly add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, stirring after each addition. Once incorporated, add the hot coffee, and mix well.
  • Divide the batter between the two cake pans, and bake for 30-35 minutes; a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
  • Let cakes cool in pans for 30 minutes before turning them onto racks to cool completely.

Frosting:

  • In the bowl of your stand mixer, beat the butter and peanut butter on medium speed until nice and creamy.
  • Turn the mixer to low, slowly add the powdered sugar, and mix until incorporated.
  • Add heavy cream, salt, and vanilla. Mix well.
  • Turn the mixer to medium speed and beat for 5 minutes until light and fluffy.

Ganache:

  • Add chocolate chips to a heat-safe bowl. Set aside.
  • In a small pan, bring heavy cream to a simmer on the stovetop. As soon as it simmers, remove it from the heat and pour over the chocolate chips. Do not stir.
  • Cover the bowl with foil and allow it to sit for 5 minutes. Remove the foil and begin whisking until smooth. Allow the ganache to cool for 10 minutes.
  • Slowly add the ganache to the center of your cake using a spoon. Then, gently spread it to the edge of your cake and slowly push it over the sides. Continue this process around the cake.
  • OPTIONAL: Top with candies as desired.

Notes

Toppings:
Decorate the top as desired. This cake’s toppings are endless and left up to your imagination. Mini peanut butter cups, chocolate chips, sprinkles, and shaved chocolate would work nicely.
Keyword Chocolate Cake with Peanut Butter Frosting

9 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    This is my favorite flavor combo turned into a cake! So decadent and delicious, made with simple ingredients and methods. Yum!

  2. 5 stars
    I’m always always up for PB and chocolate desserts!! I’m never gonna turn something like this down. It turned out wonderfully. Was so much easier than I thought, too!

  3. 5 stars
    This really is the best chocolate cake- it turned out beautifully. And I could eat the frosting by the spoonful!

  4. 5 stars
    Wow, this cake is simply delicious! The chocolate cake is rich and moist, and the peanut butter frosting adds the perfect balance of sweetness and creaminess. Thank you for sharing such a true masterpiece kind of cake! Perfect!!!

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