Recipe courtesy of Linda Caro

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake

  • Level: Easy
  • Yield: 12 servings
  • Total: 1 hr 45 min (includes cooling time)
  • Active: 45 min
Share This Recipe

Ingredients

Cake:

Cooking spray, for the pans

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 cups granulated sugar 

1 cup cocoa powder 

2 teaspoons baking soda 

1 teaspoon baking powder 

1 teaspoon fine salt

1 cup buttermilk 

1 cup brewed coffee 

1/2 cup vegetable oil 

2 large eggs 

Buttercream:

2 pounds confectioners' sugar

1 pound (4 sticks) unsalted butter

3/4 cup creamy peanut butter

2 tablespoons milk 

Pinch of fine salt

Directions

Special equipment:
Three 6-inch-round cake pans, an offset spatula and a bench scraper
  1. For the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Coat three 6-inch-round cake pans with cooking spray.
  2. Sift the flour, granulated sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder and salt into a large bowl. Mix with an electric mixer at medium speed for 1 minute. Add the buttermilk, coffee, vegetable oil and eggs. Mix at medium speed for 1 minute. Scrape the side and bottom of the bowl and mix on medium speed for 1 minute more. Divide the cake batter evenly among the prepared pans. Bake on the top rack until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cakes comes out clean, about 30 minutes.
  3. Cool the cakes in the pans for 20 minutes then turn out onto wire racks to cool completely. 
  4. For the buttercream: Add the confectioners' sugar and butter to a large mixing bowl. Beat with an electric mixer on low speed until completely incorporated, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the peanut butter, milk and salt. Mix on high speed until the mixture becomes fluffy and lighter in color, about 2 minutes. Scrape the side and bottom of the bowl and mix again on high speed for 1 minute. 
  5. To assemble the cake: Level each cake round with a serrated knife or cake leveler. Use an offset spatula to spread a thin layer of the buttercream on top of one round. Top with a second round and spread it with a thin layer of buttercream. Repeat with the third round, spreading the buttercream on the top and sides of the cake. Smooth with a bench scraper.

Fudge Factor

Over-the-Top-Delicious Treats to Satisfy Your Food Obsession

Are you infatuated with ice cream? Do you lust over lobster? Swoon at the sight of chocolate? Here's the best recipe for each food …

Train Frontman Pat Monahan's Dark Chocolate Obsession Feb 11, 2013

By: Cameron Curtis

Train frontman Pat Monahan, an avid chocolate lover, shared with us his top five reasons for eating dark chocolate.

Review: Anthony Bourdain and Eric Ripert's Chocolate Bar Nov 16, 2012

Anthony Bourdain and Eric Ripert have teamed up with master chocolatier Christopher Curtin to create the "Good & Evil" chocolate b …

Sifted: Plan-Ahead Valentine's Day Desserts Feb 6, 2013

By: Lauren Miyashiro

Get our take on the best in food news, recipes and more from around the web, including the best Valentine's Day recipes.

The Craziest Chocolate Creations for American Chocolate Week Mar 17, 2013

It’s officially American Chocolate Week. Check out photos of mind-blowing chocolate creations.

Chocolate Desserts

Indulge in our decadent chocolate desserts, from cookies and cakes to puddings, souffles and truffles.

How to Chop and Melt Chocolate

Lots of recipes call for melted chocolate. Follow these step-by-step instructions to do it properly.

Essentials: Chocolate Basics Sep 1, 2016

Satisfy that chocolate craving in your very own kitchen. All you need is baking chocolate and a little know-how. It also helps to …