Double Peanut Butter Cake

If you’re a peanut fan and you also love cake, I have the perfect recipe for you! This double peanut butter cake is flavored with peanut butter and boasts a peanut butter frosting. It’s simple to make and looks really elegant when you serve it.

The cake batter couldn’t be any more basic to make. You literally just need to whisk all the ingredients together and then transfer it into a dish and bake it in the oven.

As for the frosting, powdered sugar pairs up with honey, peanut butter, vanilla and milk. Once the cake is frosted you can decorate it with chocolate chips or Reese’s peanut butter candies.

I’m sure every member of the family is going to be enraptured with this mouthwatering cake, from the youngest to the most senior. It’s moist and delicious and the frosting is creamy and absolutely perfect.

I’ve made this cake a number of times and every time I am impressed all over again! The cake is suitable for any occasion. It’s pretty well known at potluck events in the South, along with various other peanut-based treats.

What Kind of Peanut Butter is Best?

Everyone has their own preference when it comes to peanut butter. Some like it crunchy while others like it smooth. I’m sure you have your own favorite kind. For this recipe, either variety will work, so just pick your preference. I’m sure any type of peanut butter and brand will work very well here.

The frosting is spread over the cake while it’s hot and gooey. Use an offset palette knife to spread it evenly over the cake but don’t worry if some drips down the sides. That only adds to the old-fashioned Southern charm!

The baking powder and baking soda are also important in this peanut butter cake recipe. They help with the consistency of the cake, adding little air bubbles to make it rise.

What do you need to make Double Peanut Butter Cake

For the Cake:

2¼ cups all-purpose flour 

3 large eggs 

2 teaspoons vanilla extract 

1 cup peanut butter 

½ cup softened butter

1¼ cups milk 

2 cups brown sugar 

1 teaspoon baking powder 

½ teaspoon baking soda 

For the Peanut Butter Frosting

2 cups confectioner’s sugar 

½ cup peanut butter 

2 tablespoons honey 

1 teaspoon vanilla extract 

4 or 5 tablespoons milk 

Mini chocolate chips, to decorate

How to make Double Peanut Butter Cake

FIRST STEP:

1.   Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

2.   Mix all the cake ingredients together with an electric mixer until smooth.

a)

b)

c)

d)

e)

f)

SECOND STEP:

3.   Pour the batter into a greased13 x 9-inch dish.

4.   Bake for 35 minutes or until cooked.

THIRD STEP:

5.   Let the cake cool completely.

6.   Put the honey and peanut butter for the frosting in a bowl and microwave for 25 seconds.

a)

b)

FOURTH STEP:

7.   Stir until well combined.

8.   Stir in the remaining frosting ingredients. You might not need all the milk.

FIFTH STEP:

9.   Spread the frosting over the cake using an offset spatula.

10. Decorate with mini chocolate chips.

Enjoy!

What to Serve with Peanut Butter Cake 

A little (or large!) slice of peanut butter cake makes a perfect snack or treat. Whether you enjoy it with a glass of milk or lemonade, a cup of coffee, or even a sweet sparkling red wine, you’re sure to be impressed with the amazing flavor it offers.

Perhaps you are making this for a special occasion such as a birthday party, potluck supper or another gathering. Because some people are highly allergic to peanuts, it’s best to check nobody at the event is, just to be safe.

Peanut butter cake has been a popular choice for many years. There are other wonderful peanut-based treats out there. I love peanut butter cheesecake and cupcakes. Peanut butter mousse decorated with a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup is also a peanut-lover’s dream!

How to Store the Finished Cake 

This moist and rich peanut butter cake with is creamy, delicious frosting will keep for about 4 days. Keep it at room temperature in an airtight container. It will likely be fine on day 5 too but it will have started to dry out by then.

To freeze it, pop the cake in the freezer for a couple of hours to set the frosting. Then wrap it in plastic wrap a couple times and it should last for up to 3 months in the freezer. I like to cut it into portions first so I only have to thaw as much as I need.

It is possible for the frosting to expand and contract slightly during the freezing process so it might crack slightly, but it doesn’t affect the flavor.

Peanut Butter Cake Variations 

There are a number of little tweaks you can make to this cake. It’s great made exactly as the recipe says or you could make a few little switches. For example, try coffee extract instead of the vanilla, or even some hazelnut extract.

As for the milk, you can use whatever type you want, even soy or almond milk although they’d alter the flavor very slightly. White sugar can be subbed for the brown sugar. If you do want to use brown sugar, use either the light or dark kind, to add richness to the cake.

I love this cake. It is one of my favorites and I find it perfect for so many occasions. Because it’s freeze-able you might even want to make an extra cake and then you can thaw out a slight of this nutti-licious treat whenever you want.

You are going to be so happy you chose to make this wonderful peanut butter cake as soon as you bite into a slice.