A moist, tender cake infused with creamy peanut butter and brown sugar, layered with a rich peanut butter frosting and studded with pieces of peanut butter cups. This decadent dessert is a peanut lover’s dream, perfect for birthdays, celebrations, or anytime you crave an indulgent yet comforting treat.

Why You Will Love This Recipe

• Loaded with double the peanut butter—both in the cake and in the frosting.

• Sweet, salty, and nutty flavors balance perfectly for a crave-worthy bite.

• Soft, moist crumb that stays fresh for days.

• Peanut butter cup pieces add texture and pockets of chocolatey surprise.

• Easy to prepare yet impressive enough for special occasions.

Double Peanut Butter Cake

Peanut butter desserts have a special way of bringing joy to the table. Their nutty richness, creamy texture, and comforting flavor make them universally appealing, whether served in cookies, bars, or cakes. This double peanut butter cake takes the beloved spread and transforms it into a show-stopping dessert that feels both homey and indulgent.

Unlike classic chocolate cakes or fruit-based sweets, this cake is built on the foundation of peanut butter, giving it a distinct identity. Its flavor profile is nutty, buttery, and ever-so-slightly salty, providing balance to the sweetness of the sugar and frosting. Every bite feels satisfying and decadent, while still maintaining a sense of familiarity that reminds you of childhood treats.

The cake’s texture is soft and tender, thanks to the use of buttermilk, which adds moisture and a subtle tang. This ensures that the richness of the peanut butter never feels heavy. The combination of brown sugar and butter enhances the flavor further, deepening the sweetness and creating a cake that practically melts in your mouth.

Adding chopped peanut butter cups to the batter is a delightful twist that makes this cake extra special. The chocolate-coated candies provide bursts of contrasting flavor, offering a little surprise in each bite. Dusting them with flour before folding them into the batter ensures they remain suspended throughout the cake rather than sinking to the bottom.

The frosting is where the cake truly earns its name—creamy peanut butter is whipped together with butter and powdered sugar, then thinned with just enough cream to make it luxuriously smooth. The result is a thick, spreadable frosting that clings to the cake in swirls, adding richness without overpowering the delicate crumb beneath.

Serving this cake feels indulgent, yet it doesn’t require overly complicated steps. The batter comes together quickly, bakes evenly in a single layer, and once cooled, becomes the perfect canvas for a thick coat of frosting. With its golden crumb and rich topping, it strikes the ideal balance between casual and celebratory.

Peanut butter has a nostalgic quality, often associated with childhood sandwiches, after-school snacks, and favorite candies. This cake leans into that nostalgia, transforming familiar flavors into a dessert that feels grown-up yet still playful. It’s the kind of cake that will delight kids at a birthday party just as much as it will impress adults at a dinner gathering.

One of the joys of this cake is how versatile it can be. While peanut butter cups make for a fun mix-in, you could easily substitute them with chocolate chips, chopped roasted peanuts, or even mini pretzels for a sweet-salty twist. The frosting could also be accented with a drizzle of melted chocolate or a dusting of cocoa for extra flair.

The cake holds up beautifully when made ahead, staying moist for several days when stored properly. This makes it an excellent option for gatherings, as you can prepare it in advance and have it ready to serve without stress. Its flavor even improves with time, as the frosting melds with the cake.

Its presentation is effortlessly inviting, especially when topped with additional peanut butter cups or hearts for decoration. These little touches make the cake feel more festive and appealing, drawing guests in before they’ve even taken a bite.

Because of its richness, the cake pairs well with a glass of cold milk or a strong cup of coffee. These pairings not only balance the sweetness but also highlight the nutty undertones of the peanut butter. For a more elegant option, it could even be served alongside a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

The recipe also invites experimentation with frosting textures. Some bakers may prefer a slightly lighter version by whipping the frosting longer to aerate it, while others may prefer a denser, richer spread. Both approaches highlight the adaptability of this recipe.

This cake is particularly rewarding for beginner bakers, as it requires straightforward steps and minimal decoration. At the same time, it’s a recipe that experienced bakers can easily elevate with creative garnishes or layered presentations. Its simplicity forms the perfect foundation for culinary imagination.

Ultimately, this double peanut butter cake is about indulgence, comfort, and sharing. It’s the kind of dessert that makes people smile, not only because it tastes delicious but because it feels familiar and special all at once. It brings together the richness of peanut butter with the joy of cake baking, delivering a dessert that will be remembered long after the last slice is gone.

Servings

10–12 slices

Time

• Prep time: 20 minutes

• Bake time: 33–35 minutes

• Cooling and frosting: 1 hour

• Total time: About 1 hour 55 minutes

Ingredients

Peanut Butter Cake

• 1 ¼ cups (150 g) all-purpose flour

• ¾ teaspoon baking soda

• ½ teaspoon salt

• ⅓ cup soft butter

• ¼ cup creamy peanut butter

• 1 cup brown sugar

• 2 large eggs

• ½ cup buttermilk

• ½ cup finely chopped peanut butter cups, tossed with 1 tbsp flour

Peanut Butter Frosting

• ½ cup soft butter

• 1 cup creamy peanut butter

• 2 cups (240 g) powdered sugar

• ⅓–½ cup heavy cream (adjust for consistency)

• Extra peanut butter cups or hearts for decoration

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9-inch cake pan and line the base with parchment paper.

2. Cream together butter, peanut butter, and sugar until light and fluffy.

3. Beat in the eggs one at a time until fully incorporated.

4. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt.

5. On low speed, alternate adding the flour mixture and buttermilk, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients.

6. Fold in the chopped peanut butter cups coated in flour.

7. Pour batter into prepared pan and smooth the top.

8. Bake for about 33 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

9. Let cool for 5 minutes before removing from the pan, then cool completely on a wire rack.

10. For the frosting, beat together butter, peanut butter, and ⅓ cup cream until smooth.

11. Gradually add powdered sugar, mixing well between additions. Adjust cream for desired consistency.

12. Spread frosting generously over the cooled cake.

13. Decorate with peanut butter cups or hearts.

14. Store in the refrigerator; bring to room temperature before serving.

Tips

• Tossing peanut butter cups with flour prevents them from sinking in the batter.

• For a fluffier frosting, whip at high speed for an extra minute.

• Add a drizzle of chocolate ganache on top for a “peanut butter cup” effect.

• Replace buttermilk with a mixture of milk and lemon juice if needed.

• This cake freezes well—wrap slices individually and thaw when ready.