Chocolate-Peanut Butter Fun Cake

A decadent chocolate cake topped with creamy peanut butter buttercream frosting, garnished with chopped chocolate and peanuts. This rich dessert combines the classic flavors of chocolate and peanut butter in a moist, layered treat.

16 servings
1 hr 5 min

Ingredients

  • 1 spray Nonstick vegetable oil spray
  • cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup sugar
  • ¾ cup natural unsweetened cocoa powder
  • teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ¼ cup vegetable oil
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ cup finely chopped semisweet or bittersweet chocolate
  • ½ cup sugar
  • ¼ cup egg whites
  • teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ¼ cup creamy peanut butter
  • 6 tablespoons chilled unsalted butter
  • 1 pinch Kosher salt
  • ¼ cup chopped semisweet or bittersweet chocolate
  • ¼ cup chopped unsalted, dry roasted pinenuts
  • 1 pan cake pan

Cooking Instructions

  1. 1.

    Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat bottom and sides of pan with nonstick spray; line bottom of pan with parchment paper. Whisk flour and next 4 ingredients in a large bowl. Add oil, vanilla, and 1 1/4 cups water; whisk until smooth. Fold in chopped chocolate. Scrape into prepared pan; smooth top. Bake until a tester comes out clean when inserted into center, 35-40 minutes. Let cool completely in pan on a wire rack.

    40 min

  2. 2.

    Combine sugar and egg whites in a medium metal bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water. Whisk constantly until sugar dissolves and mixture is hot to the touch, 3-4 minutes. Remove from heat; using an electric mixer, beat on high speed until cool and thick, 5-6 minutes. Beat in vanilla, then peanut butter. With mixer running, add butter a few pieces at a time, beating to blend between additions. Season with salt.

    10 min

  3. 3.

    Run a thin knife around pan to release cake. Invert cake onto a serving plate. Spread peanut butter buttercream over top. Garnish with chopped chocolate and peanuts. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Store airtight at room temperature.

    10 min

  4. 4.

    Cut into 2" squares.

    5 min

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