Reese’s Cup Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake

Annie's Eats

My hope is to inspire you to be fearless in the kitchen, to try new things, to take the time to make things the homemade way and most importantly, to have fun doing it!

Reese’s Cup Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake

102 comments

posted in: Cakes, Chocolate, Dessert

07.23

2008

This past weekend we attended a dinner party celebrating two of my good friends’ birthdays. My friend Allie cooked a fabulous dinner and I provided dessert. I remembered that her husband (and the birthday boy) loves the peanut butter and chocolate combination, so the moment I saw this cake I knew it would be perfect. This was definitely a huge hit with everyone at the party! I think this is actually the best chocolate cake I have ever made. It was incredibly fluffy and moist. And combined with the wonderful peanut butter frosting, it was to die for. Definitely make this cake – but make sure you have tall glasses of milk to serve alongside, you will need them!

Reese’s Cup Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour
½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
½ tsp. baking powder
½ tsp. baking soda
½ tsp. salt
2 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 ½ cups sugar
2 large eggs
2 large egg yolks
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 cup buttermilk
4 oz. bittersweet chocolate, melted and cooled (optional)
1 ½ - 2 batches peanut butter frosting
miniature Reese’s cups, halved and/or chopped

Directions

For the cake, center a rack in the oven and preheat the oven to 350°. Butter two 9×2” round cake pans, dust the insides with flour, tap out the excess and line the bottoms with rounds of parchment paper. Place the pans on a baking sheet.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter on medium speed until soft and creamy. Add the sugar and beat for about 2 minutes, until thoroughly blended into the butter. Add the eggs and yolks one at a time, beating for one minute after each addition and scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Beat in the vanilla. Reduce the mixer speed to low and add the dry ingredients alternately with the buttermilk; add the dry ingredients in 3 additions and the buttermilk in 2 (beginning and ending with the dry ingredients). Mix each addition only until it is blended into the batter. Scrape down the bowl and add the melted chocolate, if using, folding it in with a spatula. Divide the batter between the prepared cake pans.
Bake for 26-30 minutes or until the cakes feel springy to the touch and start to pull away from the sides of the pans. Transfer to wire racks to cool for about 5 minutes, then run a knife around the sides of the cakes, unmold them and peel off the paper liners. Invert and cool to room temperature right side up.
To assemble the cake, place one cake layer on a cardboard circle covered in foil. Spread peanut butter frosting on top of the cake layer. (If desired, sprinkle with chopped Reese’s cups.) Place the second cake layer on top of the frosting. Frost the top and outside of the cake with remaining peanut butter frosting. Decorate with halved and chopped Reese’s cups as desired.

http://dinneranddessert.wordpress.com Erin

This looks absolutely fabulous! Peanut butter and chocolate is my favorite dessert combination as well as my dad’s. I’ll have to remember this for his birthday (which thankfully is coming soon). It looks beautiful too!
http://cookingandeatinginthewindycity.blogspot.com/ Erin

Holy cow, that looks amazing! I need an excuse to make it, though, because I can’t have that just sitting around my house :)

Congrats on your beautiful new baby, too! I haven’t been nesting much at all lately, so I just noticed your siggy pic today. So cute!
http://traceysculinaryadventures.blogspot.com Tracey

Great work on the cake! That looks so fantastic! I will definitely need to make this for my husband.
http://cateskitchen.blogspot.com Cate

That cake is so amazing! I love Reeses…and a whole cakeful is just awesome!
http://noslivershere.wordpress.com Becky

This looks wonderful! I just showed my husband and he wants a piece of the cake. I might have to make this to celebrate when he is done with school.
http://maryanna-bishop.blogspot.com Maryanna

Okay, that looks so sinful… but so good. I’ve got to try this one.
themilkmanswife

Oh wow, looks fantastic! Love the pb and chocolate combo! Yum, yum, yum!! :)
http://joelens.blogspot.com Joelen

This looks so good! I’m starring this for future cakes to make – thanks!
http://www.dobetter.wordpress.com Karen

That looks crazy good!
http://bethnnates-sweetlife.blogspot.com Beth G

WOW that is incredible! What a fabulous cake!!!
http://ellysaysopa.vox.com Elly

Wow, Annie, this looks SO good. My DH would love this, so he may luck out and maybe I’ll make it for him soon. :)
http://chelley325.wordpress.com Chelle

This cake makes me really sad that I’m allergic to nuts! It looks and sounds so extremely decadent, and there really is nothing better than the chocolate and PB combo! Awesome job!
http://www.centralcooking.blogspot.com Kayash

Annie this looks incredible. This was the flavor combo for the groom’s cake at our wedding but this one looks even better! I’m making this for my FIL’s b-day next week!
http://kelseysappleaday.blogspot.com/ Kelsey

Wow, Annie! This cake looks divine! This is most definitely in my file. My sister will love it!
http://smellslikehome.wordpress.com tara

isn’t it incredible?!? when I made it back in March, i never expected it to still be my top viewed post 4 months later! lol you did a fabulous job with it! PS – I made the Hershey’s Perfectly Chocolate Chocolate Cake with Ina’s PB frosting recently, and it blew Dorie’s chocolate cake out of the water!
http://elizabethscooking.blogspot.com Elizabeth

Wow… that looks fantastic (and beautiful)!
http://asoutherngrace.blogspot.com grace

how could this not be a huge hit? it’s picture-perfect, and it happens to combine the best duo of ingredients known to man. awesome. :)
http://www.wheresmydamnanswer.com Cathy

WOW this looks so yummy. You have blended 2 of my favorites.
Sadly cakes are not big in my house do you think this would work as cupcakes?? I cannot explain the boys logic here if I could get in their heads I would – but I think it is that they like prefer the grab and go size…

Cheers
Cathy
http://www.wheresmydamnanswer.com
Annie

Cathy,
They would definitely work as cupcakes! See this post where I did something similar: . I used the same frosting but that time I used Hershey’s Perfectly Chocolate Cake. I preferred Dorie’s cake this time, so I would suggest using that recipe and just making cupcakes instead of regular cake. Good luck!
Annie

Okay, I don’t know why that link didn’t work – it is the “Cupcakes Galore” post from February. Check it out.
aggieashley07

Oh wow Annie! You’ve really outdone yourself this time. The cake looks GORGEOUS and completely delicious.
http://www.apotofteaandabiscuit.blogspot.com Sylvie

That’s one decadent looking cake!
http://wwwbunnysovencom.blogspot.com/ bunny

my husbamd would fall face first into this cake and eat his way out!! this looks wonderful!
http://jessicasfoodspot.com Jessica

Holy cow! This looks amazing. I think I know what to make for Jesse’s birthday cake this year!

BTW, did you change your blog layout? It’s showing up on my laptop a little spread out and I can’t see your header…..
http://sweetsavorysouthern.wordpress.com Renea(MrsSchoon)

What a beautiful and delicious looking cake!
innasinventions

Wow, this cake looks awesome! I wish I had SOME occasion right now to make it (Francis’s co-workers may be getting a cake for no reason soon…)!
http://good-eats-n-sweet-treats.blogspot.com Jaime

that cake looks amazing!!!
http://www.pepperplease.blogspot.com Jen

Oh my. My stomach will thankyou for this recipe…my thighs however will not.
http://amberskitchen.blogspot.com Amber

WOW this look absolutely incredible! I suddenly want a Reese’s PB cup. :)
http://carlastastyeats.blogspot.com/ Carla

This cake looks DELICIOUS!! I love peanut butter and chocolate together so I may have to try this!
Pingback: Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Cupcakes! « Lovestoeat’s Weblog
http://delishfood.wordpress.com ash

this looks beautiful and super tasty!
Pingback: Reese’s Cup Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake « Dinner & Dessert
Pingback: Chocolate Cake with Peanut Butter Frosting « Made by Melissa
Pingback: Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake « Just2Good
Pingback: The Reese’s Peanut Butter Cake « i SAW it!
Sarah

Quick question: do you typically use the bittersweet chocolate when you make the cake? What are the advantages to adding it?
Jas

oh my gosh… there could not possibly be a more perfect cake for me!
i want this cake so badly why does my birthday have to be in march!!!!
http://www.dillmypickle.com Stacey (Dill My Pickle)

Oh my! Will you come to my birthday party this year? Your cake turned out beyond amazing! If only I could get mine to look half as pretty I would be delighted. :)
http://hubpages.com/profile/BeatsMe audrey

Mmm. Yummy. You see, that’s the problem with homemade delicious cakes. They’re not available in bakeshops.
Celeste

This is now my favorite cake! I originally baked the blackberry cupcakes off this site (these too were delicious, however the blackberries added too much liquid for me) when I wandered on to this cake. Everything about it is perfect. It isn’t too rich, the amount of peanut butter and chocolate is balanced, and the presentation is lovely. It wasn’t that much effort either. It was devoured. I’ll be sure to pass it along to others. Thank you for this recipe gem!
http://www.onetouchglucometers.com One touch

Oh wow! That looks absolutely delicious, I love how you took an old favorite and added your own twist. You also did an amazing job with the pictures, I will definitely try this recipe over the weekend.
LW

I used Ina Garten’s “Double Chocolate Layer Cake” (as published in Food & Wine – http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/double-chocolate-layer-cake) for the cake, and her PB frosting from FoodNetwork.com as suggested. This cake recipe is almost identical to Hershey’s Perfectly Chocolate cake. The addition of 1 cup of hot coffee makes the cake very light and airy, which is important when the frosting is so rich and dense. Delicious!
Joni

Found your site through Stumble Upon and I have got to say that cake looks FABULOUS. I am planning on making it for a dessert auction!
Aoife

In Ireland, every late August, early September, there’s a festival called Electric Picnic. The infamous place where Kelly Osbourne apparently got married. Within this festival there’s a chapel. If you so choose to pay 40 euro you can get married in this chapel, the marriage counts within the festival grounds and throughout the festival. I am making and marrying this cake next year!!!
http://www.thailand-cheap.com Jim Jones

They look delicious.
http://zuccherodolce.blogspot.com/ Allie

Cute cake! I love the chocolate and peanut butter combination.
http://www.sweetindulgencescakes.com Lindsey

This is one i’m going to have to definitely try! Peanut butter and chocolate – excellent choice!
annie(also)

hello annie, my name is also annie and i just wanted to tell u that i lovvvveee ur dwebsite and i hope to start one like it soon but i dont know how to add all the effects and pictures, anyway this desert looks ultra delicious and i am ssoooo glad i stumbled upon it because i cannot wait tooo make one, thanks so much for ur inspiration!
– annie☺
Cathy

Well I just finished making this wonderful looking and smelling cake. I’m taking it over to a friends tomorrow, so I can’t try it until then, but I know it’s gonna be good!
Lauren

I made this for a friends birthday and never got to try it was gone so fast. Everyone said it was amazing though!
Alex

I made two of these cakes in one day. One was for a birthday party and the other for a christmas party. Both came out wonderfully. My only problem was getting someone to take the first piece! They all thought it was too pretty. Thanks for the recipe. It’s the first of yours I’ve tried, but I’m positive it will not be the last. Thanks again!
http://pinkrococo.com Bee

Found your website through a Google Image search and I’m definitely going to be making this cake as part of my gift to my boyfriend for Christmas! It looks delicious!!
Diane Kearns

Hi, Annie. I just found your reeses peanut butter receipe and i can’t wait to make it. Would it work if I were to make it in a cake pan the shape of a number “4″? My best friend is turning 40, and I want to make this for here. I just purchased a number 4 cake pan and hope i can still make this receipe in it. Please contact me at kearns3@optonline.net.

Thank you sooo much for the amzaing receipe
Diane
Annie

Hi Diane,
You can bake any cake in any shape pan you want. It will likely affect the baking time, but shouldn’t be a problem otherwise.
Katie

I’m baking this cake right now for a dinner party we are going to tonight. Can’t wait to try a piece! It smells delicious!
http://www.ukfoodies.co.uk UK Foodie

Oh my god, that looks like the most fabulous cake ever! I love Reeces cups, but can’t get them from the UK easily :-(
FriedOkra

This is hands down the best cake I have ever made. It got rave reviews at the birthday party dinner where it was served. Thanks!
Lori

I made this cake for my daughter’s birthday yesterday and I’m not sure what I did wrong, but it was very dry. I loved the icing and had tons left over, which I love dipping my spoon into and eating up, but the cake wasn’t good at all.

I thought maybe I left something out, but I went over the recipe again and am sure I didn’t leave anything out. Next time I will use another chocolate cake recipe, but the same yummy icing. It was a beautiful cake otherwise!
Whitney

I have been dying to try this recipe. We celebrated my birthday this weekend so I made my mom make instead of me. She said it took some time b/c it was scratch but it was so well worth it! It was declious!!!
Crystal

My husband made this for our church’s annual Men’s Dessert Contest and won “Best Tasting.” Thanks for posting it. It was delicious.
Crystal

Like Lori, we found the cake to be very dry so we substituted the cake part, but the icing in combination with the Reese’s made it all fantastic. Anything we could do to make the cake more moist?
Annie

Crystal,
A lot of people seem to have trouble with this cake being dry, though I personally didn’t have that issue. You can bake it for a shorter time since overbaking is likely what causes the dryness. Also brushing with a simple syrup helps keep any cake moist.
http://www.cherylscandiesandcakes.com Indianapolis Wedding Cakes

OMG! That looks so delicious, I think my mouth is actually watering just looking at that cake! I bet it is rich though with all the sugars involved in the recipe. Yummy! Gonna have to try this one out at least once! Thanks for the recipe
rochelle

where do i buy the peanut butter frosting for it or do i make the frosting myself?
Annie

Click on the link “peanut butter frosting” and you will see the recipe.
Kristi

This is delicious!! I made it for my son’s 11th birthday, and everybody loved it! I really didn’t believe this could be a dry cake with all of the butter and buttermilk. I baked it for about 28 minutes. It was extremely moist, and I followed the exact recipe. Thanks Annie!
Kelli

I made this last weekend for my great aunt’s 70th birthday. The cake came out beautiful and everybody thought it was too pretty to eat. I was concerned about it coming out dry so I started checking it every 5 minutes after 20 minutes of baking. Mine baked 32 minutes which is longer than recommended but every time I inserted a toothpick the batter was still runny. After 30 minutes I checked again at 32 minutes and took it out. Unfortunately it still came out a little dryer than I would have liked but it was still delicious. No complained but me. My dad is now asking for it for fathers day.
HB

Never commented when I had made this last fall b/c the cake really was very dry — but the frosting and chunks of PB cups were great. But now I’ve read that others had the same problem as well — may have to try this once again and really stay on top of the cook time (better than before — I guess :)). Seems awesome overall if I can get the cake part to taste good!
http://whataboutpie.blogspot.com/ Bonnie

I just put this cake in the oven. My 12 year son and I tasted the batter….and….OH MY GOODNESS!!!! This is definately THE BEST tasting chocolate cake I have ever tasted! I am so excited to try a piece of this! I am making it for a co-worker and taking it in to work tomorrow for her birthday. Everyone is going to LOVE this cake! Seriously delicious!!! and I haven’t even tasted the frosting yet!
Kevin

I made it. Don’t use natural peanut butter, it is too oily. Other than that, great cake.
http://www.simple-easy-recipes.com/tags/biryani/ Biryani Recipes

WoW Simply delicious recipe. Its look awesome. I will try to make it on next Monday.
purnama

that cake looks amazing!!!…
Chris

I am going to make this cake for my son in law’s birthday. What is the fix for the dryness problem?
Annie

I have never had the “dryness problem” and I have made this cake more than once. I think if you just be sure not to overbake it, it should be fine.
Kristi

I didn’t have the problem either. I followed the instructions-beat it as long as it says for each addition- no shortcuts. I might have had extra large eggs? Don’t over bake.
Chris

I made the cake for my son in law’s birthday. The cake is very impressive looking and very tasty. I also found the cake to be very dry. I only baked it for 24 minutes when the toothpick came out dry. I am wondering if a bit of veg oil or sour cream in the cake mixture would add a bit of moisture…
Lori

I love your recipes, Annie, and have made many with delicious results. I have a question for you regarding your recipes for chocolate layer cakes. I used your recipe for chocolate layer cakes that use boiling water in them and have always had great results with that recipe. I am wondering how the cake differs when using a recipe without the boiling water, but with buttermilk and if you have one way that you prefer over the other. Thanks for your help!
Annie

I don’t know officially what the difference is but I think the boiling water makes a more springy cake, while buttermilk makes it fluffy. I don’t have a preference.
Patricia

I made the cake for my husband birthday and the frosting was amazing but the cake was super dry. I made one that was a little moist but it couldn’t hold together
http://www.petportraits1.net Pet Portraits

Oh my gosh, this is the best looking cake I’ve ever seen. I seriously can’t wait to start making it, and eating it! Thanks for the recipe!
http://indigoscones.blogspot.com/ Ellen

Hey, I was just wondering if you’ve ever used the to-die-for peanut butter cream cheese frosting on this cake? The one that you use on your chocolate peanut butter cupcakes. Because I absolutely love that one, and now I’m sort of skeptical of any other recipe. And if I can use that one, it might be a hassle because the cake would be outside at a rather warm temp for quite some time. But, just curious if you have. Thank you!
Annie

I haven’t but I’m sure it would be great. It is way the best PB frosting. However, I’d be concerned about that (or really any) frosting in the heat. I’m actually planning to revamp this cake recipe soon using that frosting and with a better picture. Whatever you decide, enjoy!
http://indigoscones.blogspot.com/ Ellen

Thank you very much! Baking has been giving me some grief lately, I’m sad. It’s usually my therapy. And sounds awesome, keep baking :) You’re pretty much the next Martha Stewart, and I hope I get up to your level someday.
Annie

Aw, thank you so much! You are too sweet. Don’t worry, you’ll get your groove back!
http://indigoscones.blogspot.com/ Ellen

I hope so! And I’m sorry about the message I sent, it was sort of a spur-of-the-moment desperation thing. And sort of ridiculous. Thank you for the encouragement, it means a lot!
Alicia Hodgson

Just made it! Turned out amazing and moist :)
Ashley

Hi! Thank you so much for sharing this recipe. I made it and it was WONDERFUL! I had no drying issues but I started checking on it right at 20 mins, it took about 28mins for it to bake completely. Making this cake again tonight for a birthday party! Should def. get rave reviews! Thanks again
Amanda

I made this cake for my father’s birthday this weekend. The frosting was AMAZING, but like several other people, the cake came out extremely dry. I double checked the recipe thinking I had missed something, but I followed it exactly. I’m thinking maybe I overbaked it a little?
Amy

I made this for my cousin’s birthday a couple of weeks ago and there was not a single piece left. People were practically drooling over it until it was served. My husband is already requesting this for his birthday next year!
Annie

Amanda, it does seem this cake is a bit prone to overbaking. I would recommend just using a bit shorter baking time next time. (Sorry for the delayed response, we were having technical issues with the commenting function for a while.)
Jess

Do I need to use parchment paper? I don’t have any. Thanks!
Jess

Oh…and I’m making it a day before serving. Can it sit on the counter?
Annie

Please see the FAQ page.
Annie

You need it if you want your cakes to come out of the pans intact.
Kristi

Does the cocoa have to be unsweetened….just realized I bought the wrong one! Btw – Love your recipes! Wish I could bake like u
Kristi

Sorry, disregard. I just read FAQ section. Looks like I can not
Anonymous

Other than the frosting within this post?
Anonymous

Oh I see, my web guys converted this to the new format and didn’t include the link that used to be there for the frosting. I originally used Ina Garten’s PB frosting for this cake, but I have since found a couple other recipes I prefer. I would recommend the frosting from the chubby hubby cupcakes or the chocolate peanut butter cupcakes. Hope that helps!
Anonymous

Please see the FAQ page.
meredith

if I make these into cupcakes, should I change the baking time?
Anonymous

Please see the FAQ page.