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Chocolate Peanut Butter Birthday Cake

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake, Cocoa Peanut Butter Celebration Cake, American Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake

United States

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Recipe Snapshot

The essentials, at a glance

This decadent cake combines rich cocoa layers with a creamy peanut butter frosting. Its bold flavours and celebratory presentation make it an ideal centrepiece for birthday gatherings. The addition of coffee enhances the chocolate depth for a sophisticated treat.

The Americas Dessert Birthdays
Difficulty

Medium

Servings

12

Prep Time

20 minutes

Make Time

45 minutes

Calories

650 / serving

Diet

Vegetarian

Protein 9.0g
Fat 32.0g
Carbs 85.0g

Above values do not change with any serving size changes you make below

May not be suitable if you suffer with:
Acid Reflux
Lactose Intolerance
IBS
Diabetes
Indigestion
High Blood Pressure
Cook Along

Components & Method

Follow each phase with a cleaner flow from ingredient prep to final plating.

Track cooking progress forChocolate Peanut Butter Birthday Cake

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STEP 1

Place rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat to 175 degrees C (350 degrees F). Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans.

Ingredients

Servings: 12
Cake Batter
400g / 14.1oz
222g / 7.8oz
75g / 2.6oz
2 tsp / 10ml
1 tsp / 5ml
1 tsp / 5g
2 large
240ml / 8.1fl oz
240ml / 8.1fl oz strong black
120ml / 4.1fl oz
1 tsp / 5ml pure
Frosting
340g / 12oz , softened
100g / 3.5oz unsweetened
1/2 cup / 125g creamy
500g / 17.6oz
2 tsp / 10ml pure
3 tbsp / 45ml
160ml / 5.4fl oz
100g / 3.5oz Rich Chocolate
3/4 tsp / 4g
Ingredients at a glance
Adjust quantities to your preferred serving size.
We only show images for ingredients already in our database.
All drinks depicted are for visual purposes only and should be assumed non-alcoholic unless explicitly labelled otherwise.

Instructions

Main
Step 1 instruction thumbnail 1

Place rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat to 175 degrees C (350 degrees F). Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans.

Step 2 instruction thumbnail 2

In a large bowl, stir together sugar, flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.

Step 3 instruction thumbnail 3

In a large measuring cup, whisk together eggs, buttermilk, coffee, oil, and vanilla.

Step 4 instruction thumbnail 4

Whisk the wet ingredients into the dry until smooth and glossy, approximately 2 minutes.

Step 5 instruction thumbnail 5

Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans.

Step 6 instruction thumbnail 6

Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.

Step 7 instruction thumbnail 7

Remove from oven and cool in pans for 10 minutes before inverting onto a wire rack to cool completely.

Step 8 instruction thumbnail 8

For the frosting, cream together butter, cocoa powder, and salt until very thick.

Step 9 instruction thumbnail 9

Beat in the peanut butter.

Step 10 instruction thumbnail 10

Add powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract on low speed, then increase speed and beat until smooth for about 1 minute.

Step 11 instruction thumbnail 11

Stir together heavy cream and Ovaltine in a separate glass.

Step 12 instruction thumbnail 12

Pour half of the cream mixture into the frosting in a slow, steady stream while mixing on medium speed.

Step 13 instruction thumbnail 13

Scrape down the bowl and add the remaining cream mixture until the desired consistency is reached.

Step 14 instruction thumbnail 14

Beat until soft and creamy for about 1 minute.

Step 15 instruction thumbnail 15

Frost the cooled cake layers and assemble.

Nutritional Benefits

Provides a source of protein from peanut butter and eggs.

Cocoa contains flavonoids that may support heart health.

Milk and buttermilk provide calcium for bone strength.

Peanut butter offers healthy unsaturated fats.

Nutritional information is provided as a general guide only. Values may vary and should not replace professional medical or dietary advice.

A Decadent Chocolate and Peanut Butter Celebration

Chocolate Peanut Butter Birthday Cake
Yum User
Yum User

Strong black coffee is the secret weapon here, intensifying the cocoa without making the sponge taste like a latte. As someone who loves the process of putting a great meal together even if I am not a pro in the kitchen, I find the contrast between the moist, dark cake and the nutty frosting absolutely brilliant.

The Perfect Pairing

The addition of Ovaltine to the buttercream brings a nostalgic, malty depth that elevates the peanut butter from a simple topping to a sophisticated frosting. Using buttermilk ensures the crumb remains tender and light, preventing the richness from becoming overwhelming. It is a proper crowd-pleaser that brings a bit of North American indulgence to the table, perfect for any birthday bash.

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Yumpedia: United States

Where History Meets the Plate

Chocolate Peanut Butter Birthday Cake history

The combination of chocolate and peanut butter is a quintessential North American flavour profile, gaining massive popularity in the mid-20th century. This pairing evolved alongside the commercial success of peanut butter and cocoa-based confectionery, becoming a staple of home baking and festive celebrations across the United States and Canada.

The use of buttermilk in the cake base is a traditional American technique, providing a subtle tang and a moist, tender crumb that balances the sweetness of the frosting. The inclusion of coffee in chocolate cakes is a professional baker's secret, used not for a coffee flavour, but to intensify the aromatic qualities of the cocoa powder.

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