Description
Chocolate-drizzled peanut butter cake delivers rich, nostalgic comfort with creamy layers of sweet indulgence. Home bakers can elevate classic desserts through simple techniques and premium ingredients.
Ingredients
Scale
- ⅔ cup smooth peanut butter
- 1 cup smooth peanut butter (frosting)
- 1 ⅓ cups all-purpose flour
- 3 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 cup buttermilk, room temperature
- ½ cup white granulated sugar
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- ⅓ cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 ½ cups unsalted butter, room temperature (frosting)
- ⅓ cup vegetable oil
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 3 tbsps cornstarch
- 2 tsps baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- 1 ½ tsps vanilla extract
- 2 tsps vanilla extract (frosting)
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp salt (frosting)
Instructions
- Preheat Preparation: Configure the oven to 350°F (175°C) and meticulously line two 8-inch circular baking pans with parchment paper, ensuring complete surface coverage.
- Dry Ingredient Fusion: Amalgamate flour, cornstarch, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl, whisking until uniformly combined.
- Wet Mixture Transformation: In a capacious mixing bowl, cream butter, vegetable oil, granulated and brown sugars, and peanut butter until achieving a silky, homogeneous consistency.
- Egg and Flavor Integration: Methodically incorporate eggs one at a time, ensuring thorough blending after each addition, then infuse vanilla extract and mix comprehensively.
- Liquid Harmonization: Gradually introduce buttermilk, stirring until the liquid seamlessly melds with the existing batter.
- Batter Composition: Delicately fold dry ingredients into wet mixture using a gentle technique, preventing overmixing while maintaining a smooth texture.
- Baking Execution: Distribute batter evenly between prepared pans and bake for 30-35 minutes, verifying doneness with a clean toothpick inserted into the center.
- Cooling Protocol: Allow cakes to rest in pans for 15 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack for complete temperature reduction.
- Frosting Creation: Whip butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, heavy cream, peanut butter, and salt in a large bowl, initiating at low speed and progressing to medium-high for 8-10 minutes until achieving a light, ethereal texture.
- Assembly and Decoration: Position first cake layer on a serving platform, spread a generous frosting layer, top with second layer, and meticulously frost the entire exterior, optionally embellishing with chopped peanuts or a decadent chocolate drizzle.
Notes
- Prevent Overmixing: Gently fold dry ingredients into wet mixture to maintain cake’s tender, light texture and avoid tough, dense results.
- Temperature Precision: Allow ingredients like eggs and butter to reach room temperature before mixing, ensuring smoother batter and more even baking.
- Moisture Control: Check cake’s doneness with toothpick test – inserted pick should come out clean with minimal crumbs for perfect moisture balance.
- Frosting Technique: Whip frosting at medium-high speed for 8-10 minutes to create light, fluffy consistency that spreads smoothly and holds cake layers together.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 13
- Calories: 366
- Sugar: 28 g
- Sodium: 250 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 7 g
- Cholesterol: 54 mg