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–+ servings

Chocolate Cake with Peanut Butter Frosting

This chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting has three fluffy chocolate layers sandwiched between the most delicious peanut butter cream cheese frosting. I swear I could not stop eating the frosting out of the bowl. The cake is chocolatey, while the frosting is salty/sweet from the peanut butter and tangy from the cream cheese. It is phenomenal.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings 10 slices

Ingredients
 

Chocolate Cake

  • 2 ½ cups (313 grams) all purpose flour spooned and leveled
  • 1 cup (80 grams) cocoa powder
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup (113 grams) unsalted butter room temperature
  • ½ cup (100 mL) vegetable oil
  • 2 cups (400 grams) granulated sugar
  • 4 eggs room temperature
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • ½ cup (120 mL) whole milk room temperature
  • ½ cup (120 mL) strongly brewed coffee room temperature
  • ¼ cup (60 grams) yogurt room temperature, greek or regular works!

Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Frosting

  • 1 8 oz package cream cheese room temperature
  • ½ cup (113 grams) unsalted butter room temperature
  • ½ cup (130 grams) all natural creamy peanut butter
  • 3-4 cups (360-480 grams) powdered sugar
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1-2 tablespoons milk/heavy cream room temperature, if needed

Instructions

Chocolate Cake

  • Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit (163 degrees Celsius) and line three 6 inch pans with parchment paper.
  • In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
  • In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or a medium-sized bowl if using a handheld mixer, beat the butter and oil together until combined and completely homogeneous - this will only happen if the butter is completely at room temperature. About 2-3 minutes on high speed.
  • With the mixer on low, slowly stream in the granulated sugar, then turn it up to medium-high speed and beat until light and fluffy. About 1 minute, scraping down the sides and bottom of the bowl as necessary.
  • Then, with the mixer on low, add the eggs in, one at a time, scraping down the sides and bottom of the bowl and mixing well in between each addition. Add the vanilla extract and mix on low until combined.
  • Add half of the dry ingredients and mix on low until just combined. Add half of the milk, half of the coffee and half of the yogurt and mix on low until just combined. Repeat this with the remaining halves of dry ingredients, milk, coffee and yogurt. Do not overmix!
  • Separate the batter equally between the prepared pans and spread it into an even layer. Bake the cakes for 40-43 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. The cake will be slightly pulling away from the edges of the pan. Let the cake sit in the pan for 5-10 minutes, then remove them onto a cooling rack to cool completely.

Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Frosting

  • While the cakes are baking and cooling, make the frosting. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or a medium-sized bowl if using a handheld mixer, beat the cream cheese and butter by themselves until the mixture is light and fluffy. On high speed for 5 minutes.
  • Add the peanut butter and beat until combined. Add the powdered sugar, salt, vanilla extract and milk/heavy cream and mix on low speed for 30 seconds and then on high speed until completely combined.
  • You may need to add more powdered sugar (to thicken) or more milk (to thin) depending on the desired consistency.

Assemble

  • Once the cakes are completely cool, level off the cakes using a cake leveler or serrated knife if they have a dome.
  • Take one third of the frosting and spread it into a thick layer on top of the first cake layer.
  • Place the second cake layer on top then take another third of the frosting and spread it into a thick layer.
  • Top with the final layer of cake and use the final third of frosting to frost the top and sides of the cake. Enjoy!

Notes

  1. I like to scrape down the bottoms and sides of the bowl every time after I add a new ingredient, this will ensure the cake is properly mixed.
  2. This cake can be baked in 8 inch cake pans or a 13x9 sheet pan. The bake time will vary.
  3. If you do not want to use brewed coffee, replace the ½ cup (120 mL) of coffee with ½ cup (120 mL of milk).
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!