This peanut butter cake with peanut butter frosting is an easy snack cake recipe. This one-pan cake recipe is a soft and moist peanut butter cake topped with a creamy peanut butter frosting.
This peanut butter cake with creamy peanut butter frosting is a simple and easy snack cake recipe. It is the perfect quick dessert and is a great snack cake.
We like to make this homemade cake as a weekend treat or to bring to a get together as a dessert to pass. The double peanut butter flavors in the cake and frosting are a peanut butter lover's dream and makes for a soft and delicious cake!
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- One Layer Cake
- Kid-Friendly
- Double Peanut Butter Dessert
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Butter - Butter helps to create a light and tender texture in the cake and also helps leaven the cake as it bakes. You want to always use room temperature butter for baking because it helps the cake to rise.
- Brown Sugar - Brown sugar adds the perfect amount of sweetness to the cake. We choose to use brown sugar because it retains moisture better than white sugar, therefore preserving the texture & softness of the cake.
- Eggs - Eggs give the cake batter structure.
- Vanilla Extract - Vanilla extract give flavor to the cake.
- Peanut Butter - Creamy peanut butter adds the perfect amount of flavor to the cake. Peanut butter is also in the frosting for even more delicious flavor.
- Milk - Milk moistens the cake batter keeping the cake spongy and moist. We recommend using whole milk for this homemade cake and have not tested it with nondairy alternatives. Using room temperature milk in this cake helps to trap the air while baking and leaven the cake.
- Flour - You can use nonbleached all-purpose flour or a gluten-free flour blend.
- Baking Powder & Baking Soda - Both baking powder and baking soda help leaven the cake.
- Salt - Every recipe needs a little salt to enhance the flavors.
- Powdered Sugar - Powdered sugar is necessary for making the frosting.
Complete list of ingredients and amounts is located on the recipe card below.
Kitchen Tools & Equipment
- Mixing Bowl - A mixing bowl is necessary for mixing the cake batter together.
- Hand Mixer - We recommend using a hand mixer because it helps combing the wet ingredients and dry ingredients into a smooth cake batter much easier to do than if you were mixing by hand. It is also necessary for creating a smooth and creamy frosting.
- 8x8 Baking Dish - A square baking dish is the perfect size to make this dessert.
- Parchment Paper - We like to line the baking dish with parchment paper before baking the cake so it is easier to remove from the pan.
How to Make the Peanut Butter Cake
Step 1. Add the softened butter and brown sugar to a mixing bowl.
Step 2. Use a hand mixer to cream the butter and sugar together.
Step 3. Add the eggs and vanilla extract to the bowl.
Step 4. Mix the eggs and vanilla with the butter and sugar.
Step 5. Add the peanut butter to the bowl.
Step 6. Use the hand mixer to mix the peanut butter into the wet ingredients.
Step 7. Pour the milk into the bowl.
Step 8. Mix the wet ingredients together until smooth and creamy.
Step 9. Add the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt to the bowl.
Step 10. Use the mixer to mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients to make a smooth & creamy cake batter.
Step 11. Pour the cake batter into a prepared baking dish and bake in the oven.
Step 12. Allow the baked cake to cool completely.
Step 13. Make the frosting by adding all of the ingredients together in a bowl.
Step 14. Use the hand mixer to mix the ingredients into a creamy frosting.
Step 15. Frost the cake with the peanut butter frosting.
Recipe Serving Suggestions
This cake recipe makes an 8x8 square cake that can be cut into 9 or 16 slices. We like to top the cake with the creamy peanut butter frosting before cutting it into slices to serve.
If you like this recipe, you will also enjoy our other easy dessert recipes.
Expert Tips & Variations
- Let the cake cool completely before frosting. If the cake is still warm when you frost it, the frosting will melt. Allow the cake to cool completely, then frost and serve.
- Add chocolate chips. There's no better combination than chocolate and peanut butter. Add some chocolate chips to the batter or on the frosting.
How to Store Peanut Butter Cake
- Countertop - in an airtight container on the countertop for 4 days.
- Freezer - in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3-4 months.
Recipe FAQ
You can use creamy or chunky peanut butter in this recipe. We recommend creamy peanut butter because it gives the came a smooth, soft texture. But if you like chunky peanuts and want to add texture to the cake, use chunky!
More Cake Recipes
Peanut Butter Cake with Peanut Butter Frosting
This peanut butter cake with peanut butter frosting is an easy snack cake recipe. This one-pan cake recipe is a soft and moist peanut butter cake topped with a creamy peanut butter frosting.
Ingredients
Peanut Butter Cake
- 1.5 cups flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- ½ cup creamy peanut butter
- 1.5 sticks (12 Tablespoons) butter, softened
- 1 cup brown sugar
Peanut Butter Frosting
- 4 Tablespoons butter, softened
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons milk
- ¼ cup creamy peanut butter
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line a square baking pan with parchment paper.
- Add 1.5 sticks of softened butter and the brown sugar to a mixing bowl.
- Use an hand mixer to cream the butter and sugar together.
- Add the eggs and vanilla extract to the bowl. Use the mixer to mix them with the butter and sugar.
- Add the peanut butter to the bowl and mix until creamy with the hand mixer.
- Pour the milk into the bowl and mix to combine with the other wet ingredients.
- Add the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt to the mixing bowl.
- Use the hand mixer to combine the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients to form a creamy cake batter.
- Pour the cake batter into the prepared baking dish.
- Place the dish in the oven and bake the cake for 40 minutes at 350 degrees or until a toothpick comes out clean from the center of the cake.
- Allow the cake to cool.
- Make the frosting by combining the softened butter, peanut butter, milk and powdered sugar in a bowl.
- Use the hand mixer to mix the ingredients together until creamy and smooth.
- Spread the frosting over the cooled cake and cut into 9-16 slices to serve.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 16 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 254Total Fat: 10gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 32mgSodium: 276mgCarbohydrates: 38gFiber: 1gSugar: 26gProtein: 5g
