Chocolate Peanut Butter Snack Cake

This Chocolate Peanut Butter Snack Cake is from Yossy Arefi's new book: Snacking Cakes and it's the perfect treat to make for the chocolate-peanut butter lovers in your life. Sweet, simple to make, and so indulgent!

Prep Time20 mins

Cook Time45 mins

Total Time1 hr 5 mins

Course: Dessert, Snack

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Cakes & Cupcakes, Chocolate Peanut Butter

Servings: slices

Calories: 475kcal

Author: Yossy Arefi

Ingredients

For the Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake:

200 g light brown sugar
2 large eggs
125 g creamy peanut butter
120 ml canola oil
120 ml whole milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
¾ tsp coarse sea salt
45 g unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder
128 g all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp baking soda
120 ml hot coffee OR 120ml (½ cup) hot water + 1 tsp espresso powder

For the Peanut Butter Glaze:

100 g powdered sugar
2 tbsp creamy peanut butter
1 tsp vanilla bean paste
pinch of fine sea salt
1-2 tbsp hot water
55 g chopped honey roasted peanuts
flaky sea salt optional

Metric - US Customary

Instructions

To Make the Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake:

Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Spray an 8×8-inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
In a large bowl, whisk together the brown sugar and eggs until pale and foamy, about 1 minute. Add the peanut butter, oil, milk, vanilla, and salt and whisk until well combined. Sift in the cocoa powder and whisk until smooth.
Add the flour, baking powder, and baking soda and whisk until combined and smooth. Add in the hot coffee/water mixture last and stir until combined and smooth.
Pour the batter into the prepared pan and tap the pan firmly on the counter to release any air bubbles. Bake for 45-55 minutes, until the cake is puffed and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Allow the cake to cool for 15 minutes in the pan. Then remove the cake from the pan and set it on a cooling rack to cool completely before glazing.

To Make the Peanut Butter Glaze:

In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, peanut butter, vanilla bean paste, salt, and 1 tablespoon of hot water until smooth. If the glaze is thick, add more water 1 teaspoon at a time, until it's smooth and pourable. (It took 2 tablespoons total for me).
Spoon or pour the glaze over the cooled cake and sprinkle with the chopped peanuts and flaky salt, if using. Allow the glaze to set before slicing into the cake.

Notes

Store the cake well-covered at room temperature for up to three days.

Nutrition