Tessa’s Recipe Rundown
Taste: The cake layers are ultra chocolaty and the frosting is ultra peanut buttery. Dessert bliss!
Texture: The brownie cake is super dense, rich, and fudgy but sturdy enough to stack, and the buttercream and chocolate topping are the definition of smooth yet rich.
Ease: Not too difficult, just a little time-consuming. A great weekend project.
Pros: DELICIOUS.
Cons: None, really.
Would I make this again? Yes yes yes!! I want to already.
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This Chocolate Brownie Cake with Peanut Butter Frosting is the perfect cake for any occasion.
It’s rich. It’s indulgent. It’s deliciously decadent. It truly is all of my dessert dreams come true.
Chocolate and peanut butter are just about the most perfect flavor combination in existence, but when the chocolate comes in the form of a brownie? I’m immediately in!
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I created this cake for those occasions when a simple frosting-covered brownie isn’t quite fancy enough, but you still want the richness and fudginess only a brownie can provide.
You could definitely use the brownie cake layers in this recipe with any other thick fillings and frostings, feel free to get creative with flavors!
Let me know what you think of this cake in the comments below!
Sprinkle of Science
How to Make Chocolate Brownie Cake with Peanut Butter Frosting
How to Turn Brownies Into Cake Layers
- The brownie cake recipe is adapted from the ultra-talented Erin of Cloudy Kitchen. She took classic brownies and made them sturdy enough for a layer cake while still remaining rich and fudgy.
- The brownie cake layers use a high amount of both melted semisweet chocolate and cocoa powder, for an intense chocolate flavor. Learn more about Chocolate in Baking here.
- They also use a combination of butter and oil, for the best flavor and moist texture. Learn more about oil and butter in baking here.
- Tons of eggs help add richness and structure, as does the addition of baking powder (which is not included in my traditional brownie recipes).
The Cake Pans
- This recipe was designed to use three 6-inch pans, preferably 3-inches in height.
- I love my Fat Daddio anodized aluminum cake pans. They release cakes of all variety easily and don’t dry out the edges.
- Whatever you do, never bake a cake in a dark-colored pan. It’ll likely overbake and be too brown and dry at the edges.
- If only have 8-inch cake pans: I haven’t tested this, but you can try using two 8-inch cake pans and start checking for doneness at 25 minutes. The cake will obviously be much shorter.
- We also have not tried this cake as a 13 by 9-inch sheet cake. Instead, I recommend using my Chewy Brownie recipe and double the recipe to fit a 13 by 9-inch pan. Use this peanut butter frosting recipe on top, once the brownies have completely cooled.
How to Make Creamy Peanut Butter Frosting
- Start with butter that’s softened to room temperature and a whole cup of creamy conventional peanut butter.
- Natural peanut butter that doesn’t contain any added oil isn’t ideal. I like to use Skippy.
- Why? That added oil helps prevent the peanut butter from separating so it stays homogenous which is definitely what we want for buttercream. If you use a natural peanut butter product that only contains ground peanuts then your buttercream may split.
- Make sure to sift your powdered sugar before using, for the smoothest, creamiest buttercream.
- For even creamier buttercream, try using organic powdered sugar with tapioca starch. It dissolves into the frosting better than the traditional cornstarch so you don’t get any grittiness.
- For more buttercream tips check out this post.
How to Assemble & Decorate a Layer Cake
- Place one cake layer on a cake stand or serving plate. Spread with about 1/2 cup of the frosting. Repeat with the remaining two cake layers, leaving the top layer flat side up. This ensures the top of the cake is level, with clean edges.
- Apply a thin layer of crumb coat icing to the entire surface of the cake, scraping away any excess with an offset spatula or bench scraper to create a spackle-like coating. Be sure not to scrape any crumby icing back into your clean bowl of icing. A cake turntable makes easy work of this. Refrigerate the whole cake until solid, about 15 to 20 minutes.
- While the crumb coat is in the fridge, make the chocolate drip. Allow to cool until it has thickened, but is still pourable but not so thin that it runs clear down the sides of the cake. It’s a fine balance! The amount of time it takes for the ganache to cool to this consistency will depend on the temperature of your kitchen and the size and shape of your bowl.
- Don’t place the ganache drip in the fridge to cool. This will create uneven chunks of cooler ganache next to runnier warmer bits. Test the consistency of the drip by pouring a little down the side of a glass. If it’s too thick, microwave for 5 to 10 seconds then stir. If it’s too thin, allow to continue to cool.
Can This Recipe be Made Into Cupcakes?
Almost any cake recipe can be converted into cupcakes. Check out my full guide on how to convert cake to cupcakes (and vice versa!).
How to Make this Cake Ahead of Time
The assembled and frosted cake can be stored, covered, at room temperature for up to 1 day or in the fridge for up to 3 days.
The brownie cake layers can be stored in the fridge, wrapped tightly in plastic wrap, for up to 2 days before assembling.
The frosting can also be stored in the fridge, in an airtight container, for up to 1 week. Allow to come to room temperature before re-whipping with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy again.
Chocolate Brownie Cake with Peanut Butter Frosting
Ingredients
For the brownie cake layers:
- 1 stick (113 grams) unsalted butter
- 8 ounces (227 grams) semisweet baking chocolate, chopped
- 1 cup (200 grams) granulated sugar
- 2/3 cup (133 grams) dark brown sugar
- 3/4 cup (95 grams) all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (85 grams) unsweetened natural cocoa powder
- 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 5 large eggs, at room temperature
- 1/2 cup fresh vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the peanut butter frosting:
- 2 sticks (227 grams) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1 cup (270 grams) creamy conventional peanut butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/8 teaspoon fine salt
- 2 1/2 cups (313 grams) powdered sugar, sifted
For the chocolate drip:
- 4 ounces (113 grams) semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- Chopped peanut butter cups, optional
Instructions
Make the cake layers:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease and line three 6-inch cake pans with parchment paper.
- In a heat-safe bowl, combine the butter and chocolate and microwave for 45 seconds. Stir and continue to heat in 30-second bursts, stirring between bursts, until melted and smooth. Whisk in the sugars until combined. Let cool.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt.
- To the cooled chocolate mixture whisk in the eggs, one at a time, Whisk vigorously for 30 seconds until very well combined. Add in the oil and vanilla and whisk until combined. Add the dry ingredients and gently fold to combine.
- Divide the batter between the three cake pans, and tap on the counter to prevent air bubbles.
- Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the tops are dry and a cake tester inserted in the middle comes out with a few crumbs attached. Be sure not to overbake, the cakes will continue to cook after being removed from the oven.
- Cool in pans for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack and allow to cool completely. At this point, the brownie cake layers can be stored in the fridge, wrapped tightly in plastic wrap, for up to 2 days before assembling.
Make the frosting:
- In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and peanut butter on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, scraping down the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed. Add the vanilla, salt, and powdered sugar and continue beating until the frosting is smooth and fluffy, about another 3 minutes.
Assemble the cake:
- Place one cake layer on a cake stand or serving plate. Spread with about 1/2 cup of the frosting. Repeat with the remaining two cake layers, leaving the top layer flat side up.
- Apply a thin layer of crumb coat icing to the entire surface of the cake, scraping away any excess with an offset spatula or bench scraper to create a spackle-like coating. Refrigerate until solid, about 15 to 20 minutes.
- Spread the remaining frosting in an even layer all over the cake. Refrigerate to solidify again while you make the chocolate drip.
Make chocolate drip:
- Place the chopped chocolate in a heatproof bowl. Bring the heavy cream to a simmer, then immediately remove from heat and pour over the chocolate. You can also do this in the microwave. Cover for a few minutes then stir until smooth.
- Allow to cool until ganache has thickened but is still pourable, about 10 minutes. Don’t place ganache in the fridge to cool. Test the consistency of the drip by pouring a little down the side of a glass. If it’s too thick, microwave for 5 to 10 seconds. If it’s too thin, allow to continue to cool. Spread the drip all over the top of the cake and allow it to drip down the sides.
- Allow to set slightly before garnishing with the peanut butter cups, if desired.
- The cake can be stored, covered, at room temperature for up to 1 day or in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Recipe Notes
This recipe was created in 2020 and updated with additional tips and recipe notes. Photos by Ashley McLaughlin.
I am making this right now, it’s cooling in pans but afraid to turn in on to wire rack, won’t it stick?
Hi Christine! After the cake cools for 10 minutes and you place them on the wire rack, they shouldn’t stick. What did you think of the cake?
This cake was nothing short of SPECTACULAR! I make it for my daughter’s 25th birthday celebration. Everyone absolutely loved it! The recipe may have a lot of steps and take a bit of time – but the instructions are easy to follow and guide you to success! It says “serves 6” but we actually cut 15 small slices that everyone was completely satisfied with. I think because it is very rich – a little goes a long way! Thank you again, Tessa – for a wonderfully delicious recipe!
I saw your cake when Tessa shared it on IG!! SUCH a gorgeous cake, I’m so happy to hear it was enjoyed by everyone. Thanks so much for choosing our recipe to celebrate your daughter’s birthday with 🙂
Your recipe calls for only 3/4 cup of flour that can’t be correct
Hi Letha, the measurements in the ingredient list are correct!
Hi. I made the chocolate brownie cake with peanut butter frosting. I made it for my birthday and i made them as cupcakes. Everyone loved the cupcakes. They said it was the best they ever had. Im getting married on Halloween and im making cupcakes instead of a regular cake nd im definitely making some of these for my wedding. Thanks so much. I love this recipe.
Brenda
Wow, Brenda! Thanks so much for choosing our recipe to celebrate with, not only for your birthday, but also for your wedding! We’re absolutely thrilled to hear you love this cake so much 🙂 Congratulations and best wishes to you! Be sure to tag us on social media if you share any pictures!
Make this cake, NOW! It’s incredibly rich in all the best ways, so much flavor, so good, going to the dentist now. Also don’t skip the choco drip! I added crushed butterfingers cuz I forgot peanut butter cups and WHOA. This is definitely in the rotation for friend bday cakes!
haha love it, Heather! Crushed butterfinger would be AMAZING on this cake! So happy you enjoyed it 🙂
You forgot to mention oil and vanilla in the recipe. What is the ratio? Thanks
Hi Madonna, the oil and vanilla are listed in the ingredients right below the 5 large eggs 🙂 In the cake layer directions, they are added to the mixture in paragraph 4. Hope that helps!
Hey Tessa! I’m planning on making this cake for my birthday in August and I had one question – do my 6” cake pans need to be 3” deep like the ones you linked, or can they be 2” deep?
I wouldn’t recommend anything less than 2 1/2 inches deep, I always use a 3″ for more flexibility and just to be safe that it doesn’t overflow! I’m honored you chose to make my recipe for your birthday and can’t wait for you to enjoy it! Happy early birthday 🙂
Thanks! Now that I’m looking more closely, I see it only serves 6! Begrudgingly (I hate altering a recipe before ever making it as written), I’m going to double the recipe and try two 8” springform pans so I can hopefully feed 10-12 people. I just really want to make this!!
Good luck! Just make sure to not overfill the pans-if you’ve got too much batter, I’d make a few cupcakes…you know, so you can try the cake without actually cutting into it before your birthday! 🙂
Great tip and great idea – thanks so much! I appreciate it! I’ll be sure to follow up after I make it!
Made this for my dad’s birthday, he loves reeses. It was surprisingly easy to make and it turned out amazing. Everyone love it. Great recipe!
I will say to make sure you spray and do parchment paper with enough on the edges to be able to pull the cake out. I had a little trouble. Once the cakes sat for 10 minutes I wrapped them tight in saran wrap and put them in the freezer to make sure they were sturdy and prevent cracking.
I’m so happy to hear this recipe was such a hit for your dad’s birthday! And yes, you definitely want to grease and line your cake pans well! I’m so glad you were able to get yours out ok 🙂
Every recipe I have tried so far on handletheheat has turned out amazing! I feel like Tessa is my true taste bud spirit match. No surprise this one turned out awesome too! I did a 2/3 recipe using my trusty kitchen scale (LOVE that you put ingredients in grams!) because I only wanted a small cake. I’m eating the last piece now and wishing I had made the bigger cake, lol! Still so good on day 3 (zapped it for 20 seconds in the microwave mmm mmm mmm!). Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful recipes with us!
I only used the frosting in this recipe with the chocolate drizzle and peanut butter cups for my own chocolate cake and I loved it! Although it wasn’t clear in the recipe when it said mix in medium-high speed the butter and peanut butter because after doing this, when I added my powdered sugar, I continued to beat them in this speed and the frosting became very thick and not smooth at all. Only then I realized that you should lower your speed when adding your sugar to make a very smooth buttercream so I had to re-do it. Just a note for other newbies like me.
Hi Liza, I’m so glad you love this frosting! While you should start out with a lower speed to make sure powdered sugar doesn’t get all over your kitchen :), there shouldn’t be a problem with continuing to beat all of the ingredients at medium-high speed for another 3 minutes. Did you substitute any ingredients? Make sure to read my tips about making the peanut butter frosting creamy in the pink box above the recipe, but I’m so glad yours still turned out 🙂
This recipe have become a staple cake! A family and fan favorite!!!! This recipe is amazing!!! Thank you so much for sharing it!
So happy to hear everyone loves this recipe!!
I made this in 2: 8 inch pans it is still turned out great! I just made the frosting thicker in the middle and added some chopped up peanut butter cups inside too! Everyone loved it! Great recipe! Thanks for sharing!
Hooray! So happy everyone enjoyed your cake!