A CRAZY DELICIOUS AND FUN CAKE
Have you ever had an earthquake cake? I am not exactly sure how they got the name but I am guessing it has to do with how it looks when it’s done baking. It looks like an earthquake hit the cake – ha! It’s not super pretty, but trust me, it is SUPER delicious! It’s packed with gooey layers of chocolate and peanut butter swirl throughout the cake that really sets it apart. Once you try these kinds of cakes, you’ll definitely want to try it out with other flavors – it’s just that good!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Absolutely. The toppings that I suggested are optional and you can change them up. Instead of chocolate chips, you could try peanut butter chips depending on the level of peanut butter you love or adjust the amounts to suit your tastes.
This cake can be served room temperature, warm, or straight from the fridge. I will say that it is extra tasty with a cold scoop of vanilla ice cream! I prefer it served warm though, but it’ll work served any way.
Yes, you can. You can store (covered) in the fridge and then reheat a bit when ready to serve so it’s slightly warm and gooey.
This peanut butter candy cake can be stored covered or in an airtight container in the refrigerator where it will keep for up to 1 week. Or you can freeze leftover cake for up to 3 months. To defrost, remove the cake from freezer and place in to the refrigerator overnight until defrosted.
INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (SEE RECIPE CARD BELOW FOR THE FULL RECIPE)
- chocolate cake mix – grab your favorite boxed mix. I like Duncan Hines Fudge Cake mix, or you can make your own Homemade Chocolate Cake Mix or try my homemade cake batter in this One Bowl Chocolate Cake recipe.
- ingredients needed to make cake: eggs, oil and water (use amounts on the back of the box). The amounts of these ingredients needed may vary depending on the different brands of cake mix. Use what your specific brand of choice recommends.
- cream cheese- softened to room temperature. I have a set of tips if you need them so you can soften your cream cheese faster. This also helps offset the overall sweetness of this cake because it is sweet for sure.
- salted butter- softened to room temperature. I have tips on softening butter quickly as well if you need them.
- creamy peanut butter– I don’t think natural peanut butter will work for this recipe. The oil separates from the peanut butter and changes the consistency of the filling. Stick with the creamy peanut butter. I suppose you could try crunchy peanut butter too.
- vanilla extract
- powdered sugar
- semi sweet chocolate chips, Reese’s Pieces, miniature Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups- you do not have to use all of these. You can pick your favorites or adjust the amounts as you prefer.
HOW TO MAKE PEANUT BUTTER EARTHQUAKE CAKE
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. In a large mixing bowl, prepare the chocolate cake batter according to the package instructions (mixing with oil, eggs, and water). Once mixed, pour the batter evenly into the prepared baking dish and set aside.
In a separate bowl, use a hand mixer to combine the softened cream cheese, butter, peanut butter, and vanilla extract until smooth and well-combined. Gradually add the powdered sugar, one cup at a time, mixing until the mixture is creamy and fully incorporated.
Spoon the peanut butter mixture in dollops over the chocolate cake batter. Use a spoon or offset spatula to lightly spread it around, but don’t worry about spreading it perfectly – the peanut butter mixture will swirl and create an “earthquake” effect as it bakes.
Sprinkle the quarter-sized Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, chocolate chips, and Reese’s Pieces evenly over the top of the cake. Bake the cake in the preheated oven (middle rack) for 45-50 minutes. Start checking the cake at the 45-minute mark by inserting a toothpick into the center. It should come out with a few moist crumbs but not wet batter. The center of the cake may still look a little soft, and that’s okay – it will firm up as it cools.
Allow the cake to cool for a few minutes before serving. For the best experience, serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top or a drizzle of warmed up peanut butter (to make it pourable) The combination of the warm cake, peanut butter filling, and cool ice cream is truly irresistible!
