Description
Reeses Peanut Butter Earthquake Cake – Indulgent chocolate cake filled with peanut butter cups, drizzled with peanut butter, irresistible treat for all!
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 box (15.25 oz) chocolate cake mix
- 3 large eggs, at room temperature
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1 cup water
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- 2 cups Reeses peanut butter cups, roughly chopped (about 16–20 miniature cups)
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup Reeses peanut butter chips
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt (optional, to enhance flavor)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Step 1: Prepare Your Baking Pan Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Generously spray a 9×13 inch baking pan with non-stick cooking spray, making sure to coat the sides well. This cake tends to stick, so don’t skimp on this step! If you have parchment paper, line the bottom of the pan for even easier removal.
- Step 2: Mix the Cake Batter In a large mixing bowl, combine the chocolate cake mix, eggs, vegetable oil, and water. Using an electric mixer, beat on medium speed for about 2 minutes until smooth and well combined. The batter will be relatively thin, but that’s exactly what you want for this type of cake. Pour the cake batter into your prepared baking pan, spreading it evenly with a spatula.
- Step 3: Prepare the Cream Cheese Peanut Butter Layer In another mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add the melted butter and continue beating until well incorporated. Gradually add the powdered sugar, beating on low speed to avoid a sugar cloud. Mix in the peanut butter and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy. This mixture should be pourable but not too thin.
- Step 4: Create the Earthquake Effect Pour the cream cheese and peanut butter mixture in several large dollops over the chocolate cake batter. Don’t spread it out – the goal is to have it sit on top. Sprinkle 1 1/2 cups of the chopped Reese’s peanut butter cups, the chocolate chips, and the peanut butter chips evenly over the entire surface.
- Step 5: Bake to Perfection Bake in your preheated oven for 40-45 minutes, or until the edges are set but the center still has some jiggle. Remember, this cake is meant to be gooey in the middle! During the last 5 minutes of baking, sprinkle the remaining chopped Reese’s cups on top for a beautiful presentation. The cake will ‘earthquake’ during baking, creating magical cracks and swirls throughout.
- Step 6: Cool and Serve Allow the Reese’s Peanut Butter Earthquake Cake to cool for at least 20 minutes before serving. This gives the cake time to set up slightly while still maintaining that warm, gooey center that makes it so irresistible. For clean slices, run your knife under hot water and wipe dry between cuts.
Notes
Fresh ingredients will always yield the best flavor results.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 400mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 15g
- Cholesterol: 50mg