Description
This Peanut Butter Sheet Cake is a rich and moist dessert featuring a fluffy peanut butter-enhanced batter baked to perfection and topped with a creamy peanut butter frosting. Perfect for gatherings, this cake combines the nutty flavor of peanut butter with the classic comfort of a sheet cake, making it an irresistible treat for peanut butter lovers.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Cake:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 1 tbsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup creamy or crunchy peanut butter
- 3 large eggs
- 1 cup milk
For the Frosting:
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- ½ cup peanut butter
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 tbsp milk
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking pan thoroughly to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt until evenly combined. This creates the dry base for the cake batter.
- Cream Butter and Peanut Butter: In a separate bowl, beat the softened unsalted butter and peanut butter together until the mixture is fluffy and smooth, ensuring the fats are well combined for a tender cake texture.
- Add Eggs and Milk: Beat in the eggs one at a time into the peanut butter mixture, followed by the milk. Mix until all wet ingredients are thoroughly incorporated and smooth.
- Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry flour mixture to the wet ingredients, stirring gently just until combined. Avoid overmixing to keep the cake tender.
- Bake the Cake: Pour the batter evenly into the prepared 9×13-inch pan and spread it out smoothly with a spatula. Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Cool the Cake: Remove the cake from the oven and allow it to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack to prevent the frosting from melting.
- Prepare the Frosting: In a mixing bowl, blend together the powdered sugar, peanut butter, softened butter, and milk until the frosting is smooth and spreadable.
- Frost the Cake: Once the cake is fully cooled, evenly spread the peanut butter frosting over the top using a spatula, covering the entire surface.
- Serve: Slice the cake into approximately 12 servings and enjoy this moist, flavorful peanut butter treat.
Notes
- Use creamy peanut butter for a smoother texture or crunchy peanut butter for added crunch.
- Make sure both the butter and eggs are at room temperature to achieve the best mixing results.
- Do not overmix batter once dry ingredients are added to prevent a dense cake.
- Allow the cake to cool completely before frosting to avoid a runny or melted frosting.
- You can store leftover cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for longer freshness.
