Peanut Butter Cake with Peanut Butter Frosting

If you have a peanut butter-loving family, they’re going to love this peanut butter cake with peanut butter frosting recipe from the first melt-in-your-mouth bite. It features a tender peanut butter-flavored cake made from scratch with a deliciously creamy peanut butter cream cheese frosting.

The only thing better than a homemade peanut butter cake is a peanut butter cake with peanut butter frosting. I am grateful to my dear family friend, Kate Burhop, for sharing her grandmother’s recipe with me and I was so excited to make it for my peanut butter-loving family. This is similar to my old-fashioned yellow cake with peanut butter fudge icing.

However, this time we’re making a cake from scratch that includes peanut butter, sugar, butter, eggs, and buttermilk (it’s the Southern way) for ultimate tenderness and moistness. Yes, this cake melts in your mouth even without the frosting. The other difference is that instead of an old-fashioned peanut butter icing, this peanut butter frosting is made with cream cheese, peanut butter, and powdered sugar. That cream cheese twang really differentiates the two and this one is creamier compared to the other icing’s fudge consistency.

It may sound like there’s a lot going on, but let me tell you, this is such an easy peanut butter cake recipe. You just have to slowly combine the cake ingredients together, which takes no time at all. Then bake them for about 35 minutes and while cooling, mix the frosting ingredients together. Then you can ice the cake however you want.

I just know you’re going to love this peanut butter cake recipe as much as I do. The peanut butter flavor is so good, y’all. The peanut butter lover in your life will fall head over heels for it! It’s the first cake Kate learned to bake from scratch and her most requested dessert recipe. In just one bite you’ll know exactly why! Just don’t forget to serve it with a glass of milk (trust me).

Recipe Ingredients

• Self-rising flour
• Granulated sugar
• Baking soda
• Creamy peanut butter
• Cream cheese (check out our recipe for easy-peasy homemade cream cheese)
• Powdered sugar
• Unsalted butter or margarine
• Eggs

How to Make Peanut Butter Cake With Peanut Butter Frosting

Place sugar…

Butter…

Peanut butter…

And eggs in a mixing bowl.

Mix with an electric mixer until well combined and smooth.

In a separate bowl, combine the self-rising flour with baking soda.

I don’t sift. Neither did Mamaw. A spoon works just fine for this.

Then alternate between adding the flour mixture to the peanut butter mixture…

With adding the buttermilk as well.

When you’ve finished mixing your ingredients, the cake batter should look something like this.

Now using cooking spray, grease your pans. This cake is enough to fill three 8-inch cake pans.

Making the Peanut Butter Frosting

For the frosting, combine the peanut butter and cream cheese in a mixing bowl.

Then add the powdered sugar…

And the milk.

You may need to add an extra tablespoon or two of milk if the mixture is too thick. Alternatively, if the mixture becomes too runny for your tastes, add extra powdered sugar.

Then add the frosting between the cooled cake layers and cover the entire cake.

You can even pipe on some little accents if you’re feeling extra fancy.

But really, frost your cake however you wish!

I assure you it will taste just as good if not better slopped on the cake as it will when neatly decorated.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to dive into this delicious slice of peanut butter cake with peanut butter frosting.

Storage

• Store leftover peanut butter cake in an airtight container either at room temperature or in the fridge for up to 5 days. It tastes delicious when served chilled, so if you live in a warmer climate like here in the South, I recommend storing it in the fridge.
• You can also freeze leftovers for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge or at room temperature before serving.

Recipe Notes

• If you like, top your cake with a sprinkle of mini chocolate chips, chopped roasted peanuts, crushed peanut brittle, Reese’s Pieces, or pieces of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup.
• You want to use creamy peanut butter and not crunchy peanut butter as the texture won’t work for the cake or frosting.
• If you’d prefer a chocolate peanut butter cake, substitute the peanut butter frosting for my creamy chocolate frosting.

Check out these other peanut butter treats:

Peanut Butter Candy

Old-Fashioned Peanut Butter Icing

Peanut Butter Cheesecake Cookie Bars

Easy Homemade Peanut Butter Cookies

Peanut Butter Brownies with Peanut Butter Fudge Icing

Peanut Butter Pie

If you aren’t grateful, you’re not paying attention.