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This chocolate peanut butter cake has a peanut butter cheesecake right in the center and is topped with lots of thick peanut butter frosting and rich chocolate ganache.
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Have y’all ever heard of or eaten a Buckeye? Yes, right? Please say yes.
For those of you who don’t know what a buckeye is, it’s just a peanut butter ball dipped partially in chocolate to resemble a buckeye. They are outrageously delicious and I can’t believe I don’t have a recipe for them on this site. I’m a mean blogger.
Anyway, Buckeye candies are amazing, but yesterday I wasn’t in the mood for candy. I wanted cake. So I played around and created this chocolate peanut butter cake. I’m sorry. Please forgive me.
Chocolate peanut butter anything is my fav.
This cake is momentous both because it is INSANE and because I don’t bake cake. I can’t bake cake. They just never turn out right. Like, ever.
This one, though, this one turned out to be kind of…shall we say…deadly. In a good way. A really ridiculous good way.
What you’re drooling over is a layer of chocolate cake, a layer of chocolate peanut butter glaze, a layer of peanut butter cheesecake, another layer of the chocolate peanut butter glaze, another layer of chocolate cake, a layer of peanut butter frosting (that tastes EXACTLY like a peanut butter ball) and more of the chocolate peanut butter glaze.
This chocolate peanut butter Buckeye Cake is so good you will die. True story.
If you LOVE chocolate and peanut butter, be sure to check out the entire category I have devoted to chocolate and peanut butter treats! It’s bursting at the seams with delicious things your family and friends will go nuts over!
Buckeye Cake
Ingredients
For the Peanut Butter Cheesecake:
- 2 8 ounce packages cream cheese softened
- 1 cup white sugar
- 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 4 eggs
- 1/2 cup milk I used 1%, but 2% or whole milk would be great too
For the chocolate cake:
- 1 box chocolate cake mix prepared according to package directions (homemade works too, if you're feeling adventurous) and baked in 2 9 inch round cake pans
For the Peanut Butter Frosting
- 1/2 cup butter softened
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 1/3 cup heavy whipping cream
For the chocolate peanut butter glaze
- 8 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 3 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
- 2 tablespoons light corn syrup
- 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
Instructions
For the Peanut Butter Cheesecake:
- Bake the cheesecake one day in advance so that it has plenty of time to chill in the fridge before layering with the chocolate cake!
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
- Beat together the cream cheese, peanut butter, sugar, and flour until light and smooth and creamy. Beat in the eggs one at a time. Stir in the milk.
- Grease a 9-inch round springform pan VERY WELL. There is no crust on this cheesecake, so it is imperative that you really grease the pan so that the cheesecake will release from it easily.
- Pour batter into the greased pan.
- Bake for 10 minutes at 325 degrees.
- Reduce heat to 260 and bake for 50 minutes or until just the center is slightly jiggly.
- Cool on the counter for 2 hours. Transfer to a refrigerator to chill overnight.
For the chocolate cake:
- Prepare the cake mix according to the package or use a recipe for homemade cake.
- Bake in 2 9-inch round, well greased cake pans. Cool completely.
For the peanut butter frosting:
- Cream together the butter and peanut butter until light and fluffy. Add half of the powdered sugar and mix well. Beat in half of the cream. Add the remaining powdered sugar and continue mixing until combined. Beat in the remaining cream.
For the chocolate peanut butter glaze:
- In a double boiler or a bowl set over a pot of simmering water, melt the chocolate, peanut butter, and corn syrup. When melted remove from heat and whisk in the cream until it is a smooth, creamy consistency.
To assemble:
- Place one layer of chocolate cake on your cake stand and top with 1/4 of the chocolate peanut butter glaze. Spread to the edges.
- Very carefully remove the sides of your springform pan and place the entire cheesecake upside down on the chocolate cake layer. The bottom of the springform pan should now be on top of the cheesecake. Carefully slide a knife in between the cheesecake and pan bottom to loosen. If you greased your pan well this should be fairly simple and the pan bottom will easily lift off.
- Pour another 1/4 of the chocolate glaze over the cheesecake and spread to the edges.
- Top this with the second layer of chocolate cake.
- Place the whole cake in the refrigerator for 15 minutes to harden up a bit.
- Cover the top and sides of the cake with the peanut butter frosting. Smooth it out as best you can.
- Microwave the chocolate glaze for about 5-10 seconds to soften it back up. Whisk well and then pour over the top center of the cake. Use an offset spatula to spread the glaze to the edges, letting it drip down in some areas.
- Store in the refrigerator.
Nutrition Information:
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Brooke says
We are from Ohio (but stuck in California)and my mil makes the most awesome Buckeyes that she sends to us every couple of months. People literally come over JUST for Buckeyes when they know a box of them have arrived. Yep that good. My hubby will love this cake! Thank you!
Sherry says
YUM! I hope I have all the ingredients at home or I’m going to have to make a stop. You have tempted me in a big way!
Erin says
Wow! This looks like pretty much my definition of heaven! ๐
Amy | She Wears Many Hats says
Karly!!! This looks delightful. Totally.
Claire says
I had my first experience with Buckeyes and I was obsessed, you can never go wrong with the chocolate-peanut butter combo! I cannot wait to make this delicious cake!
Melissa D says
So, you had me at the title of the recipe. Then I saw the picture and thought, “Wow – that is one heck of a layer of frosting in the middle of the cake. I like the way this girl thinks.” And then I kept reading and…cheesecake? Peanut butter cheesecake? IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CAKE??????
Sheer genius.
Pam says
I can’t wait to make this – I am drooling on the screen!
Erin says
I made a simplified version of this today for a church carry-in. Since I was low on time I used a 2 boxes of a brownie mix for the bottom layer, then spread on the pb frosting and topped it with the glaze- I just kept it all in my 9×13 pan- so it was as gorgeous as your cake- but it was delish!!
Rachel says
I was born & raised in Ohio & I LOVE Buckeyes….As soon as I showed him this cake, my son started begging me to make it. WOW is all I can say.
what katie's baking says
omg!! this is the best cake i’ve ever looked at in my life. i just wish i could eat it right now!
Sasha @ The Procrastobaker says
Oh. My. Gawd. Ive never had a buckeye, its just not a UK thing i dont think (we really need to get our act together, Smores, buckeyes, we are missing out big time!) But this looks AMAZING, i need this in my life, if i feel adventurous sometime soon i am so going to attempt this ๐ absolutely totally gorgeous recipe, as always!
megan @ whatmegansmaking says
oh my gosh. I should not have come to your site. I will have dreams about this cake.
tigerfish says
ok, I have not heard of or eaten a Buckeye! but i get the idea now and loving every bits of it.
Sue says
My sister used to make buckeyes every Christmas:) THIS cake is awe-inspiring! The photos have such tremendous clarity…I feel like I can just grab a wedge for myself right now. Oh, how I wish I could!
Kristin says
Something like this should be outlawed. I wish I lived near my dad. I would make this for him immediately. It’s an his insistence that I make Buckeyes every Christmas. Thanks for sharing!