Chocolate Peanut Butter Dump Cake is an easy, rich dessert layered with chocolate pudding, creamy peanut butter pockets, chocolate cake mix, and melty chocolate and peanut butter chips. It's a simple 9×13 dessert that feels indulgent but takes only minutes to assemble.
A Chocolate and Peanut Butter Dessert That's Almost Impossible to Mess Up
If you love the classic chocolate and peanut butter combination, this dump cake delivers everything you want in a dessert: warm, gooey layers, creamy peanut butter bites, and a buttery chocolate topping that forms as it bakes. It's one of those desserts that looks impressive when served but secretly comes together with almost no effort.
Because the pudding layer bakes underneath the cake mix, the center stays soft and rich while the top turns slightly crisp and crumbly. It's the kind of dessert that disappears quickly at potlucks, family gatherings, or anytime a chocolate craving hits.
And just like many of the dump cake recipes that readers love on Fantabulosity, it's simple, reliable, and made with pantry-friendly ingredients.
FAQs
Yes. Devil's food cake mix or dark chocolate cake mix both work beautifully and will give the dessert an even deeper chocolate flavor.
This happens when the melted butter doesn't fully moisten the cake mix. Simply drizzle 1-2 tablespoons of melted butter over the dry spots and return the cake to the oven for about 5 minutes.
You can, but creamy peanut butter creates smoother peanut butter pockets throughout the cake. Crunchy peanut butter will add texture but won't melt as smoothly.
Yes. You can assemble the layers a few hours ahead and bake when ready. You can also bake it completely and gently reheat before serving.
Cover and refrigerate leftovers for up to 3 days. Reheat individual servings in the microwave until warm.
Ingredients
- Instant chocolate pudding mix - This forms the rich, soft base layer that keeps the dessert extra gooey and chocolatey.
- Cold milk - Whisked with the pudding mix to create the creamy bottom layer.
- Creamy peanut butter - Creates pockets of peanut butter flavor throughout the cake.
- Powdered sugar - Slightly sweetens the peanut butter mixture and helps it blend smoothly.
- Vanilla extract - Adds warmth and depth to the peanut butter filling.
- Chocolate cake mix - The classic shortcut topping that turns buttery and crumbly as it bakes.
- Unsalted butter - Drizzled over the cake mix to help it bake into that golden, crisp topping.
- Semi-sweet chocolate chips - Add extra chocolate richness throughout the top layer.
- Peanut butter chips - Bring even more peanut butter flavor to balance the chocolate.
Instructions
Preheat the oven and lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
In a large bowl, whisk the instant chocolate pudding mixes with cold milk until smooth and thickened.
Pour the pudding evenly into the prepared baking dish.
In a small bowl, stir together the peanut butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy.
Dollop spoonfuls of the peanut butter mixture evenly across the pudding layer. Leave the spoonfuls as they are and do not mix them into the pudding.
Sprinkle the dry chocolate cake mix evenly over the top of the filling, covering the entire surface.
Drizzle the melted butter slowly and evenly over the cake mix.
Sprinkle the semi-sweet chocolate chips and peanut butter chips across the top.
Bake uncovered until the top is set and the edges are bubbling.
Let the cake cool for about 10-15 minutes before serving so the layers can set slightly.
Tips
- Do not stir the layers after assembling. Keeping them separate helps create the classic dump cake texture.
- Drizzle the butter slowly and evenly to moisten as much of the cake mix as possible. I’ll even tilt the pan a little sometimes, to try and cover as much of the cake mix as possible with the melted butter.
- If small dry patches remain after baking, drizzle with a little melted butter and bake a few minutes longer.
- Letting the cake rest for several minutes after baking helps the pudding layer thicken slightly for easier serving.
- Serve with a scoop of ice cream if desired.
More Dump Cake Recipes
If you love dump cake recipes, make sure to check out these other popular dump cakes…
Recipe
Chocolate Peanut Butter Dump Cake
Ingredients
- 2 boxes 3.9 ounces each instant chocolate pudding mix
- 2 ½ cups cold milk
- ½ cup creamy peanut butter
- ¼ cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 box 15.25 ounces chocolate cake mix
- ¾ cup 12 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- ½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- ½ cup peanut butter chips
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- In a large bowl, whisk the pudding mixes with cold milk until smooth and thickened. Pour evenly into the prepared baking dish.
- In a small bowl, stir together the peanut butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until smooth.
- Dollop the peanut butter mixture across the pudding layer, spacing spoonfuls evenly over the top of the pudding. Don't mix into the pudding layer or spread.
- Sprinkle the dry cake mix evenly over the top, covering the filling completely.
- Drizzle the melted butter slowly and evenly over the cake mix.
- Sprinkle semi-sweet chocolate chips and peanut butter chips evenly over the cake mix.
- Bake uncovered for 45-50 minutes, or until the top is set and the edges are bubbling.
- Let the cake cool for 10-15 minutes before serving to allow the layers to firm up.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more.
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