Easy Peanut Butter Sheet Cake & Chocolate Frosting

This fluffy and moist peanut butter sheet cake is easy and quick to make. Once baked, top the peanut butter cake with homemade chocolate frosting and serve! A simple cake full of peanut butter flavor that’s ready within 30 minutes.

Easy Peanut Butter Sheet Cake Recipe

It’s slightly embarrassing how much I’ve been making peanut butter sheet cake. However, once I’m shoving warm, gooey cake in my face, any self-dignity is gone anyway.

It doesn’t help how damn easy it is to make and all the ingredients are kitchen staples!

If you are one of those poor souls who thinks they can’t make homemade cake, please erase that ridiculous thought and make this cake recipe ASAP.

Old fashioned peanut cake mixes together in minutes without using any fancy equipment or techniques. You don’t even have to remember to wait for the cake to cool before slathering it with 5 minute chocolate frosting.

Better yet, this recipe can easily be transformed into one of my favorite gluten-free cake recipes. See the ingredient notes below for the suggested modifications.

Ingredient Tid Bits

This is the perfect emergency dessert for company or birthday cakes because all the ingredients are commonly stocked and ready to go!

• Flour – For a gluten-free peanut butter sheet cake, I recommend using Cup4Cup gluten-free flour, which was my preferred brand to use in my gluten-free cookbook.
• Peanut Butter – Use creamy or crunchy peanut butter, such as Skippy or Jif brands. I don’t recommend natural peanut butter in this recipe.
• Milk – Use any percentage of milk, skim, buttermilk, to whole. Alternatively, non-dairy milk may be used for a dairy-free recipe.
• Sour Cream – The addition of sour cream in the chocolate frosting adds a creamy tanginess. It may also be replaced with yogurt.

Let’s Make This Together!

(Below shows step-by-step photos and modified instructions. For the complete recipe, along with ingredient amounts, scroll down to the recipe card.)

1. Bring butter, peanut butter, and water to a boil.
2. Remove from heat and stir the sugar into the peanut butter mixture.
3. To the batter add the flour, baking soda, and salt to saucepan. Stir in the flour mixture.
4. In a separate bowl whisk together milk, eggs, and vanilla. Stir into saucepan. Spread in the greased sheet pan and bake.

Warm Chocolate Frosting

Similar to a peanut butter Texas sheet cake, the chocolate frosting mixes together in a saucepan and is poured on warm cake. Chocolate goodness soaks into the cake to make ooey gooey chocolate peanut butter cake heaven.

If you want the ultimate peanut butter dessert, swap out the chocolate frosting for this gooey peanut butter glaze! Sprinkle with chopped nuts or chocolate chips.

Make Peanut Butter Cake With a Cake Mix

Looking for something a little quicker? Follow these simple directions to make peanut butter sheet cake using a cake mix.

1. Preheat oven to 350. Spray 13X9″ pan with cooking spray.
2. In a large bowl mix together yellow cake mix, 1 1/3 cups water, 1/3 cup peanut butter, 1/3 cup vegetable oil, 3 eggs, and 1 teaspoon vanilla using an electric mixer for 2 minutes.
3. Spread in prepared pan and bake for 20-25 minutes or until inserted toothpick comes out clean.
4. As soon as cake comes out of the oven make easy chocolate frosting included in recipe below OR cool completely and spread with chocolate buttercream frosting.

Substituting a 9X13 Baking Pan

This cake recipe resembles a Texas sheet cake, but it can also be baked in a 9X13 pan. Since the cake will be thicker, it will take 35-40 minutes to bake.

Yummy Toppings

I love adding chopped peanuts because of the saltiness it adds, but here are some other delicious ideas!

• Sprinkles
• Chopped Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
• M&Ms
• Reese’s Pieces
• Flaky Sea Salt, such as Maldon

Pro Tips

• Substitute chunky peanut butter in the cake.
• Using natural peanut butter is not recommended for this recipe, but if that’s all you have on hand make sure the oil is incorporated well before measuring out.
• As soon as the peanut butter cake comes out of the oven, make the easy stovetop chocolate frosting. It’s best spread on a still warm cake.
• This cake recipe can also be baked in a 9X13 pan, although I prefer a thinner cake to frosting ratio. It will take 35-40 minutes to bake in 9X13 pan.
• Yogurt can be substituted for the sour cream in the frosting.

Did you make this recipe? I love hearing from you! Leave a star rating and comment below the recipe card. It helps others when searching for recipes and I appreciate feedback from our community. You will always hear back from me! -Melissa

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