Gooey Peanut Butter Cup Dump Cake Recipe

Irresistible Peanut Butter Cup Dump Cake Recipe for Sweet Tooths

Rich chocolate and creamy peanut butter cup dump cake brings decadence to dessert lovers everywhere.

Chocolate lovers adore this ridiculously simple treat that combines classic flavors in one pan.

The magic happens with minimal effort and maximum satisfaction.

Each bite delivers a perfect balance of sweet chocolate and nutty peanut butter notes.

Layers of moist cake and crumbled peanut butter cups create an irresistible texture that melts in your mouth.

This dessert works for casual gatherings or special celebrations.

Dive into this delightful recipe and treat yourself to a slice of pure indulgence.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes

Total Time: 50 minutes

Calories: 400 kcal

Servings: 11

What’s Needed For Peanut Butter Cup Dump Cake

For Base Layer:
  • Creamy Peanut Butter: Provides a rich, smooth foundation that adds depth and nutty richness to the dessert.
  • Non-Stick Spray or Butter: Ensures easy cake removal and prevents sticking while adding subtle flavor.
For Flavor and Texture Boosters:
  • Peanut Butter Cups: Delivers delightful chocolate-peanut butter chunks that create surprising bursts of sweetness.
  • Milk Chocolate Chips: Melts into gooey pockets of chocolatey goodness, enhancing the overall dessert decadence.
  • Sweetened Condensed Milk: Creates a luscious, silky binding that adds incredible moisture and caramel-like undertones.
For Structure and Binding:
  • Dry Chocolate Cake Mix: Serves as the quick and easy cake foundation, delivering consistent chocolate flavor.
  • Melted Butter: Helps bind ingredients together and creates a crispy, golden top layer with rich buttery notes.

Kitchen Tools For Peanut Butter Cup Dump Cake

  • Baking Dish (9×13 inch): Essential for layering and baking the dump cake.
  • Measuring Cups: Precise for portioning ingredients like peanut butter and condensed milk.
  • Mixing Spoon or Spatula: Perfect for spreading peanut butter evenly and layering ingredients.
  • Butter Knife or Pastry Brush: Great for greasing the baking dish with butter or non-stick spray.
  • Sharp Knife: Useful for chopping peanut butter cups into bite-sized pieces.
  • Oven Mitts: Necessary for safely handling hot baking dishes.

Simple Steps For Peanut Butter Cup Dump Cake

  • Creamy Peanut Butter Foundation

Spread a luxurious layer of smooth peanut butter across the bottom of your baking dish, creating a rich and decadent base that will make your taste buds dance with excitement.

  • Chocolate Candy Explosion

Scatter chopped peanut butter cups generously over the peanut butter landscape, creating a tempting mosaic of chocolate and peanut butter goodness that promises pure indulgence.

  • Sweet Milk Magic

Drizzle sweetened condensed milk over the candy layer, allowing it to weave between the chocolate pieces and create a silky, dreamy texture that will make everyone swoon.

  • Chocolate Dust Blanket

Sprinkle dry chocolate cake mix across the surface, transforming the dish into a potential masterpiece of deliciousness that hints at the magical transformation about to happen.

  • Buttery Crown

Drizzle melted butter over the cake mix, ensuring every inch gets a golden touch, then crown the creation with remaining chocolate chips and peanut butter cup pieces.

  • Oven Transformation

Bake until the top becomes bubbly and develops a tantalizingly crisp edge, signaling that your dessert has reached pure culinary perfection.

  • Delicious Destination

Let the cake cool slightly, then serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream for the ultimate comfort dessert experience.

Extra Tips For Peanut Butter Cup Dump Cake

  • Pro Baking Hacks: Peanut Butter Cup Dump Cake
  • Temperature Precision: Let ingredients sit at room temperature before mixing to ensure even blending and smoother texture. Cold ingredients can create lumpy or uneven cake consistency.
  • Peanut Butter Selection: Choose creamy, full-fat peanut butter for maximum richness. Natural peanut butter works best, providing deeper flavor and better spreading ability across the baking dish.
  • Strategic Candy Placement: Chop peanut butter cups into different sizes for varied texture. Larger chunks create delightful surprise bites while smaller pieces distribute flavor more evenly throughout the dessert.
  • Gluten-Free Transformation: Swap regular chocolate cake mix with gluten-free alternatives. Use certified gluten-free peanut butter cups to make this decadent dessert accessible for those with dietary restrictions.
  • Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare the dump cake up to 24 hours in advance. Store covered in the refrigerator and bake just before serving to enhance flavor development and convenience for entertaining.

Serving Peanut Butter Cup Dump Cake Ideas

  • Sweet Scoop Adventure: Top each slice with a generous dollop of vanilla ice cream to create a creamy, cold contrast against the warm, gooey cake texture.
  • Decadent Chocolate Drizzle: Enhance the dessert by zigzagging rich chocolate sauce across the top, intensifying the chocolate flavor and adding a professional bakery-style presentation.
  • Nutty Crunch Topper: Sprinkle crushed peanuts or extra chopped peanut butter cups around the edges for a delightful crunch and visual appeal that complements the cake's rich flavors.
  • Whipped Cream Dream: Crown each serving with fluffy homemade whipped cream, creating a light and airy complement to the dense, sweet cake base.

Storing Peanut Butter Cup Dump Cake Easily

Keep leftover cake in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days, ensuring maximum freshness and flavor retention.

  • Refrigeration Strategy: For extended enjoyment, store covered in the refrigerator up to 5 days. Let sit at room temperature 15-20 minutes before serving to restore soft texture.
  • Freezing Technique: Wrap individual slices tightly in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil. Freeze up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in refrigerator and warm slightly before serving for best taste.
  • Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare cake base one day ahead, cover, and refrigerate. Bake just before serving to maintain optimal crispness and gooey chocolate-peanut butter goodness.
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Gooey Peanut Butter Cup Dump Cake Recipe

Gooey Peanut Butter Cup Dump Cake Recipe


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4.7 from 32 reviews

  • Total Time: 50 minutes
  • Yield: 11 1x

Description

Irresistible peanut butter cup dump cake delivers pure chocolate and peanut butter bliss in a simple dessert. Chocolate chips and Reese’s pieces create a rich, indulgent treat you’ll crave again and again.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 can (14 oz / 400 ml) sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 ½ cups (226 g) chopped peanut butter cups
  • 1 cup milk chocolate chips
  • 1 cup creamy peanut butter
  • ½ cup (113 g) melted butter
  • 1 box chocolate cake mix
  • Whipped cream (optional)
  • Vanilla ice cream (optional)
  • Extra chopped peanut butter cups for garnish (optional)

Instructions

  1. Oven Preparation: Set the oven to 350F (175C) and lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with non-stick spray or butter.
  2. Base Layer Creation: Spread peanut butter evenly across the bottom of the dish, forming a creamy foundation.
  3. Candy Distribution: Scatter half of the chopped peanut butter cups over the peanut butter layer, ensuring consistent coverage.
  4. Moisture Infusion: Pour condensed milk across the candy, creating a sweet, smooth underlayer.
  5. Cake Mix Application: Uniformly distribute dry chocolate cake mix over the condensed milk, completely covering the surface.
  6. Moisture Enhancement: Drizzle melted butter across the cake mix to guarantee a rich, moist texture.
  7. Final Topping: Sprinkle remaining peanut butter cup pieces and milk chocolate chips over the top, creating a decadent finish.
  8. Baking Process: Bake for 35-40 minutes until the surface becomes bubbly and slightly crisp, indicating perfect doneness.
  9. Cooling and Serving: Allow the cake to rest for 10-15 minutes, letting layers settle and flavors meld. Serve warm, optionally topped with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream for an indulgent dessert experience.

Notes

  • Butter Distribution Technique: Ensure melted butter covers entire cake mix evenly to prevent dry patches and guarantee a moist, rich texture throughout the dessert.
  • Temperature Monitoring: Watch cake closely during last 5-10 minutes of baking to prevent burning, as chocolate components can quickly turn from perfectly caramelized to overly dark.
  • Candy Placement Strategy: Chop peanut butter cups into consistent, medium-sized pieces for balanced flavor distribution and more attractive visual presentation in each slice.
  • Dietary Modification Option: For gluten-sensitive individuals, substitute regular chocolate cake mix with gluten-free alternative without compromising overall decadent taste and texture.
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 40 minutes
  • Category: Desserts, Snacks
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 11
  • Calories: 400
  • Sugar: 30 g
  • Sodium: 300 mg
  • Fat: 25 g
  • Saturated Fat: 10 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 40 g
  • Fiber: 2 g
  • Protein: 6 g
  • Cholesterol: 40 mg
Liam O’Sullivan

Liam O’Sullivan

Founder & Culinary Content Creator

Expertise

Recipe Development​, Traditional Irish and European Cuisines, Food Styling and Photography, Culinary Education​

Education

Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) – School of Culinary Arts and Food Technology

  • Degree: Bachelor of Arts in Culinary Arts
  • Focus: Comprehensive training in classical and modern cooking techniques, kitchen management, and menu development.​

Ballymaloe Cookery School

  • Program: 12-Week Certificate Course
  • Focus: Intensive, hands-on experience emphasizing farm-to-table cooking and sustainable practices.​

Isabella brings a global spark to the Craft Meats table. Born in Florence and trained at the Apicius International School of Hospitality, she blends classic Italian flavor with modern writing that’s easy to follow and hard to forget. 

Her additional training at the Italian Chef Academy fueled her love for well-crafted dishes, especially ones that spotlight beautiful cuts of meat.

She’s a food writer with heart, and a deep love for storytelling through single recipes. Her goal? To help you cook with more confidence and a little more joy, no matter where you start.

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