Peanut Butter Cup Dump Cake is the ultimate dessert for chocolate and peanut butter lovers. With its rich, gooey chocolate cake and a surprise layer of mini peanut butter cups, this dessert is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. Easy to make with just a few ingredients, this dump cake is perfect for any occasion, from family gatherings to casual weeknight treats.

Dump cakes are known for their simplicity—no need to mix or layer complicated ingredients. Just dump everything into a pan and bake, and you have a sweet, indulgent dessert with minimal effort. This version, with its chocolate cake base and melted peanut butter cups, takes it to a whole new level of decadence. It’s like having a warm, gooey brownie combined with the creamy richness of peanut butter, all in one bite!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

1. Quick and Easy to Make

With just a few simple steps, you can have a delicious dessert ready in less than an hour. No mixing, no complicated instructions—just dump and bake!

2. Chocolate and Peanut Butter Bliss

If you’re a fan of the classic chocolate and peanut butter combo, this cake is the ultimate treat. The melted peanut butter cups create a gooey, irresistible layer in the middle.

3. One-Pan Dessert

This dump cake requires only one pan for mixing and baking, making cleanup a breeze. It’s perfect for busy bakers who want a delicious dessert with minimal mess.

4. Perfect for Sharing

This recipe serves 12, making it a great dessert to bring to parties, potlucks, or any gathering where you want to impress with a crowd-pleasing treat.

5. Customizable for Your Taste

Feel free to add extra peanut butter cups, or even drizzle some peanut butter or chocolate sauce on top before serving for an extra indulgent touch.

Ingredients

1 box chocolate cake mix
1 can (12 oz) evaporated milk
1/2 cup butter, melted
36 mini peanut butter cups, unwrapped

Variations

Add Nuts: For a crunchy texture, you can add chopped peanuts or any nuts of your choice along with the peanut butter cups.
Use Different Cake Mix: While chocolate cake is a classic choice, you can experiment with other flavors, like chocolate fudge, devil’s food, or even a peanut butter cake mix for more peanut butter flavor.
Add Ice Cream or Whipped Cream: Serve the dump cake warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream to take it over the top.
Make it Low-Sugar: Use a sugar-free cake mix and sugar-free peanut butter cups to make this dessert lower in sugar.

How to Make the Recipe

Step 1: Preheat the Oven

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.

Step 2: Prepare the Batter

In a large bowl, combine the chocolate cake mix, evaporated milk, and melted butter. Stir until the mixture is smooth and well combined.

Step 3: Layer the Cake

Spread half of the cake batter evenly in the greased baking dish. Make sure the batter covers the bottom of the dish completely.

Step 4: Add Peanut Butter Cups

Place the unwrapped mini peanut butter cups evenly over the batter in the baking dish.

Step 5: Top with Remaining Batter

Pour the remaining cake batter over the peanut butter cups, covering them as much as possible.

Step 6: Bake

Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.

Step 7: Cool and Serve

Allow the cake to cool slightly before serving. The cake will continue to set as it cools, making it easier to slice. Enjoy the warm, gooey layers!

Tips for Making the Recipe

Use full-fat evaporated milk: Full-fat evaporated milk provides a richer texture, but you can substitute with low-fat evaporated milk if you prefer.
Don’t overmix the batter: When combining the cake mix, evaporated milk, and butter, mix until just combined to avoid a dense texture.
Check for doneness: If the cake appears golden brown but the toothpick doesn’t come out clean, check the center for gooeyness. If it’s too soft, give it a few more minutes in the oven.
Let it cool: Allow the dump cake to cool for a few minutes before serving to let the layers set, but serve it while it’s still warm for the best texture.

How to Serve

This Peanut Butter Cup Dump Cake is best served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, or a drizzle of peanut butter or chocolate sauce. You can also serve it as-is for a rich, indulgent treat. If you’re serving it at a party, cut it into squares for easy sharing.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Store any leftover dump cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. You can also refrigerate it to extend the freshness for up to 5 days.

Freezing

This cake can be frozen for up to 3 months. Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil and store it in a freezer-safe container. To reheat, thaw in the refrigerator overnight and warm it in the oven for 10-15 minutes at 350°F.

Reheating

To reheat, place individual servings in the microwave for 20-30 seconds or warm the entire cake in the oven at 350°F for 10-15 minutes until heated through.

FAQs

1. Can I use regular-sized peanut butter cups instead of mini ones?

Yes, you can use regular-sized peanut butter cups. Just cut them into smaller pieces to ensure they’re evenly distributed in the cake.

2. Can I use other types of cake mix?

Absolutely! You can substitute the chocolate cake mix with other flavors such as vanilla or peanut butter cake mix for different variations.

3. Can I make this recipe without evaporated milk?

If you don’t have evaporated milk, you can substitute it with regular milk or heavy cream for a richer flavor.

4. Can I add more peanut butter cups?

Of course! Feel free to add more peanut butter cups if you want an extra layer of peanut butter flavor throughout the cake.

5. Can I make this recipe ahead of time?

Yes, you can prepare the cake in advance and store it in the refrigerator until you’re ready to bake. Just bake it when you’re ready to serve.

6. Can I serve this cake with something other than ice cream?

Yes, whipped cream, caramel sauce, or a drizzle of chocolate syrup would all be great alternatives to ice cream.

7. How do I know when the cake is done?

Insert a toothpick into the center of the cake. If it comes out clean, the cake is ready. If not, bake for a few more minutes.

8. Can I use light butter instead of regular butter?

Light butter will work in this recipe, but it may affect the texture and flavor slightly.

9. Can I use a different type of candy in this cake?

You can experiment with different types of candy, such as chopped Reese’s Pieces or other chocolate-peanut butter candies.

10. How do I prevent the peanut butter cups from sinking?

Make sure the first layer of batter is thick enough to support the peanut butter cups. If needed, freeze the peanut butter cups for 10-15 minutes before adding them to the batter.

Conclusion

Peanut Butter Cup Dump Cake is a decadent, easy-to-make dessert that combines the rich flavors of chocolate and peanut butter into one irresistible treat. With minimal preparation and baking time, it’s a perfect dessert for any occasion. Whether you’re serving it warm with a scoop of ice cream or as-is for a casual treat, this dump cake is sure to satisfy your sweet tooth and become a favorite in your dessert repertoire.