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Chocolate Peanut Butter Poke Cake

This Chocolate Peanut Butter Poke Cake boasts a scratch chocolate cake soaked in a rich chocolate infused condensed milk, decorated with fluffy peanut butter frosting, and topped candied peanuts. This scrumptious poke cake is decadently moist and a thoroughly wonderful!

Ingredients

For the cake

  • 1 cup All-purpose flour spooned then leveled
  • 3/4 cup Cake flour spooned then leveled
  • ¾ cup Unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 2 teaspoons Baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon Baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon Salt
  • cups Granulated sugar
  • ½ cup Coconut oil
  • 2 teaspoons Vanilla extract
  • 2 large Eggs
  • 1 cup Brewed coffee cooled to room temperature
  • 1 cup Buttermilk

For the candied peanuts

  • 1 heaping cup Unsalted peanuts
  • 1/4 cup Granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon Unsalted butter
  • Splash of vanilla extract

For the soaking liquid

  • 1 14 ounce can Sweetened condensed milk
  • 1/2 cup , melted Milk chocolate
  • 1 tablespoon Cocoa powder

For the Peanut Butter frosting

  • 1 1/2 cup Creamy peanut butter
  • 1 cup 2 sticks Unsalted butter, softened
  • Pinch of salt
  • 2 1/4 cups Confectioners' powdered sugar
  • 1 1/4 tablespoons Vanilla extract
  • 3/4 cup heavy cream

Instructions

  • Bake the cake:
  • Preheat the oven to 350° Fahrenheit. Butter and flour a 9x13 pyrex or glass dish and set aside.
  • Sift the all-purpose flour, cake flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt into a medium bowl.
  • In a bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment over medium speed, mix the butter and coconut oil until combined. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition, followed by the vanilla extract. Reduce the speed to low. Add the flour/cocoa powder mixture in three parts, alternating with the buttermilk and the brewed coffee. Mix until mostly smooth and combined.
  • pour the cake batter into your prepared pyrex dish. Place in the oven and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a cake tester or skewer inserted in the middle of the cake comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
  • Remove cake from the oven and allow to cool completely before adding the soaking liquid. While the cake bakes, make the candied peanuts and soaking liquid.
  • Make the candied peanuts:
  • Place a sheet of parchment paper on a cookie sheet and lightly spray with cooking spray. Set aside.
  • In a medium non-stick skillet over low heat, melt the butter. Add the granulated sugar followed by the peanuts and splash of vanilla extract. Stir to coat the peanuts. Increase the heat to medium and cook for about 5 minutes stirring THE ENTIRE TIME until all the sugar is melted, caramelized, and the peanuts are well coated with sugar.
  • Transfer the candied peanuts immediately to the sheet of parchment paper. With a spatula and moving quickly (quickly is key, otherwise the peanuts will cool into a big clump) separate the peanuts as best you can. Allow them to cool completely, and then chop them coarsely. Set aside in a bowl until ready to use.
  • Whip up the soaking liquid:
  • Combine the condensed milk, melted milk chocolate, and cocoa powder. Whisk until smooth. Set aside until ready to use. Make the peanut butter filling.
  • Make the peanut butter filling:
  • In a mixing bowl fitted with a whisk attachment, combine the peanut butter and butter. Beat on high until creamy and smooth, about 2 minutes. Reduce the speed to low and add the powdered sugar and salt and beat until mostly combined.
  • Add the vanilla extract and increase the speed to high and beat until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. Add the heavy cream in three parts, allowing the heavy cream to thicken slightly before adding more to the mixture. Mix until light and fluffy, about 30 more seconds.
  • Spoon the filling into a piping bag fitted with a round or star tip and place in the refrigerator until ready to use. Alternatively, you can spoon the filling into a Ziploc bag and cut a hole in the corner of the bag when ready to use.
  • To assemble:
  • Poke as many holes on the surface of the chocolate cake as you can. Pour the soaking liquid over the holes and allow the mixture to seep completely into the cake. Pipe the peanut butter frosting and top with candied peanuts.
  • Chocolate cake adapted from: Spend with Pennies