Description

This Reese’s Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Earthquake Cake is a decadent dessert combining rich dark chocolate fudge cake with creamy peanut butter cream cheese frosting, studded with chocolate chips and miniature Reese’s peanut butter cups. Baked to perfection and served with vanilla ice cream, it’s a crowd-pleasing treat perfect for any occasion.

Ingredients

Scale

Cake

1 box dark chocolate fudge cake mix
Ingredients required by cake mix (usually eggs, oil, and water as per package instructions)

Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Frosting

8 oz cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1 tsp vanilla extract
4 cups powdered sugar

Toppings

1/2 cup chocolate chips
1 cup miniature Reese’s peanut butter cups, halved

Serving

Vanilla ice cream (optional, for serving)

Instructions

Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray or butter to prevent sticking.
Prepare the Cake Batter: In a large bowl, prepare the chocolate fudge cake mix according to the package instructions, which typically involves mixing the cake mix with eggs, oil, and water. Whisk until the batter is smooth and well combined. Pour the batter evenly into the greased baking dish.
Make the Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Frosting: In a separate mixing bowl, beat together the softened cream cheese, unsalted butter, creamy peanut butter, and vanilla extract until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Gradually add the powdered sugar, mixing continuously until the frosting thickens to a spreadable consistency.
Assemble the Cake: Spread the prepared peanut butter cream cheese frosting evenly over the raw cake batter in the baking dish. Sprinkle the top with chocolate chips and the halved miniature Reese’s peanut butter cups, pressing them gently into the frosting to ensure they adhere.
Bake the Cake: Place the assembled cake in the preheated oven and bake for 45 to 50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Be careful not to overbake to keep the cake moist and fudgy.
Cool and Serve: Remove the cake from the oven and allow it to cool completely on a wire rack. Once cooled, slice into pieces and serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream if desired for a delicious pairing.

Notes

Ensure the cream cheese and butter are softened for smooth frosting.
Do not overbake the cake to maintain moisture.
You can substitute the miniature Reese’s with regular peanut butter cups cut into smaller pieces if unavailable.
Chill the cake after baking if you prefer a firmer texture before slicing.
Vanilla ice cream is optional but adds a nice contrast and creaminess.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Keywords: Reese’s, Chocolate Cake, Peanut Butter, Cream Cheese Frosting, Earthquake Cake, Dessert, Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake