Description

Reese’s Peanut Butter Earthquake Cake is a decadent layered dessert combining a rich chocolate cake base with creamy peanut butter, crushed Reese’s peanut butter cups, and a luscious whipped topping. Finished with a smooth chocolate ganache drizzle, this indulgent cake offers a perfect balance of chocolate and peanut butter flavors in every bite.

Ingredients

Scale

Cake

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

Peanut Butter Mixture

1 jar (16 oz) creamy peanut butter
2 cups powdered sugar

Toppings

1 cup crushed Reese’s peanut butter cups
1 cup mini Reese’s peanut butter cups, chopped
1 tub (8 oz) whipped topping (e.g., Cool Whip)

Chocolate Ganache

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup heavy cream

Instructions

Preheat oven: Set your oven to the temperature specified on the chocolate cake mix box to ensure even baking.
Prepare cake batter: Follow the package directions by mixing the cake mix with the required eggs, oil, and water. Pour the batter into a greased baking dish, spreading it out evenly.
Make peanut butter mixture: In a separate bowl, combine the creamy peanut butter and powdered sugar until you achieve a smooth, spreadable consistency.
Add peanut butter dollops: Drop spoonfuls of the peanut butter mixture over the surface of the chocolate cake batter, distributing them evenly to create pockets of flavor throughout the cake.
Add Reese’s toppings: Sprinkle the crushed and chopped Reese’s peanut butter cups evenly on top of the cake batter and peanut butter dollops.
Bake the cake: Bake according to the cake mix instructions, usually around 30-35 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Cool and top with whipped topping: Allow the cake to cool slightly after removing it from the oven, then spread the whipped topping evenly across the cake surface.
Prepare chocolate ganache: Melt the semi-sweet chocolate chips, butter, and heavy cream together over low heat or in a microwave in short intervals, stirring until smooth and glossy.
Drizzle ganache: Drizzle the warm chocolate ganache over the whipped topping layer, creating an attractive and delicious finish.
Set and serve: Let the cake set for a bit until the ganache firms up before slicing and serving to enjoy the perfect peanut butter and chocolate experience.

Notes

For best results, use room temperature ingredients for the cake batter.
Ensure the cake is slightly cooled before spreading the whipped topping to prevent it from melting.
You can substitute mini Reese’s with any other peanut butter cups if unavailable.
Store leftover cake covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
This cake is very rich, so small slices are recommended for serving.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Category: Desserts
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Keywords: Reese’s, Peanut Butter Cake, Chocolate Cake, Dessert, No-Bake Topping, Whipped Topping, Ganache