Fudgy One-Bowl Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Pretzel Cake.
WITH chocolate peanut butter ganache.
Oh my gosh, oh my gosh. YES.
This CAKE!
So much excitement and enthusiasm for this cake. Like I don’t even know where to begin. I guess maybe with the fact that I feel like anyone can make this cake…and not mess it up!! I mean, you can totally over cook it, which would be kind of a bummer, but if you watch the time, you will be golden. The rest is SIMPLE. Hello, ONE bowl. Pretzels. Peanut butter. YUM.
Wait. In full disclosure, the recipe uses two bowls. One for the cake and one for the ganache. I wasn’t really sure if that still qualified as one-bowl, but the cake batter is mixed together in just one bowl, so I am going to go with it. Plus, if you use a microwave safe bowl, you could totally use the same bowl to make the ganache in, which in turn would truly make the recipe one bowl. Or you could even skip the ganache…
Not gonna sugar coat it though, you’d be a fool not to make the ganache. Just sayin.
Lately I have really been on the lookout for simple and easy recipes. Sometimes I feel like I can get a bit carried away with my recipes and in turn they end up being a little too much work for average weekday cooking. Not all of them, but some. So these last couple weeks I have been trying hard to just simplify things. It’s SO hard, but I am realizing, I like the simple too.
Especially simple in the form of chocolate and peanut butter, which just might be the best two ingredients ever to pair together.
Give me just a straight up chocolate bar (preferably bittersweet or dark) and a jar of creamy peanut butter and I am a happy girl. That’s a sweet snack I will never tire of.
Anyway, the point is I have been looking to simplify a bit, and this cake is only the beginning.
Also, I really wanted to make my mom a cake for Mother’s Day…if you are reading in between the lines here, I am pretty positive that just meant I was looking for an excuse to make a chocolate cake. But really, this cake, this Sunday, YOUR mother. <–DO IT.
So I am just coming to the realization that I have planned pretty much nothing, except some good food and plenty of chocolate, for my mom for this Sunday.
I am feeling kind of lame, Sunday just snuck up real fast on me. This happen to anyone else? If so, what last-minute gifts are you guys getting?? Are you making anything homemade and crafty? Please share your secrets.
You see, when I make chocolate cake, it’s pretty much almost always with my mom in mind. I know you guys know this by now, but the woman is a chocoholic and a good old-fashioned chocolate cake is probably one of her biggest weaknesses with chocolate peanut butter bars following closely behind.
After thinking about that fact the other day, I realized I needed to create a chocolate cake with peanut butter. That should have been obvious to me a long, long time ago, but oddly I am just getting to it now. AND thank God because whoa, I cannot imagine life without this fudgy one-bowl chocolate peanut butter cup pretzel cake. Good thing it literally takes just minutes to prep and only minutes more to assemble. There is no fancy frosting here, and you won’t be pulling out your hair because your cake ended up looking nothing like the photo.
Been there, done that, shed tears.
Over it.
This is that cake we can all make and be super happy about. It’s gonna look awesome no mater what because cake, pretzels and peanut butter cups, drizzled with chocolate peanut butter ganache, can never NOT look good.
Like never.
Umm, can I just bark out some orders yet???
Like guys, go grab a bowl, some simple pantry staple ingredients (or well pantry staples for me at least) and two round cake pans. Crack a couple eggs, mix, bake, melt, pour and EAT.
Oh, and show your mom you love her more than anything by giving her the very first (and very thickest) slice with a big glass of icy cold milk on the side.
YUP, that right there would surely make my mother’s, Mother’s Day.
Right, mom? I mean, that’ll do it for you??
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Fudgy One-Bowl Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Pretzel Cake.
By halfbakedharvest
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: cake, fudge, one bowl, pretzel
This is that cake we can all make and be super happy about. It's gonna look awesome no mater what because cake, pretzels and peanut butter cups, drizzled with chocolate peanut butter ganache, can never NOT look good.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 4 eggs at room temperature*
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 1/2 cup canola oil
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup strong brewed coffee hot
- 1/2-1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips optional
- 1-2 cups mini pretzel twists
- 1-2 cups mini peanut butter cups chopped (optional)
Chocolate Peanut Butter Ganache
- 8 ounces bittersweet chocolate chopped
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 3/4 cup creamy peanut butter
Instructions
-
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease two 8-inch round cake pans. Line with parchment paper, then butter/spray with cooking spray.
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In a large mixing bowl combine the flour, sugar, unsweetened cocoa powder, baking soda and salt. Make a well in the center of the flour and add the eggs, buttermilk, canola oil and vanilla. Whisk to break up the eggs and then begin to incorporate the eggs and other ingredients into the flour. Mix until mostly smooth. Stir in the hot coffee and mix until combined. Batter should be pourable, but not super thin. Stir in the chocolate chips, if using.
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Divide the batter among the two cake pans and bake 20 to 25 minutes, until the tops are just set and no longer wiggly in the center. Remove and let cool five minutes, then run a knife around the edges of the pan. Grab 2 large flat plates, line them with wax or parchment paper and invert the cakes onto the paper lined plates. Cover and let the cakes cool.
-
To make the ganache, add the chocolate, cream and peanut butter to a small sauce pan. Set over low heat and melt until smooth, stirring often to prevent burning.
-
Place 1 cake layer, flat side up, on a plate or cake stand. Spread a single layer of pretzels over the cake and then a sprinkle of peanut butter cups (if using). Now take the ganache and drizzle about half of it overtop of the pretzels. Next place the second layer of cake on top and add another layer of pretzels. Drizzle with the remaining ganache and then finish with peanut butter cups. Allow the ganache to set for about 10 minutes or up to one day...OR just dig in!
Recipe Notes
*To quickly bring eggs to room temperature place them in a bowl and fill with warm water. Let them sit five minutes. **To keep things all in one bowl, use a microwave safe bowl. Once you have emptied the cake mix into the baking pans, add the chocolate, cream and peanut butter to the bowl and microwave for thirty second intervals, stirring between, until melted and smooth.
I feel like she’ll be happy, so I am excited.
Two bowls is pretty amazing to me, still. I saw my mom for an early Mother’s Day last weekend because I won’t be at home this weekend, and made her creme brulee bars. Only, the parchment burned when I tried to broil the sugar and the top was dotted with black bits. At least it was good with the top scraped off.
I’ve been anticipating this post since I saw the picture on instagram.
Definitely making this for the weekend. =)
I started missing your crazy cake recipes 🙂 This chocolate cake makes up for it all! It looks so good I don’t even know what to do with myself–except make it 😉
gorgeous looking cake! can’t go wrong with chocolate. 😀
Nosebag NI | Food & Lifestyle – http://www.nosebagni.com
Oh my gosh! I ALWAYS have that “can I REALLY call this a one-bowl recipe” debate in my head. Glad it’s not just me.
Now. This cake. TASTEBUDS FELL OFF MY HEAD. I am glad my mom lives in a different country ’cause then I can eat it all myself! Pinned!
Oh my word. Sorta freaking out over this cake. It has everything that my dreams are made of! Happy Friday!
This is a beautiful and simple cake for the everyday home cook! Yummy.
I would like to dive right into this cake! It would go perfectly with my morning coffee!
My husband would LOVE this for Father’s Day I am sure. Actually he would LOVE it for any day. Give me a good ole coconut cake with 7 minute frosting and the layers my mom always used. YUMMY!!
This looks soooooo sinful, but that chocolatey-pretzel crundhy-peanut buttery goodness is hard to resist!
Wow, this looks phenomenal – so rich and decadent, yet straightforward as well! I love the unfussy look of the pretzels, peanut butter cups, and ganache on top.
what time can i come over for a slice of cake??
Loving everything about this cake! The simplicity of “one bowl” yet all the goodness of chocolate and peanut butter. A WINNER!!
OMW ! Yum….I am so doing this cake, this weekend 🙂
This is my mom’s cake too– she’s a chocoholic and a cake lover! I love how you staged these images– so beautiful and sweet.
Peanut butter with chocolate and salt pretzels. Perfect PMS food even if I am beyond PMS. It looks simple enough for me to make! Thank you!
Just two bowls to make that gorgeous cake?? I’ll take that any day. I absolutely love this combo…the sweet/salty/fudgy combo will win in my book pretty much always. Love this!!
Oh my Tieghan this cake looks CRAZY good!! Chocolate and peanut butter are two of my favorites and only one bowl!! I am thinking even my son, Casey can attempt this one for me on Mother’s Day! I’m gonna leave the photo front and center on my computer screen and pray he gets the hint!!
Yum! This looks insanely delicious! I love the mix of pretzels and chocolate. I like the ganache over a naked cake- very trendy! This sounds amazing, great recipe!
Almost speechless, this looks so incredibly good!!
Don’t simplify too much! I love your creativity and the way your develop your amazing recipes. Keep doing you girl! ‘Cuz it’s workin’! And I think I’ll totally make this cake for me, I MEAN, my mom. Yea, totally gonna make this one for mom 🙂
Chocolate + peanut butter + salt = my heart. And that chocolate ganache….gahhhh good lord.
Does anyone know the nutrition info on this, specifically calorie count per serving?
I am sorry, I do not know, but I do believe it can be calculated online.
Tieghan I have got to tell you- I had about 10 tabs open, including this one, and I skirted around it, scrolling through other posts and saving this one for last, because I just KNEW I was going to spend a solid five minutes drooling. And I was SO right. Everything about this, from the salty-sweet with the pretzels, to the peanut butter + chocolate goodness, to the ganache (who has time for fancy frosting when you could be eating cake?) is perfection.
wow that looks so mouth watering! I need someones birthday to come up so I can try it!!!
This looks so good I feel like you could made a dirty old shoe look appetizing too! Wow! stunning!
I can’t have cake right now but I can certainly enjoy these pictures.
I could look at these pictures for a really long time.
Especially that last one–oh so good.
O.M.G. I bet this cake has the most amazing texture with the mix of fluffy cake and crunchy pretzels. I’d be willing to make this recipe just to taste the ganache though honestly 😉 I know your family probably gobbled this up in about 10 seconds flat, but can you tell me how well the cake stores? Like, do the pretzels get stale or anything like that? Thanks for sharing!
Looks dark and fudgey and beautiful. i love cake with all kinds f textures and tastes
This looks sooo sinful. I want a slice right now, can’t wait. Really like the way you have decorated the cake. I can somehow never do that.
Wow that looks absolutely amazing!
Please look at my new post:
http://thatfashiongirll.blogspot.com/
oh no, it’s happening again, I’m drooling!…
I like your recipe however I’m vegan is there a way I can substitute for your 4 eggs? It gets dicy with more than 3. Thanks in advance
making the cake now and realize that the recipe doesn’t say when to add the yogurt. assuming with the eggs and before the coffee. Correct?
Hey Lauren,
The yogurt was actually a typo and is not supposed to be in the recipe, but I am sure if you added it it will still be great…just extra moist. Hope you love the cake!!!
Oh my gosh indeed!!! This is such a stunner!
This cake is crazy beautiful, and I’m in love! I love something simple AND wonderful.
I love that ganache drizzle and a one bowl cake is the best. Love the sweet/salty flavors here!
Thank you!!
You know I love this! I could live on chocolate, PB and pretzels if that was socially acceptable (wait, can it be?).
THANK YOU!!
This cake!!! I got halfway through reading this post and suddenly started feeling like I needed chocolate ASAP despite the fact that it’s not even noon yet. Show-stopper for sure!
haha!! Thank you so much! Hope you had a great!! 🙂
This looks amazing!!!
Thank you!
it looks great 😀
Thank you!!
Made this cake, following your recipe to a t.
A few points.
The cake is intensely chocolatey, with relatively little sweetness. This is a nice combination, and works well for those without a sweet tooth.
Following the ganache recipe, it did not turn out runny, as in your photo, but gloopy. So “pouring” it on the cake resulted in a messy looking concoction, as opposed to the eloquently indulgent cake pictured. Maybe adding milk would solve this?
The pretzels should be applied to the cake when completely cool. Otherwise they lose their crunch and become soggy.
After adding the hot coffee to the mixture, the batter should also be left to completely cool. This is so that when the chocolate chips are added, they do not simply melt into the batter.
All in all a good cake, but mentioning the points raised above might prevent someone from having to make it twice to get it to “match the photo”
Just made this…holy richness! It’s so amazing. I had to add semi sweet chocolate chips to the ganache because my people do not have a palate as refined as mine and the taste was a little bitter for them. I tried explaining that the flavor profile would come together but it was exhausting. The recipe is perfection!
LOL!
So happy these are a hit! Thanks Amber! 🙂
Will this recipe work without the coffee? Or would it change it too much? Thanks! Looks amazing!
Hi Katie! Yes, you can just swap the coffee for water. Not a huge deal. Enjoy! 🙂
Hi! Lovely cake, so excited to make this for my boyfriend! One question: do the pretzels get soggy after pouring the ganache on them? How can I avoid that?
Thanks for the post!
HI! Nope, the pretzels stay firm since you will not pour the ganache on hot. Hope you love this!
If you make this without coffee, do you suggest any replacements? Would it be dry without it? (I hate coffee, but the rest of this cake sounds amazing)
Hi! Just replace the coffee with water. The cake will still be great. Let me know if you have questions. Thank you!
The picture looks great, but even after following the recipe to a T, nothing worked. I was looking forward to it too 🙁
Hi, I am really sorry you had trouble. What was the issue?
Hi! What eould you recommend as substitutes for the buttermilk and the canola oil?
Thanks.
You can use milk and melted butter. let me know if you have questions. Hope you love this!
Any idea how to store this? Can it be left in the fridge, or should it go in the freezer? I just don’t want it to get soggy, since I’m going to bake it in the morning, then leave it to set until the evening for a party. 😀
I’d store this in fridge and then bring to room temp before serving. Hope you love the cake and let me know if you have questions!
Made this for my husbands’ birthday and oh my god! Also featured it in my recipe roundup!
So happy you enjoy! Thanks!
hey! what could i use as a buttermilk substitute?? they don´t have any where i live. thanks!
HI! You can use whole milk that will be great!
and is there a way to make this gluten free without destroying it]? haha i would like to make this for my celiac friend!!
I have not tried this with GF flour, but I think a GF flour blend should work great. Let me know how it goes!
Made this and it’s delicious! The only thing that did not go quite right for me was the ganache. It was spreadable, but not pourable. Any recommendations? Thanks!
HI! Just add a splash of milk to thin the ganache a bit. Please let me know if you have other questions. So glad you love this recipe! Thanks! 🙂
This looks amazing! Is this better refrigerated after the ganache is set or left out at room temp if making a few hours in Advance? Thanks!
I recommend refrigerating, then bringing to room temp. before. Please let me know if you have other questions. Hope you love this recipe! Thanks! 🙂
Can this cake be made a day before serving? If so, do i leave in fridge?
Hi Katie,
Absolutely! I would recommend keeping in a covered cake stand on the counter. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
I had pinned this recipe ages ago and finally decided to try it. I’m so glad i did! We ate it the same day that we assembled it as I was a bit worried about soggy pretzels. They were still nice and crunchy and added a delish salty flair.
A couple things i did differently:
I liked the look of a peanut butter layer so i did not mix the peanut butter into the ganache.
After reading some comments about the ganache being not very pourable, i decided to go thinner so my ratio was 8 ounces of heavy cream to 10 ounces of chocolate.
I assembled as follows: cake layer, spread with chunky peanut butter, layered with pretzels, layered with peanut butter cups and drizzled with the ganache. Then do all that over again. It was wonderful!! Thanks for the recipe Teigan!
Amazing! Thank you so much for trying this cake, Becky! xTieghan
Can I make this a day or two ahead and freeze it? Or will the pretzels get soft?
Hey Kayla,
That would be totally fine to make a day in advance, but no need to freeze, just store in an airtight container. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan