Peanut Butter Vanilla Cake
A Cake To Enjoy With Friends
Peanut Butter Vanilla Cake is made with a doctored up box mix, hints of vanilla, creamy peanut butter, and a slight saltiness for fantastic results. Topped with a very simple salted peanut butter butter cream, it’s perfect for having with a glass of icy cold milk.
This is the fifth (I believe) cake in my Counter Cake series, and this Peanut Butter Vanilla Cake is a wonderful addition. If you are not familiar with my Counter Cake series, I can explain.
After living pretty isolated for 20 years in a community in Chicago that was hard for our friends and family to come visit, we moved into a new home close to family and friends. We have visitors all the time so I committed to always having a cake to offer with coffee for people who stop by.
I am not much of a baker, so I have been making cakes using a box mix as a base and adding ingredients that take it over the top. This Peanut Butter Vanilla cake may be my new favorite though, truth be told, I say that about all of my cakes.
The Counter Cake Series
If you are interested in making any of the counter cakes besides this peanut butter cake, I have provided a list below of all the cakes in this category. I hope that you make them all!
- Cinnamon Pecan Crunch Coffee Cake
- Pumpkin Pecan Cake with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Icing
- Strawberry Crunch Cake
- Dunkaroos Cake
The Box Is Boss
Some will be angry with me that I use a box mix as a base but I do not care. For those of us who are not much of a baker it is perfect.
We want to make this as easy on ourselves as possible. I usually buy what is on sale in the box cake aisle though I do love the Pillsbury Golden Butter Cake mix for this Peanut Butter cake.
With the butter you add to the cake mix, it is SO decadent and just makes a really great textured cake. You can certainly use any cake mix you like.
Cupcakes Anyone
I made the 9 x 13 cake version of this last week, then yesterday I attended a baptism party for my cousin’s baby. She always asks me to bring cupcakes, so I made this counter cake into cupcakes and they were a HUGE hit!
People were going crazy for them, grabbing for them before they came out to the dessert table.
Peanut Butter Vanilla Cake Recipe
Peanut Butter Vanilla Cake is a simple cake made from a doctored up cake mix and topped with a simple peanut butter buttercream. Salty, sweet, creamy, and delicious. Perfect with a glass of cold milk or cup of coffee.
Ingredients
- FOR THE CAKE:
- 1 box of Yellow Cake Mix (15.25 ounce)
- 3 Eggs
- 1 1/2 cups of Milk
- 6 tablespoons of Butter
- 1/2 cup of Creamy Peanut Butter
- 1/4 teaspoon of Salt
- 1/2 tablespoon of Vanilla Extract
- FOR THE ICING:
- 2 sticks of Butter (16 tablespoons)
- 1 cup Creamy Peanut Butter
- 1/2 tablespoon of Vanilla Extract
- 1/4 teaspoon of Salt
- 3 to 4 cups of Powdered Sugar
- 10 to 15 Mini Peanut Butter Cups
- *ingredients are repeated as some are for the cake and some are for the icing and they will be outlined in the instructions
Instructions
- In a stand mixer or large bowl add the cake mix, 3 eggs, melt the 6 tablespoons of butter and add that, 1 1/2 cups of milk, 1/4 teaspoon of salt, 1/2 tablespoon of vanilla extract, and 1/2 cup of peanut butter. Mix until combined and then mix on high until light and fluffy.
- Pour into a greased 9 x 13 casserole/baking pan and bake for 25 to 35 minutes. All ovens bake differently so keep an eye on this the first time you bake it. Center will be set when done.
- Take cake out and let cool completely.
- For the icing, soften the two sticks of butter and then beat on high until light and fluffy.
- Add in the peanut butter, remaining salt, and vanilla extract and beat on high again until fluffy.
- Add the powdered sugar a 1/2 cup at a time and beat in slow then turn the speed up to whip up. You can add as much powdered sugar as you like until the icing is the texture you prefer.
- Ice the cooled cake. Cut the mini peanut butter cups in half and decorate the top with them.
- You can also make this into cupcakes and then add a mini peanut butter cup to each cupcake.