Reese’s Cake Recipe That Peanut Butter Lovers Will Crave

Reese’s Cake Recipe: Sweet Peanut Butter Treat

This Reese’s cake recipe combines the beloved flavors of chocolate and peanut butter into a single, irresistible dessert. It’s a sweet indulgence that brings smiles, making it a go-to for celebrations or a comforting treat after a long week. The simplicity of a poke cake combined with the iconic taste of Reese’s creates a dessert that is both nostalgic and exciting.

Why Everyone Loves This Cake

The universal appeal of peanut butter and chocolate makes this cake a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. Imagine a moist chocolate cake infused with a creamy peanut butter filling, then topped with whipped cream and generous amounts of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and Pieces. It’s a textural dream: soft cake, smooth filling, and crunchy candy. This cake truly captures the essence of that classic candy bar in a decadent, shareable form, perfect for any gathering or quiet evening in. Many find themselves craving that distinct peanut butter and chocolate combination.

Quick And Easy Dessert Idea

Despite its impressive appearance and rich flavor, this Reese’s cake recipe is surprisingly easy to make, even for novice bakers. It starts with a simple box cake mix, cutting down on preparation time significantly. The poke cake method ensures maximum flavor infusion with minimal effort, making it an ideal choice when you need a fantastic dessert without spending hours in the kitchen. It’s a perfect last-minute sweet treat that still tastes homemade and special.

Ingredients For Your Delicious Poke Cake

Gathering your ingredients is the first step to creating this delightful Reese’s poke cake. What makes this recipe so approachable is its reliance on readily available items, meaning you can whip this up without a special trip to a gourmet store. Each component plays a crucial role in building the layers of flavor and texture that define this irresistible dessert. From the cake base to the luscious filling and vibrant toppings, everything works in harmony.

Simple Cake Mix Components

The foundation of our Reese’s cake is a standard chocolate cake mix. You’ll need one box of your favorite brand, along with the ingredients typically called for on the package, which usually include eggs, vegetable oil, and water or milk. Using a mix simplifies the baking process, allowing you to focus on the fun parts—the filling and toppings. Opt for a dark chocolate or devil’s food mix for a richer contrast with the peanut butter, enhancing the overall flavor profile of your sweet treat.

Filling: Milk And Peanut Butter

The heart of this poke cake, and what sets it apart, is its incredibly creamy and flavorful filling. You’ll combine one can of sweetened condensed milk with a generous amount of smooth, creamy peanut butter. This mixture will be gently heated and whisked until smooth, creating a pourable, indulgent liquid that will seep into every crevice of your baked cake. This simple yet brilliant combination is what infuses the cake with that unmistakable peanut butter goodness, making every bite incredibly moist and satisfying. The condensed milk ensures a perfect sweetness and texture for the filling.

Toppings: Reese’s Cups And Pieces

No Reese’s cake would be complete without its signature toppings! For this recipe, you’ll need both Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups (standard or mini, chopped) and Reese’s Pieces candy. These not only add an explosion of peanut butter flavor and crunchy texture but also provide a vibrant, eye-catching decoration. You’ll also need a container of whipped topping, like Cool Whip, to create a light, airy layer that balances the richness of the cake and filling. These elements are sprinkled generously over the whipped topping, ensuring a burst of flavor and color with every slice. For more delightful dessert ideas, check out our desserts category.

Preparing The Chocolate Cake Base

The journey to your perfect Reese’s cake begins with a perfectly baked chocolate cake base. While using a cake mix simplifies things, a few key steps ensure your foundation is moist, fluffy, and ready to absorb all that delicious peanut butter filling. Paying attention to these initial details guarantees a successful and incredibly tasty outcome, setting the stage for a truly decadent sweet treat. The preparation here is quick and easy, which helps keep this an accessible baking project for all skill levels.

Oven Temperature And Dish Prep

Before you even think about mixing batter, preheat your oven to the temperature specified on your cake mix box, usually around 350°F (175°C). Next, prepare your baking dish. A 9×13 inch pan is ideal for this poke cake. Grease it thoroughly with butter or cooking spray, and for extra measure, you can lightly flour it, tapping out any excess. This ensures your chocolate cake releases cleanly after baking, preventing any frustrating sticking. Proper preparation makes all the difference.

Mixing The Cake Batter Easily

Follow the instructions on your cake mix package precisely. Typically, this involves combining the dry mix with eggs, oil, and water (or milk) in a large mixing bowl. Beat the ingredients with an electric mixer on medium speed for about two minutes, or until the batter is smooth and well combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can lead to a tough cake. Just mix until no dry streaks remain, ensuring a light and airy texture for your chocolate cake base.

Baking Until Golden Brown

Pour the prepared cake batter evenly into your greased 9×13 inch baking dish. Transfer it carefully to the preheated oven. Bake for the duration recommended on the cake mix box, usually between 28-35 minutes. To check for doneness, insert a wooden toothpick into the center of the cake; if it comes out clean, your cake is ready. The edges should be slightly pulled away from the pan, and the top will be a beautiful golden brown. This chocolate cake is almost ready for its peanut butter infusion, transforming into an incredible sweet treat. You might also enjoy our recipe for quick Italian cream cake for another simple dessert.

Crafting The Creamy Peanut Butter Fill

The peanut butter filling is the star of this poke cake, providing the rich, moist core that truly makes it a Reese’s cake. Achieving the perfect consistency for this filling is key to its success, ensuring it seeps beautifully into the cake without being too thin or too thick. This step is surprisingly simple, yet it imparts an incredible depth of flavor that elevates the entire dessert. Get ready to create the creamy, sweet heart of your sweet treat.

Combining Milk And Peanut Butter

In a medium saucepan, combine one can of sweetened condensed milk with about half a cup of creamy peanut butter. Use creamy peanut butter for a smooth finish; chunky would make it harder to seep into the cake. Place the saucepan over low to medium heat. The goal is to gently warm the mixture, not boil it. This helps the peanut butter soften and mix seamlessly with the condensed milk, creating a uniform and irresistible liquid gold. Stir continuously to prevent sticking to the bottom of the pan.

Achieve A Smooth, Creamy Texture

As the mixture warms, use a whisk to continuously stir and combine the ingredients. The peanut butter will gradually melt into the sweetened condensed milk, forming a perfectly smooth, creamy, and pourable consistency. Continue whisking until there are no lumps of peanut butter remaining and the mixture is uniform in color and texture. Once achieved, remove the saucepan from the heat. This luscious peanut butter fill is now ready to transform your chocolate cake into a truly decadent sweet treat, ensuring every bite is moist and flavorful. You can find more peanut butter goodness with our peanut butter brownie swirl cookies.

Poking Holes To Infuse Flavor

The “poke” in poke cake is where the magic truly happens. Creating evenly spaced holes allows the rich peanut butter filling to penetrate deep into the cake, ensuring every bite is moist and bursting with flavor. This simple technique is what transforms an ordinary chocolate cake into an extraordinary Reese’s cake, making it an incredibly delicious and infused sweet treat. Accuracy here makes a big difference to the final texture and taste of the dessert.

Cooling Cake For Ten Minutes

Once your chocolate cake is baked and passes the toothpick test, remove it from the oven and let it cool in the pan for about 10 minutes. This brief cooling period is crucial. If you poke the cake while it’s too hot, it might be too fragile and could tear or crumble excessively. Letting it cool slightly allows the cake to firm up enough to withstand the poking, ensuring clean holes that hold the filling beautifully. This also prevents the hot cake from absorbing the filling too quickly and unevenly.

Using A Wooden Spoon End

After the initial cooling, it’s time to poke. The round end of a wooden spoon is the perfect tool for creating the ideal size holes for this poke cake. Gently but firmly press the spoon handle into the cake, creating holes about 1 inch apart, covering the entire surface. Aim for holes that go almost all the way to the bottom of the cake, but not through it. Ensure an even distribution of holes so that the peanut butter filling can infuse every part of your delicious sweet treat, guaranteeing a consistently moist and flavorful result. This step is essential for a true poke cake experience.

Pouring The Sweet Condensed Milk Mix

With your cake poked and ready, it’s time for the delicious peanut butter filling to work its magic. This step is all about ensuring that every part of the cake gets its share of the creamy, sweet goodness. The goal is to maximize flavor absorption, creating an incredibly moist and intensely flavored Reese’s cake. This careful pouring technique makes sure the cake is uniformly infused, delivering a consistent sweet treat experience throughout. Pay close attention to even distribution for the best results.

Ensure Mixture Seeps Into Holes

Carefully pour the warm, creamy peanut butter and sweetened condensed milk mixture over the entire surface of the poked chocolate cake. Start by pouring directly over the holes, allowing the mixture to seep down into the cake’s interior. You’ll see the liquid disappear into the openings. If necessary, gently tilt the pan slightly to help the mixture flow into any less saturated areas. The warmth of the mixture also aids in its ability to penetrate deeply, ensuring maximum flavor infusion. This is where the term “poke cake” truly comes to life.

Evenly Cover Entire Cake Top

Once the holes are sufficiently filled, use a spatula or the back of a spoon to gently spread any remaining peanut butter mixture evenly over the entire top surface of the cake. This creates an additional layer of flavor and ensures a consistent, moist texture across the whole dessert. Do not press too hard, as you want the mixture to settle naturally. This even coating is key to preventing dry spots and ensuring that every slice of your Reese’s cake is a delightful sweet treat, rich with both chocolate and peanut butter flavors. For another delicious main course that pairs well with dessert, try our crispy parmesan chicken with a rich garlic sauce.

Adding Whipped Topping To Cake

The addition of whipped topping is a crucial step in balancing the rich flavors of the Reese’s cake. It provides a light, airy contrast to the dense chocolate cake and creamy peanut butter filling, adding a refreshing element to each bite. This layer also serves as a perfect canvas for your decorative Reese’s candies, making the cake visually appealing and even more tempting. It’s a simple step that significantly enhances the overall experience of this sweet treat. Make sure the cake is cool before applying the topping.

Spreading Evenly Over Cooled Cake

Ensure your cake, now infused with the peanut butter filling, has cooled completely to room temperature before adding the whipped topping. If the cake is still warm, the topping will melt and lose its light, fluffy texture. Once cooled, gently spread the entire container of whipped topping evenly over the top of the cake. Use an offset spatula or the back of a spoon to create a smooth, consistent layer from edge to edge. This smooth, white surface is the perfect base for your vibrant Reese’s candy decorations, promising a beautiful and delicious sweet treat ready for its final touches. For more meal ideas that could precede such a dessert, explore our main course recipes.

Decorating Your Reese’s Cake Creation

The final touch for your Reese’s cake is the decoration, and this is where you can truly make it your own. Generously topping the cake with an abundance of Reese’s candies not only enhances its visual appeal but also delivers an extra punch of that iconic peanut butter and chocolate flavor and satisfying crunch. This step transforms your baked good into a festive and irresistible sweet treat, perfect for any celebration or simply to brighten your day. Let your creativity shine as you prepare these delicious additions.

Chopping Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups

Take your Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and chop them into small, bite-sized pieces. You can use standard-sized cups or mini cups, depending on your preference for chunkiness. A sharp knife works best for clean cuts. Aim for varying sizes to add visual interest and different textural elements to each slice. These chopped cups will provide a soft, chewy burst of peanut butter and chocolate, complementing the moist cake and creamy filling. They are a signature component, essential for the authentic Reese’s cake experience. You can even check out more recipes and inspiration on our Carina Recipes Pinterest page.

Sprinkling Reese’s Pieces On Top

Once your Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups are chopped, generously sprinkle them over the whipped topping. Then, grab your Reese’s Pieces candy and scatter them across the cake as well. The vibrant orange, yellow, and brown colors of the Pieces will add a beautiful visual pop and a delightful crunch. Don’t be shy with the toppings – the more Reese’s, the merrier! This final flourish ensures every piece of your sweet treat is loaded with flavor and texture, making it an absolute showstopper. Share your creations with us on Instagram @carinarecipes20.

Chilling For Best Reese’s Cake Taste

While it might be tempting to dig into your beautifully decorated Reese’s cake immediately, patience is a virtue in this case. Chilling is a critical step that significantly enhances the flavor and texture of this poke cake. It allows all the components to meld together, firming up the filling and topping, and ensuring a truly cohesive and delicious sweet treat experience. Do not skip this essential part of the baking instructions for optimum results.

Refrigerate At Least Two Hours

Once your cake is fully assembled and decorated, cover it loosely with plastic wrap or aluminum foil and place it in the refrigerator. Allow it to chill for a minimum of two hours. Ideally, for the very best flavor and texture, refrigerate it for four hours or even overnight. This chilling time allows the peanut butter filling to fully set within the cake and all the incredible flavors to meld and deepen. It transforms the individual layers into a harmonious, moist, and unforgettable dessert.

Serving Cold For Optimum Flavor

Serving this Reese’s cake cold is highly recommended. The chilled temperature not only provides a refreshing contrast to the rich flavors but also ensures the cake’s structure is firm, making it easier to slice and serve. The creamy filling will be perfectly set, and the whipped topping will remain fluffy. Each bite of the cold cake delivers a burst of well-integrated chocolate and peanut butter, making it an optimum sweet treat experience. This careful chilling makes all the difference for a truly amazing Reese’s cake.

Essential Tips For Perfect Poke Cake

Achieving a perfect Reese’s poke cake goes beyond just following the steps; a few expert tips can elevate your creation from good to absolutely phenomenal. These insights are designed to enhance the richness, texture, and overall enjoyment of your sweet treat, ensuring every batch you bake is a resounding success. Consider these baking instructions to really make your dessert shine and impress everyone who tries it.

Dark Chocolate For Richer Taste

To really make the chocolate stand out against the sweet and creamy peanut butter, consider using a dark chocolate cake mix. A devil’s food or dark chocolate fudge cake mix will provide a deeper, more intense chocolate flavor that contrasts beautifully with the peanut butter filling and toppings. This creates a richer, more sophisticated flavor profile for your Reese’s cake, satisfying even the most discerning chocolate lovers and providing a balanced sweet treat experience. The slight bitterness of dark chocolate cuts through the sweetness.

Make Cake One Day Ahead

For the absolute best results and a truly stress-free experience, consider making your Reese’s cake one day in advance. Preparing the cake and allowing it to chill overnight gives the peanut butter filling ample time to fully soak into every part of the cake, making it incredibly moist and flavorful. The flavors will deepen and meld together beautifully, resulting in a more cohesive and delicious sweet treat. It also means less work on the day you plan to serve it, allowing you to relax and enjoy.

Customizing This Peanut Butter Lovers Crave

While the classic Reese’s cake recipe is undeniably delicious, there’s always room for personal touches and creative variations. This section offers ideas to customize your sweet treat, allowing you to cater to different preferences or simply experiment with new flavor and texture combinations. Feel free to unleash your inner pastry chef and make this peanut butter chocolate dessert truly your own, ensuring it’s a unique and satisfying sweet treat for every occasion.

Add Extra Reese’s For Crunch

If you’re a true Reese’s enthusiast, don’t hesitate to pile on even more chopped Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and Reese’s Pieces! A generous extra sprinkle just before serving can add an incredible crunch and an undeniable visual appeal. You can also mix some smaller chopped pieces directly into the whipped topping before spreading it, for an added surprise in every bite. More Reese’s means more texture and an even greater burst of that iconic peanut butter chocolate flavor in your sweet treat. It’s a simple way to elevate the experience.

Experiment With Other Candy Toppings

While Reese’s candies are central to this recipe, you can certainly experiment with other candy toppings to add your own twist. Consider chopped Snickers bars, M&M’s, or even mini chocolate chips for additional texture and flavor. Caramel drizzle or a sprinkle of sea salt can also enhance the chocolate and peanut butter notes. This allows you to tailor the cake to your preferences or introduce new dimensions to this classic sweet treat, making each version a unique indulgence. For a complete meal, consider our cheesy chicken and rice casserole followed by this dessert.

Storing Your Leftover Delicious Cake

Proper storage is essential to maintain the freshness and deliciousness of your Reese’s cake, ensuring you can enjoy every last slice. Because this cake contains dairy components like sweetened condensed milk and whipped topping, it requires refrigeration. Following these simple storage guidelines will help preserve its moist texture and rich flavors for several days, allowing you to savor this sweet treat over time without compromising quality. Keep it protected to enjoy it longer.

Keep Cake Refrigerated Properly

To keep your Reese’s cake fresh and safe to eat, it is crucial to store it in the refrigerator. Place any leftover cake in an airtight container or cover the entire cake pan tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil. This prevents the cake from drying out, absorbing odors from other foods in the fridge, and becoming stale. Proper refrigeration helps maintain the creamy texture of the filling and keeps the whipped topping fresh and firm, ensuring your sweet treat remains delicious. This is vital for food safety and flavor.

Enjoy For Several Days Fresh

When stored correctly in the refrigerator, your Reese’s cake will remain fresh and delicious for 3 to 5 days. The flavors tend to deepen even further on the second day, making it an equally delightful experience. Simply remove a slice and let it sit at room temperature for a few minutes before serving, if desired, to slightly soften the cake and enhance the flavors. This makes it a great make-ahead dessert for parties or a delightful sweet treat to enjoy throughout the week. For another easy recipe, try our easy honey garlic chicken.