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A Nerd Cooks » Dessert » Cake

Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzel Cake

Jun 21, 2020 · Modified: Sep 15, 2023 by Lauren Pacek · This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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This Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzel Cake is nothing short of delicious. It features moist chocolate cake, peanut butter buttercream frosting all over, and slightly salty pretzel buttercream between layers.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzel Cake | A Nerd Cooks
Jump to:
  • Posting about this cake is long overdue
  • What inspired this recipe?
  • Looking for other cakes and cupcakes?
  • What about recipes featuring peanut butter + chocolate?
  • ✨ Recipe
  • What gear should I have on hand in order to bake this cake?
  • Pin this recipe for later!

Posting about this cake is long overdue

I actually made and photographed this cake more than a year ago: it was my birthday cake in May 2019. For no particular reason, I just let it sit around in my blog draft posts for a while. It's a shame, too, because the cake was 10/10 delicious.

My 33rd birthday came and went last month without much fanfare. I didn't make anything for myself. It's not that I wouldn't have liked to. But I found myself a little busier than usual, as we ended up bringing our newborn son home from the hospital on the day before my birthday.

Best. Birthday present. Ever.

Anyway, here we are. And it's time to share this cake with you all.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzel Cake | A Nerd Cooks

What inspired this recipe?

The recipes for the chocolate cake and and peanut butter buttercream come straight from Joy Wilson’s cookbook, Homemade Decadence: Irresistibly Sweet, Salty, Gooey, Sticky, Fluffy, Creamy, Crunchy Treats. The pretzel buttercream is based on Joy's buttercream recipe, too, but you won't find it verbatim in that cookbook.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzel Cake | A Nerd Cooks

Looking for other cakes and cupcakes?

Because who doesn't want more cake?

If we're talking about cake, we need to talk about this Double the Chocolate Cake. You don't want to pass it up.

However, if you're looking for something in a smaller size, check out these Hot Chocolate Cupcakes, Lemon Poppy Seed Cupcakes, and Beet Red Velvet Cupcakes! Double Chocolate Brownie Cupcakes are pretty great, too.

What about recipes featuring peanut butter + chocolate?

I have a Peanut Butter Marshmallow Pie with a pretzel crust that's really good that you should definitely check out. It's topped with chocolate chips, mini marshmallows, and salty peanuts. There's also a No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie that's great. Both of these are frozen sweets.

And! Let's not forget about this crazy good Peanut Butter Cheesecake with Dark Chocolate Ganache!

✨ Recipe

Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzel Cake | A Nerd Cooks

Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzel Cake

Lauren Pacek
This Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzel Cake is nothing short of delicious. It features moist chocolate cake, peanut butter buttercream frosting all over, and slightly salty pretzel buttercream between layers.
4.58 from 7 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 30 minutes mins
Cook Time 25 minutes mins
Additional Time 2 hours hrs
Total Time 2 hours hrs 55 minutes mins
Course Cake
Cuisine American
Servings 12 slices
Calories 2654 kcal

Ingredients
  

For the Chocolate Cake

  • 1 recipe Chocolate Cake

For the Pretzel Buttercream Frosting

  • 16 tbs unsalted butter room temperature
  • 3-4 cups powdered sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1-2 tbs heavy cream or milk
  • ¾ cup finely ground pretzels

For the Peanut Butter Buttercream Frosting

  • 32 tbs unsalted butter room temperature
  • 1 ½ cups smooth peanut butter
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 tbs vanilla extract
  • 6-7 cups powdered sugar
  • 3-4 tbs heavy cream or milk

Instructions
 

To make the Chocolate Cake

  • Follow the instructions for preparing a 3-layer chocolate cake, listed here.

To make the Pretzel Buttercream Frosting

  • Using a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter on medium speed until it is softened (about 1 minute).
  • Add the salt and vanilla extract and beat well.
  • Next, add 2 cups of the powdered sugar and beat on low until well combined.
  • Add another 1-22 cups of sugar along with 1-2 tbs of heavy cream/milk. Beat until combined.
  • Add the ground pretzels and remaining cream/milk (if necessary) and beat on medium speed until the frosting reaches the desired consistency.
  • Beat on medium-high speed until the frosting is smooth and fluffy (about 4 minutes).

To make the Pretzel Buttercream Frosting

  • Using a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter on medium speed until it is softened (about 1 minute).
  • Add the peanut butter, salt, and vanilla extract and beat well.
  • Next, add 2 cups of the powdered sugar and beat on low until well combined.
  • Add another 2 cups of sugar along with 3 tbs of heavy cream/milk. Beat until combined.
  • Add the remaining 2-3 cups of sugar (depending on your desired consistency) and remaining cream/milk and beat until the frosting reaches the desired thickness.
  • Beat on medium speed until the frosting is smooth and fluffy (about 4 minutes).

To assemble the cake

  • Spread the Pretzel Buttercream between the layers of chocolate cake.
  • Frost the cake however you'd like. I went with rosettes all over.

Nutrition

Serving: 1sliceCalories: 2654kcalCarbohydrates: 512gProtein: 10gFat: 71gSaturated Fat: 37gPolyunsaturated Fat: 29gCholesterol: 147mgSodium: 345mgFiber: 2gSugar: 491g

Disclaimer: Nutritional information is a generated estimate and is not guaranteed to be accurate.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

What gear should I have on hand in order to bake this cake?

  • A KitchenAid stand mixer will make the job so much easier
  • Round cake pans
  • Joy Wilson’s cookbook, Homemade Decadence: Irresistibly Sweet, Salty, Gooey, Sticky, Fluffy, Creamy, Crunchy Treats
  • A cake turntable to aid in the decorating process

Pin this recipe for later!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzel Cake | A Nerd Cooks

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I love it when you share my recipes!

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Comments

    4.58 from 7 votes (7 ratings without comment)

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    Recipe Rating




  1. JeanK

    June 29, 2020 at 9:47 pm

    That cake is absolutely beautiful! Belated Happy Birthday and Best Wishes on the arrival of your son.

    Reply
    • laurenpacek

      June 30, 2020 at 2:29 pm

      Thank you so much, Jean! <3

      Reply

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Hi, I'm Lauren! I'm the recipe developer, photographer, and writer here at A Nerd Cooks. I'm a 30-something wife, mom, and scientist with a passion for mixing cocktails, brewing buzzy coffee drinks, and making other delicious beverages at home.

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