Easy Peanut Butter Cake uses just six ingredients, is mixed in one bowl, and bakes in about half an hour. It’s simple and quick and your family will love it!

Two pieces of easy peanut butter cake on a white plate with the whole cake in the background.

This peanut butter cake is my favorite way to make a one layer cake. It’s just quick and easy, and you don’t even have frosting to worry about.

Your kids will love this cake as an after school snack and it’s also great as a gift to take to someone who’s homebound.

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Easy peanut butter cake in a square dish on a cooling rack.

Peanut Butter Cake Recipe

You probably have almost everything you need right in your pantry—there’s no chopping required and no fancy ingredients.

  • Peanut butter
  • Butter
  • Brown sugar
  • Self-rising flour (you can also use all-purpose, you’ll just need to add leavening
  • Eggs
  • Vanilla

Steps:

First you’ll melt the butter, then add the peanut butter and melt. Then just whisk until it’s nice and creamy.

Next, whisk in the brown sugar and add eggs and vanilla. Then whisk in the flour. Bake the cake for about 25 minutes and that’s it!

Tips

  • You can add a dollop of jelly to make it a PB&J snack or just sprinkle lightly with powdered sugar.
  • To freeze the peanut butter cake, wrap it in parchment paper, then in foil and freeze up to 3 months. You can also freeze as individual servings.
Easy Peanut Butter Cake cut into squares and on a white platter.

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4.70 from 20 votes

Easy Peanut Butter Cake

A tender, moist, easy peanut butter cake made in one bowl and ready in about forty-five minutes. This peanut butter cake is a great after school snack.
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 25 minutes
Total: 35 minutes
Servings: 12 pieces
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Ingredients 

  • 1 stick unsalted butter
  • 1 cup creamy peanut butter
  • 1 cup light brown sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 cup self-rising flour (see notes if using all-purpose)

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 350. Cover an 8 x 8 dish with tin foil and spray the foil with cooking spray.
  • In a large microwave safe bowl, melt butter halfway. Add peanut butter and melt for 30 seconds. Whisk together until well mixed and creamy.
  • Whisk in brown sugar until well blended. Add eggs and vanilla and whisk until blended. Add flour and whisk until well blended.
  • Pour batter into prepared dish and bake for about 25 minutes, until edges are set but there is still a little gooeyness on toothpick tester in the center. Do not over bake.
  • Remove from oven and cool on wire rack for ten minutes, then remove from dish using the tin foil as handles. Place foil on wire rack and allow to cool completely.

Notes

To use all-purpose flour instead of self-rising, whisk together:
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

Nutrition

Serving: 12pieces, Calories: 314kcal, Carbohydrates: 30g, Protein: 7g, Saturated Fat: 7g, Cholesterol: 51mg, Sodium: 214mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 19g
Course: Cakes
Cuisine: American
Calories: 314
Keyword: easy peanut butter cake, peanut butter cake
Love this recipe?Mention @southernfoodandfun or tag #southernfoodandfun!

Did you know it’s super easy to make your own peanut butter? Check out this recipe for 5 Minute Homemade Peanut Butter.

Update Notes: This post for Easy Peanut Butter Cake was originally published October 6, 2015, and on April 3, 2020, was updated with one or more of the following: step-by-step photos, video, updated recipe, new tips.

A woman with shoulder-length blonde hair, wearing a white T-shirt and dark jeans, stands in a kitchen with a brick backsplash and stainless steel appliances. She is smiling and resting her hands on the counter.

About the author

Hi, I’m Lucy! I’m a home cook, writer, food and wine fanatic, and recipe developer. I’ve created and tested hundreds of recipes so that I can bring you the best tried and true favorites.

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4.70 from 20 votes (13 ratings without comment)

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16 Comments

    1. I’m so sorry! I know that’s frustrating. I have used natural peanut butter and regular peanut butter and both worked fine.

  1. 5 stars
    I stumbled across your site while looking for a way to use up some peanut butter before it expired. I had something in mind for a “peanut butter pan cake” but was not optimistic that I would find something online that my family would really like. Your recipe far exceeded my expectations! It is a peanut butter pan cake to die for! ooh lala!!! Thank you and will be looking at all your recipes!

  2. 5 stars
    Made the cake for the first time today. Easy. Fantastic.The recipe will be a regular in our household from now on. Thanks.

  3. 5 stars
    I know that this recipe will be one of my favorites before I even make it. It’s easy and I always have the ingredients on hand. The powdered sugar makes them remind me of old fashioned homemade brownies without heavy frosting….my perfect sweet treat better than chocolate. I love peanut butter more:)

  4. 5 stars
    This looks great. Could you freeze these? I’d like to make it a few days before Thanksgiving to take to a family get-together. Thanks!

  5. 5 stars
    This looks great. Could you freeze these? I’d like to make it a few days before Thanksgiving to take to a family get-together. Thanks!

  6. 5 stars
    Hi Lucy,
    This looks delicious and I love your little dialogue and the embroidered napkin…..reminds me of some that I’ve had for years:)
    See you soon,
    Holly

  7. 5 stars
    Hi Lucy,
    This looks delicious and I love your little dialogue and the embroidered napkin…..reminds me of some that I’ve had for years:)
    See you soon,
    Holly