Introduction

This Peanut Butter Cup Dump Cake is a wonderfully easy dessert that combines rich chocolate and creamy peanut butter flavors. With minimal prep and no fancy equipment, it’s perfect for satisfying your sweet tooth with a homemade touch.

A glass baking dish filled with a thick, rich chocolate brownie that has a rough, bumpy texture on top showing swirls of lighter brown and dark chocolate. Small, round chocolate pieces are scattered across the top layer, adding shiny, smooth highlights. The edges of the brownie are darker and crisp, contrasting with the softer-looking interior swirls. The dish is placed on a white marbled surface with a white and blue striped cloth and a metal serving spoon next to it. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

1 box chocolate cake mix
1 package instant chocolate pudding mix
1¾ cups milk
Peanut butter cups (about 1 cup), roughly chopped

Instructions

Step 1: In a large bowl, whisk together the instant pudding mix and milk until well combined.
Step 2: Stir in the chocolate cake mix until the batter is thick and fully blended.
Step 3: Fold the roughly chopped peanut butter cups into the batter, leaving a variety of piece sizes for pockets of melted peanut butter.
Step 4: Pour the mixture into a greased 13 x 9 inch baking dish and spread evenly. Bake at 350°F (180°C) for about 25 minutes, or until a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean.
Step 5: Allow the cake to cool slightly before serving. It’s especially delicious when served warm, ideally with vanilla ice cream.

Tips & Variations

Don’t overmix the batter once combined to keep the cake tender.
Use different sized pieces of peanut butter cups for a varied texture and flavor.
Try swapping in yellow cake mix with chocolate pudding or devil’s food cake mix for different chocolate intensities.
Start checking for doneness at 20 minutes since oven times can vary.

Storage

Store leftover cake covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat individual slices in the microwave for 15-20 seconds. For longer storage, freeze portions wrapped tightly in plastic wrap inside a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge before reheating.

How to Serve

A glass baking dish contains a rich dessert with two main layers visible: the bottom layer is golden-brown with a soft, gooey texture, while the top layer is thick and dark brown with a slightly cracked surface, showing a baked chocolate crust. Scattered across the top are small, round, shiny chocolate pieces that add texture and visual interest. The dish sits on a white marbled surface, next to a folded white cloth with blue stripes and a silver serving spoon. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

What is a dump cake?

A dump cake is an easy dessert where all the ingredients are combined with minimal mixing and baked directly. Unlike traditional cakes, it requires no complicated steps like creaming or folding. This version uses pudding and milk to achieve a fudgy, rich texture.

Can I use a different flavour of cake mix?

Yes, you can swap the chocolate cake mix for yellow or devil’s food cake mix. Yellow cake with chocolate pudding or devil’s food cake will both create delicious variations. Just keep the same quantities in the recipe.

What if I don’t have instant pudding mix?

If you don’t have instant pudding mix, you can omit it but should increase the milk to 1 cup. The texture will be a bit different but still enjoyable.

Can I use regular-sized peanut butter cups instead of minis?

Yes, regular-sized peanut butter cups work fine. Just chop them roughly to create pockets of peanut butter throughout the cake.