Hamdi Saidani This Pioneer Woman Peanut Butter Sheet Cake is a moist and decadent recipe, which is made with creamy peanut butter and a rich, pour-over chocolate icing. It’s the ultimate comfort food recipe, a crowd-pleasing dessert that’s perfect for any potluck or gathering.
Pioneer Woman Peanut Butter Sheet Cake Ingredients
The ultimate flavor combination for a simple, delicious cake.
For the Peanut Butter Cake:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups sugar
- 1/4 tsp. salt
- 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
- 2 sticks (1 cup) butter
- 1 cup boiling water
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 2 whole eggs, beaten
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- 1 tsp. vanilla
For the Chocolate Icing:
- 1 3/4 sticks (14 tbsp) butter
- 4 heaping Tbsp. cocoa powder
- 6 Tbsp. milk
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- 1 lb. box powdered sugar (minus 1/2 cup)
How To Make Pioneer Woman Peanut Butter Sheet Cake
A step-by-step guide to this incredibly moist and flavorful sheet cake.
- Prep Oven and Dry Ingredients: Preheat your oven to 350°F. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, and salt.
- Make the Peanut Butter Mixture: In a saucepan, melt the 2 sticks of butter. Stir in the peanut butter until the mixture is smooth. Add the boiling water, bring the mixture to a boil for 30 seconds, then immediately turn off the heat.
- Combine the Batter: Pour the hot peanut butter mixture over the flour mixture in the bowl and stir lightly to combine and cool it down slightly. In a separate measuring cup, stir together the buttermilk, beaten eggs, baking soda, and vanilla. Pour this into the peanut butter/flour mixture and stir until everything is just combined.
- Bake the Cake: Pour the batter into a large, ungreased 18×13-inch sheet cake pan. Bake for 20 minutes, or until the cake is set and springs back when lightly touched.
- Make the Icing: While the cake is baking, prepare the icing. Melt the 1 3/4 sticks of butter in a saucepan. Stir in the cocoa powder, then turn off the heat. Add the milk, vanilla, and the powdered sugar. Whisk until the icing is smooth and glossy.
- Frost and Serve: As soon as the cake comes out of the oven, pour the warm chocolate icing all over the top of the hot cake. Use a spatula to spread it evenly. Let the cake cool before cutting it into squares and serving.
Recipe Tips
For the most decadent and perfectly textured sheet cake.
- Why pour hot icing on a hot cake? This is a classic Texas-style sheet cake technique. Pouring the warm, thin icing over the hot cake allows it to seep into the top layer of the cake, creating an incredibly moist, fudgy, and delicious result.
- Can I use a different size pan? The recipe calls for a large 18×13 inch pan (a half-sheet pan), which creates a classic thin sheet cake. You can also use a standard 9×13 inch pan, but the cake will be much thicker and you will need to increase the baking time to 30-35 minutes.
- Can I use crunchy peanut butter? Creamy peanut butter is recommended for the smoothest batter, but if you love a bit of texture, you can certainly use crunchy peanut butter instead.
- How much powdered sugar is “1 lb minus 1/2 cup”? A standard 1 lb (16 oz) box of powdered sugar contains about 4 cups. So, you will use about 3 1/2 cups of powdered sugar for the icing.
What To Serve With Peanut Butter Sheet Cake
This rich, sweet cake is a dessert all on its own.
This decadent sheet cake is a crowd-pleaser and needs no accompaniments, but it’s always delicious with:
- A tall, cold glass of milk
- A scoop of vanilla bean ice cream
- A hot cup of black coffee to cut the sweetness
How To Store Peanut Butter Sheet Cake
Keeping your cake fresh and moist.
- Room Temperature: Cover the pan with foil or plastic wrap. This cake is very moist and will stay fresh at room temperature for up to 4 days.
Pioneer Woman Peanut Butter Sheet Cake Nutrition Facts
An estimated guide per slice.
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Carbohydrates: 55 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Fat: 24 g
Nutrition information is estimated and may vary based on ingredients and cooking methods used.
FAQs
Can I make this cake ahead of time?
Yes, this is a perfect make-ahead cake for a party or potluck. It tastes fantastic on the second day as the flavors continue to meld.
My icing seems very thin. Is that right?
Yes. This type of pour-over icing is meant to be much thinner than a traditional buttercream. You should be able to pour it easily over the hot cake. It will set up into a glossy, fudgy layer as it cools.
Can I add nuts to the cake or icing?
Absolutely. You could fold a cup of chopped peanuts into the cake batter for extra crunch or sprinkle chopped peanuts over the top of the warm icing before it sets.
Try More Pioneer Woman Recipes:
- Pioneer Woman Boozy Berry Upside-Down Cake Recipe
- Pioneer Woman Marble Cake Recipe
- Pioneer Woman Chocolate Skillet Cake Recipe
Pioneer Woman Peanut Butter Sheet Cake Recipe
Description
An incredibly moist and decadent peanut butter sheet cake, topped with a rich, pour-over chocolate frosting that creates a deliciously fudgy layer.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, and salt.
- In a saucepan, melt 2 sticks of butter with the peanut butter. Add 1 cup of boiling water and boil for 30 seconds.
- Pour the hot peanut butter mixture over the flour mixture and stir.
- In a separate cup, combine buttermilk, eggs, baking soda, and vanilla. Stir this into the main batter.
- Pour batter into an 18×13-inch sheet pan and bake for 20 minutes.
- While the cake bakes, make the icing: Melt 1 3/4 sticks butter in a saucepan, stir in cocoa, then turn off heat. Whisk in milk, vanilla, and powdered sugar until smooth.
- Pour the warm icing over the hot cake as soon as it comes out of the oven.
- Let cool before cutting into squares.
Notes
- u003cliu003ePouring the warm icing over the hot cake is the key to the signature fudgy texture of this sheet cake.u003c/liu003eu003cliu003eThis recipe is designed for a large 18×13 inch (half-sheet) pan, which results in a thin, moist cake.u003c/liu003eu003cliu003eThe cake is very moist and keeps well for several days at room temperature.u003c/liu003eu003cliu003eCreamy peanut butter provides the smoothest texture for the cake batter.u003c/liu003e
