If you are craving a dessert that feels like a warm hug and satisfies your chocolate and peanut butter cravings all at once, the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Chocolate Cake {Crockpot} Recipe is your new best friend. This ultra-rich, gooey delight combines moist chocolate cake, melty peanut butter chips, and chunks of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups into a luscious slow-cooked masterpiece that requires almost no effort. The magic happens overnight in your crockpot, making it perfect for a fuss-free treat that tastes like it took hours of culinary devotion to create.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Gathering your ingredients is a breeze, and each one plays a starring role in building layers of gooey, chocolaty, peanut buttery goodness. From the box chocolate cake mix that forms the moist base to the sweetened condensed milk that ties everything together with creamy richness, these simple items turn into something spectacular in the crockpot.
- Chocolate cake mix: The foundation of moist, rich chocolate flavor and a tender crumb.
- Eggs, oil, water: As called for on the cake mix box, these activate and bind the batter.
- Peanut butter chips: Add creamy peanut butter pockets that melt beautifully inside the cake.
- Chopped Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups: Burst of sweet, salty, melty peanut butter chocolate on top and throughout.
- Chocolate chips: Another layer of melty chocolate to heighten the fudgy texture.
- Sweetened condensed milk: Drizzled on top to infuse the cake with extra richness and gooey sweetness.
- Whipped cream or vanilla ice cream: Optional but highly recommended for serving to cool and complement the warm cake’s intense flavors.
How to Make Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Chocolate Cake {Crockpot} Recipe
Step 1: Prepare the Crockpot
Start by spraying your crockpot with nonstick cooking spray or lining it with a slow-cooker liner for easy cleanup. This setup ensures your cake won’t stick to the sides while it slowly bakes into perfectly gooey decadence.
Step 2: Mix the Cake Batter
Prepare the chocolate cake batter according to the package directions using the eggs, oil, and water. Make sure to stir everything until smooth to create the perfect base for the peanut butter and chocolate chips.
Step 3: Add Peanut Butter and Chocolate Chips
Fold in the peanut butter chips and chocolate chips directly into the batter. This step is where the magic begins as these morsels will melt within the cake, creating pockets of luscious flavor that transform every bite.
Step 4: Pour Batter and Add Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
Pour the batter into your prepared crockpot, spreading it out evenly. Then sprinkle the chopped Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups over the top to ensure each serving boasts those irresistible peanut butter chunk surprises.
Step 5: Drizzle Sweetened Condensed Milk
Gently drizzle the sweetened condensed milk over the cake batter and peanut butter pieces. This step adds a creamy sweetness that seeps into the cake as it slow-cooks, giving that sought-after gooey texture and rich flavor.
Step 6: Cook Low and Slow
Cover your crockpot and cook on LOW for 2½ to 3 hours. You want the edges of the cake to be set while leaving the center just a bit gooey. Resist the urge to overcook – the fudgy center is what takes this cake from ordinary to extraordinary.
Step 7: Rest and Serve
Once done, turn off the heat and allow the cake to rest for 15 minutes before serving. This resting time helps the cake firm up slightly while keeping that luscious melt-in-your-mouth texture. Serve warm with a generous dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream for an unforgettable finish.
How to Serve Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Chocolate Cake {Crockpot} Recipe
Garnishes
For serving, keep it simple yet indulgent by adding fresh whipped cream or vanilla ice cream atop each warm slice. A sprinkle of crushed peanut butter cups or a drizzle of chocolate syrup can boost the visual appeal and add even more flavor layers for your guests.
Side Dishes
This cake is a stand-alone superstar, but pairing it with light, fresh berries or a fruit salad cuts through the richness beautifully. A cup of strong coffee or bold black tea also pairs wonderfully with the deep chocolate and peanut butter flavors.
Creative Ways to Present
Turn your Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Chocolate Cake {Crockpot} Recipe into an experience by serving it in rustic ramekins or individual slow cooker liners right out of the crockpot. For parties, consider layering slices with whipped cream and chopped nuts in a trifle dish, turning it into a decadent peanut butter chocolate trifle everyone will rave about.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Leftover cake keeps well when covered tightly in the refrigerator for up to three days. The rich flavors only deepen as it rests, and you can enjoy a slice as a decadent snack or dessert anytime.
Freezing
To freeze, wrap the cake tightly in plastic wrap and then in foil or an airtight container. Freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then warm gently before serving to revive that perfectly gooey texture.
Reheating
Reheat leftovers in the microwave in short bursts or in a warm oven until just heated through. Avoid overheating to keep the center soft and fudgy rather than dense or dry.
FAQs
Can I use homemade chocolate cake batter for this recipe?
Absolutely! While this recipe uses a box mix for convenience, homemade chocolate cake batter will also work beautifully and give you full control over ingredients.
What if I don’t have peanut butter chips?
If you can’t find peanut butter chips, you can substitute mini peanut butter cups chopped into bits or even swirl in some natural peanut butter into the batter for a similar effect.
How do I know when the cake is done?
The edges should be set and beginning to pull away from the sides, while the center still looks slightly gooey and soft. Use a toothpick to check – it should come out with moist crumbs but not raw batter.
Can I make this in a regular oven instead of a crockpot?
Yes, you can bake this cake in an oven at 350°F (175°C) for about 30-40 minutes. Just keep an eye on it to avoid overbaking, and consider adjusting the condensed milk drizzle accordingly.
Is this recipe suitable for vegetarians?
Yes, this Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Chocolate Cake {Crockpot} Recipe is vegetarian-friendly, as it contains no meat or gelatin products.
Final Thoughts
If you want a dessert that’s effortlessly indulgent, the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Chocolate Cake {Crockpot} Recipe is an absolute dream come true. It brings together the perfect marriage of chocolate and peanut butter in a shade of moist, gooey comfort that’s impossible to resist. Whether you’re feeding a crowd or just treating yourself, this slow cooker cake promises smiles at every forkful. Don’t wait to give this cozy, heartwarming recipe a try—it’s bound to become a household favorite fast!
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Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Chocolate Cake {Crockpot} Recipe
- Total Time: About 3 hours 10 minutes
- Yield: 8–10 servings
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
This Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Chocolate Cake made in the crockpot is ultra-rich, gooey, and incredibly easy. Featuring moist chocolate cake loaded with peanut butter chips, chopped Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, and chocolate chips, all topped with a luscious drizzle of sweetened condensed milk for a fudgy center, this slow-cooker dessert requires no oven and delivers amazing flavor and texture every time.
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 1 box chocolate cake mix
Additional Ingredients
- Ingredients listed on cake mix box (eggs, oil, water as required)
- 1 cup peanut butter chips
- 1 cup chopped Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
- ½ cup chocolate chips
- 1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk
- Nonstick cooking spray or slow-cooker liner (for preparation)
Serving Suggestions
- Whipped cream or vanilla ice cream (for serving)
Instructions
- Prepare crockpot: Spray the crockpot with nonstick cooking spray or line it with a slow-cooker liner to prevent the cake from sticking and make cleanup easier.
- Make cake batter: Prepare the chocolate cake batter according to the package directions, combining the cake mix with required eggs, oil, and water until smooth.
- Add mix-ins: Stir peanut butter chips and chocolate chips evenly into the prepared cake batter to infuse the cake with extra chocolate and peanut butter flavor.
- Transfer batter to crockpot: Pour the combined batter into the prepared crockpot, spreading it evenly across the bottom.
- Add Reese’s peanut butter cups: Sprinkle the chopped Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups evenly over the top of the batter to create pockets of melty peanut butter goodness.
- Drizzle sweetened condensed milk: Pour the sweetened condensed milk evenly over everything in the crockpot to ensure a rich, fudgy center once cooked.
- Cook cake: Cover the crockpot and cook on LOW for 2½ to 3 hours, or until the edges are set but the center remains slightly gooey for optimal texture.
- Rest cake: Turn off the heat and let the cake rest inside the crockpot, covered, for 15 minutes to allow it to firm up slightly for easier serving.
- Serve warm: Scoop portions onto plates and serve warm with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream for a luscious dessert experience.
Notes
- Do not overcook the cake; the center should remain soft and fudgy to retain its gooey texture.
- Cooking times may vary depending on the crockpot’s size and brand, so check periodically as you approach the minimum cook time.
- Using mini Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups instead of chopped regular size ones can help them melt more evenly throughout the cake.
- Store any leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, reheating gently before serving.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours 30 minutes to 3 hours
- Category: Dessert · Snack
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
