Instructions:
Preparing the Cake:
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to the temperature specified on the cake mix box. Grease a 9×13 inch baking pan and set aside.
- Mix the Cake: Prepare the chocolate cake mix according to the package instructions. Once mixed, fold in 1 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips. Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan, spreading it out evenly.
Making the Peanut Butter Filling:
- Combine Ingredients: In a medium bowl, beat together the creamy peanut butter, softened cream cheese, softened butter, and vanilla extract until smooth and well combined.
- Add Powdered Sugar: Gradually add in the powdered sugar, beating until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
Assembling the Cake:
- Add Dollops of Filling: Drop spoonfuls of the peanut butter filling over the top of the cake batter. Don’t worry about being neat; the more random, the better the “earthquake” effect.
- Create Marble Effect (Optional): If desired, you can gently swirl a knife through the batter and filling to create a marble effect. Be careful not to overmix; you want distinct areas of chocolate and peanut butter.
- Add Toppings: Sprinkle the top of the cake with chopped peanuts and additional chocolate or peanut butter chips if using.
Baking:
- Bake the Cake: Bake in the preheated oven according to the cake mix package instructions, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs. The baking time may need to be adjusted slightly due to the addition of the filling.
- Cool: Allow the cake to cool in the pan on a wire rack. The top will have a cracked, uneven appearance, which is exactly what you want.
Serving:
- Serve the Chocolate Peanut Butter Earthquake Cake at room temperature or slightly warmed, with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream for an extra indulgent treat.
Enjoy your deliciously decadent Chocolate Peanut Butter Earthquake Cake, a perfect blend of chocolate and peanut butter in every bite!
