Chocolate Peanut Butter Earthquake Cake – Page 2

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!