Chocolate Peanut Butter Layer Dessert is a cool and creamy layered dessert that will appeal to all ages. Four awesome layers in this easy make-ahead dessert!

Piece of Chocolate Peanut Butter Layer Dessert on a plate.

Bottom Layer

Chocolate cake mix is used to make the bottom layer. With only 1 egg and some butter mixed into the cake mix, it cooks up dense and fudgy.

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Peanut Butter Layer

Next comes a creamy peanut butter/cream cheese layer with chopped mini Reese’s peanut butter cups. This layer is wonderfully sweet and salty. Use a creamy peanut butter like Jif or Skippy.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Lush in baking pan with a piece removed.

Chocolate Pudding Layer

On top of the peanut butter layer is a super easy chocolate pudding layer. It is made with instant chocolate fudge pudding mix.

Top Layer

A layer of cool, and creamy whipped topping finishes off this layer dessert. I also like to add a bunch of chopped peanut butter cups on top. You can use fresh whipped cream for this layer if you prefer.

It’s a great make ahead dessert for a potluck.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Layer Dessert - 4 delicious layers!

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Storage

This dessert will keep in the refrigerator for about 4 days.

And speaking of  luck- wish me luck. My son and I are on the way to Atlanta to do some college visits. It hasn’t really hit me that in less than a year he will be leaving the nest. Tomorrow I have a feeling it’s going to hit me hard.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Layer Dessert

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Chocolate Peanut Butter Layer Dessert

4 from 1 vote

By Christin Mahrlig

Prep: 1 hour 20 minutes
Cook: 15 minutes
Total: 1 hour 35 minutes
Servings: 12
Chocolate Peanut Butter Layer Dessert is a cool and creamy layered dessert that will appeal to all ages. 
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Ingredients

  • 1 (15.25-ounce) box Dark Chocolate Fudge Cake Mix
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese
  • 3/4 cup peanut butter
  • 1 cup confectioners’ sugar
  • 1 tablespoon heavy cream
  • 15 miniature peanut butter cups, chopped
  • 1 (3.9-ounce) package instant chocolate fudge pudding mix
  • 2 cups cold milk
  • 1 (16-ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
  • Miniature peanut butter cups for garnish

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees and lightly grease a 13X9X2-inch baking pan.
  • In a large bowl, mix together cake mix, egg, and butter. Press into bottom of prepared pan.
  • Bake for 15 minutes and let cool completely.
  • Using an electric mixer, beat cream cheese and peanut butter until smooth. Gradually add confectioners’ sugar and heavy cream.
  • Stir in chopped peanut butter cups. Spread on top of cake layer.
  • In a bowl, whisk together pudding mix and milk for 2 minutes. Pour on top of cream cheese layer.
  • Refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Spread whipped topping on top and garnish with chopped peanut butter cups.

Nutrition

Calories: 622kcal | Carbohydrates: 65g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 38g | Saturated Fat: 18g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 61mg | Sodium: 698mg | Potassium: 394mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 47g | Vitamin A: 628IU | Vitamin C: 0.03mg | Calcium: 170mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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32 Comments

  1. Elizabeth says:

    Just made this for a co-worker’s birthday and got rave reviews!! Pretty sure we will be making up holidays/celebrations as an excuse to make it again ๐Ÿ™‚

  2. Julie Gordon says:

    I am scared that if I made this for a potluck it would not make it … nothing better the peanut an chocolate… I have a sweet tooth especially for peanut butter as chocolate. Thank you for this recipe.

  3. Jo says:

    I made this dessert. It was delicious. The only problem I had the bottom layer was so hard and it was difficult to cut. I followed directions l egg, l//2 softened butter and cake mix. Mix it and patted into 9×13 pan and baked for 15 minutes. What did I do wrong?

    1. H Sposato says:

      I am going to make this for a party next weekend…since you said the cake got hard and difficult to cut, I think I am going to use a fudgy-brownie mix instead…I’ll let you know!

      1. Christin Mahrlig says:

        Yes, please do let me know! Hope it turns out well! ๐Ÿ™‚

      2. Kim says:

        Hey! How did it turn out using brownie mix?

        1. Emma says:

          I would also like to know how the brownie mix went.

    2. Kathy N says:

      Iโ€™ve see. This recipe with Oreo cookies and egg (put in the food processor) and pressed as the crust.

  4. marcie says:

    This looks so creamy and peanut buttery! It doesn’t get much better than peanut butter and chocolate!

  5. Jess @ Flying on Jess Fuel says:

    Ooooh you had me at “creamy peanut butter/cream cheese layer”! Haha! This sounds amazing! I love chocolate and pb together!

  6. Jennifer | Bake or Break says:

    This looks amazing, Christin! I can never refuse chocolate and peanut butter!

  7. Jessica @ Sweet Menu says:

    Wow. That’s all I can say. Wow, wow, wow! Super impressive!!!

  8. Medeja says:

    Dessert for me! ๐Ÿ˜€

  9. suzanne says:

    Looks so good, chocolate and peanut butter are the best together.

  10. Jocelyn (Grandbaby Cakes) says:

    Oh my goodness this looks absolutely fantastic! You can never go wrong with chocolate and peanut butter!