With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, I figured it was high time for a new chocolate recipe here on the blog.
Even better, time for a new chocolate and peanut butter recipe here on the blog.
Because I’m pretty sure that chocolate and peanut butter were one of the original matches made in heaven. And because I’m pretty sure that they were meant to be swirled together on top of this cake. And because I’m pretty sure that the second you try a taste of them together in this decadent flourless cake, it’s going to be love at first bite. :)
Even better, all you need are 5 easy ingredients to make this cake! So grab your favorite chocolate, and let’s get to baking.
Really, this cake is just a peanut butter-y variation on my favorite 3-Ingredient Flourless Chocolate Cake recipe. It’s surprisingly easy to mix together, and bakes in just half an hour. Then once it has chilled completely, you can either just serve it as-is, or put your swirly cake decorating skills to use. I promise — it’s much easier than it seems!
Just whip up a quick batch of chocolate ganache (melted chocolate + heavy cream), and pour it on top of the cake. Then heat some peanut butter until it’s all melty, pipe it onto the top of the chocolate ganache into long zig zags, and then use a wooden skewer (or a knife or a toothpick) to swirl the peanut butter and chocolate into whatever kind of design you’d like.
So simple, and SO pretty!
You can either then just dive right into the cake, or refrigerate it awhile longer until the ganache completely sets up. And then this decadent dessert will be yours to enjoy.
Perfect for Valentine’s Day, or any lovely day you feel like a chocolate and peanut butter-y treat. :) Enjoy!
Peanut Butter Flourless Chocolate Cake
Ingredients
Peanut Butter Flourless Chocolate Cake Ingredients:
- 8 large eggs, cold
- 1 pound (16 ounces) dark, semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
- 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
Peanut Butter Chocolate Ganache Swirl Ingredients:
- 3 ounces dark, semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
- 1/3 cup heavy cream
- 1/3 cup creamy peanut butter
Instructions
To Make The Peanut Butter Flourless Chocolate Cake:
- Adjust an oven rack to the lower-middle position and heat the oven to 325°F. Line the bottom of an 8-inch springform pan with parchment paper or waxed paper and grease the sides of the pan. (Be sure to grease the sides really well!)
- Place a large roasting or baking pan on the bottom rack of the oven. Bring a kettle or medium-sized pot of water to boil on the stove. Once it comes to a boil, carefully pour the water into the baking pan in the oven. This will be your water bath, and will help prevent the top of the cake from cracking.
- While the water is coming to a boil, add the eggs to the bowl of a stand mixer. Using the whisk attachment, beat the eggs at high speed until the volume doubles. This usually takes about 5 minutes.
- Meanwhile, melt the chocolate and butter and peanut butter together. You can either do this in a double boiler on the stove (by placing the chocolate and butter and peanut butter in a large heatproof bowl, set over a pan of almost-simmering water, and stirring until melted and smooth). Or you can do this in the microwave (by heating the chocolate and butter and peanut butter in a microwave-safe bowl in 30-second intervals, stirring in between, until the ingredients are melted and smooth). Then fold about a third of the beaten eggs into the chocolate mixture using a large rubber spatula until only a few streaks of egg are visible. Fold in half of the remaining egg foam, and then the last half of the foam, until the mixture is totally homogenous.
- Scrape the batter into the prepared springform pan and smooth the surface with a rubber spatula. Place the springform pan on the middle rack of the oven (a rack above the pan of boiling water). Bake until the cake has risen slightly, the edges are just beginning to set, a thin-glazed crust (like a brownie) has formed on the surface, and an instant-read thermometer inserted halfway into the center reads 140° F, about 23-26 minutes.
- Turn the oven off and crack the door oven open a few inches, and wait about 10 minutes for the cake to slightly cool. Then remove cake and transfer to a wire rack, and cool until it reaches room temperature. Then cover and refrigerate until the cake is completely chilled. (The cake can be refrigerated for up to 4 days.)
- Once the cake has chilled, carefully remove the sides of the springform pan, invert the cake onto a sheet of waxed paper, peel off the parchment paper, and then re-invert the cake onto a serving platter. Top with the peanut butter chocolate ganache swirl, if desired. Or you can serve the cake lightly dusted with powdered sugar, or just plain.
To Make The Peanut Butter Chocolate Ganache Swirl:
- Melt the chocolate and heavy cream together in a double-boiler or in the microwave (use the same directions as above), and whisk together until the mixture is completely smooth.
- Add the peanut butter to a separate bowl, and heat in the microwave (about 15-25 seconds) until it is warmed and a little melty. Transfer the peanut butter to a pastry bag or a large ziplock bag, and then use scissors to snip off a small corner of the bag so that you can pipe the peanut butter. Set aside.
- Pour the chocolate mixture on top of the chilled cake, and use a spoon to spread it out in an even layer. Pipe the melted peanut butter on top of the chocolate in some long lines (or your desired pattern). Then immediately take a wooden skewer (or a toothpick or a knife) and drag it through the peanut butter in circles to create swirls. If you’d like, you can then run a knife around the edge of the cake to smooth out the sides, or you can just leave it drippy.
- Refrigerate the cake for about an hour to let the ganache firm up, or you can just serve it immediately.
Did you make this?Let me know how it turned out in the comments below!
Would it be possible to add sugar to this cake?
We find it doesn’t really need sugar (there’s sugar in the chocolate and peanut butter), but you can definitely add some if you want! We would advise starting with a small amount (maybe 1/4 cup). Mix it in with the melted butter, chocolate, and peanut butter and make sure it dissolves. We hope you enjoy!
Hi there! I would love to make this for my husband for his birthday. I don’t have a spring-form pan, do I need one?
Thanks!
Hey Lauren! Yes, unfortunately it will be really tough to unmold if you use a regular cake pan (this cake’s kinda fragile). Maybe you could borrow one from a family member or friend? We hop you guys enjoy!
This looks SO good! Can’t wait to make this tomorrow. And its so easy because i’m out of cocoa powder, and all you need is chocolate chips! I don’t know if i’ll be able to make the swirl look as beautiful as you did, though. Great job!
Thanks Anna — we hope you enjoy it! And the swirl is actually easier than it looks! :)
This is looking amazing. The texture is so great. Mouth watering and can’t wait to take one bite. Great job and a very nice photography.
Thanks Akhil — we hope you enjoy it! And thanks for giving the recipe a try! :)
I baked this cake last night as something for my dad for fathers day. It was the first time I baked a flourless cake and I was a bit anxious… I was worried it would be too eggy or not sweet enough.. Or that it wouldn’t set or would be dry.. But I have to say it was PHENOMENAL!!!!!
This is such a great recipe! Thanks for sharing it!! ?
Thank you for sharing with us — we’re so happy you enjoyed it, and we hope your dad did as well! :D
This cake was easy, rich, decadent…but not sweet. I used semi-sweet as suggested, but it was not sweet enough for my family’s palette. If you’ve been dieting to reduce(as I always am), the richness will be such a treat that you won’t mind the chalky flavor. Thank you for sharing this recipe.
Thanks for your feedback Patricia — we’re sorry it wasn’t quite sweet enough for you and your family!
Hi, did you ever try to make it with crunchy PB?
Thanks
We haven’t yet, but you could! We hope you enjoy! :)
This was the first time i baked flourless cake..and you know whaat,the best chocolate cake eveeeeeerr…love love love love it so much.thank you so much to share this recipe.will definitely use as family recipe.xoxoxox??
That’s awesome Dee! We’re happy to hear it turned out so well — thanks for giving it a try! :)
I just made this cake and it is divine!! :D
Just one question though, would this freeze well at all? I don’t want to have to eat the whole thing! Haha so if I can freeze some portions to enjoy later that would be great!
We’re so glad you liked it Caitlin! You should be able to freeze it, but we would double or triple wrap it very tightly — we hope that helps!
This looks delicious!!!
Thanks Kelsey — we hope you enjoy! :)