Chocolate Peanut Butter Dump Cake is the ultimate low-effort, high-reward dessert. Rich chocolate, creamy peanut butter, and buttery cake all bake together into a gooey, fudgy pan of goodness—no mixer needed and almost zero prep. It’s one of those “dump it in the pan and bake” recipes that somehow tastes like you spent way more time in the kitchen.

This recipe layers a chocolate cake mix, chocolate pudding, peanut butter, and peanut butter chips so everything melts and bakes into soft, gooey pockets and crispy edges. Serve it warm with ice cream and you get a molten, brownie-meets-pudding texture in every scoop.

Perfect for potlucks, parties, weeknight cravings, or any time you want a chocolate dessert without the fuss, this Chocolate Peanut Butter Dump Cake is the kind of dessert that vanishes fast and has everyone asking for the recipe.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Super Easy “Dump” Method – No mixer, no fancy steps—just layer, drizzle, and bake.
Rich Chocolate + Peanut Butter – Classic combo in a warm, gooey dessert.
Perfect for Crowds – Bakes in a 9×13 pan and serves a bunch.
Best Warm with Ice Cream – Turns into an over-the-top, spoonable dessert.

Ingredients

For the Chocolate Peanut Butter Dump Cake:

1 box chocolate cake mix (about 15.25 oz / 432 g)
1 box instant chocolate pudding mix (3.4 oz / 96 g)
2 cups milk (for the pudding layer)
½ cup creamy peanut butter (slightly warmed for easier drizzling)
1 cup peanut butter chips (or chopped peanut butter cups)
½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (optional, for extra richness)
½ cup (1 stick / 115 g) unsalted butter, melted

Optional Toppings for Serving:

Vanilla ice cream or whipped cream
Chopped peanuts or peanut butter cups
Warm chocolate or peanut butter drizzle

Instructions

Prep the Pan and Oven
Lightly grease a 9×13-inch (23×33 cm) baking dish with butter or nonstick spray.
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).

Make the Pudding Layer
In a medium bowl, whisk together the instant chocolate pudding mix and milk until smooth and slightly thickened (about 1–2 minutes).
Pour the pudding mixture into the bottom of the prepared baking dish and spread it into an even layer.

Add the Cake Mix
Sprinkle the dry chocolate cake mix evenly over the pudding layer. Do not mix—just spread it out as evenly as possible.

Add Peanut Butter & Chips
Warm the peanut butter slightly in the microwave (10–20 seconds) to make it easier to drizzle.
Drizzle the peanut butter over the dry cake mix in ribbons. It doesn’t have to be perfect.
Sprinkle peanut butter chips and chocolate chips evenly over the top.

Add the Butter
Slowly drizzle the melted butter evenly over the surface of the cake mix and chips, trying to moisten as much of the dry mix as possible. Some dry spots are okay; the pudding underneath will help hydrate it while baking.

Bake
Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 35–40 minutes, or until the top looks mostly set and dry with some bubbling around the edges.
The center should be a bit soft and gooey—that’s what makes it a “dump cake” style dessert.

Cool Slightly & Serve
Remove from the oven and let cool for at least 10–15 minutes to thicken slightly.
Serve warm, scooping it into bowls like a pudding cake.
Top with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, and extra peanut butter or chocolate drizzle if desired.

Nutritional Information

(Approximate per serving, 1 of 12)

Calories: ~390
Protein: 6g
Fat: 20g
Carbohydrates: 49g
Sugar: 34g
Fiber: 2g

(Values will vary based on cake mix and toppings used.)

Tips for Success

Don’t Stir – The magic of dump cake comes from layering, not mixing. Let it bake into gooey pockets on its own.
Cover Dry Spots with Butter – Try to drizzle butter over as much of the cake mix as possible for the best texture.
Watch the Bake Time – You want the top set but the inside still soft and pudding-like.
Serve Warm – This dessert is at its best when warm and melty with cold ice cream on top.

Why This Recipe Works

The instant pudding creates a rich, chocolatey base that stays soft and saucy under the cake layer. The dry cake mix on top, moistened with melted butter and the pudding underneath, turns into a mix of tender cake and slightly crisp bits. Peanut butter and peanut butter chips melt into ribbons and pockets throughout, giving you the perfect chocolate–peanut butter bite in every scoop.

Because everything is layered instead of mixed, you get contrast in textures: gooey, fudgy, cakey, and slightly crunchy all in one simple dessert. This Chocolate Peanut Butter Dump Cake delivers big flavor with almost no effort—ideal for when you want maximum dessert with minimum work.