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+ servings
chocolate peanut butter cake balls in a bowl on a white table with fresh flowers.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake Balls

Mimi Council
The best combination just got better, these Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake Balls will be your favorite way to enjoy chocolate and peanut butter! This simple cake ball recipe makes the best cake balls without a mold!
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Coating & Chill Time 1 hour 35 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 10 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Makes 35 cake balls
Calories 215 kcal

Equipment

  • Digital Food Scale
  • Stand Mixer
  • 6-inch Cake Pans
  • Parchment Paper Sheets
  • Half Sheet Pan
  • Heatproof Mixing Bowl

Ingredients
 
 

Batter

  • 113 grams salted butter (softened)
  • 170 grams cane sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 large eggs (room temperature)
  • ½ cup milk (room temperature)
  • 57 grams sour cream
  • 170 grams cake flour
  • 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon fine sea salt

Frosting

  • 170 grams salted butter (softened)
  • 340 grams powdered sugar (sifted)
  • 43 grams peanut butter
  • 2 to 3 teaspoons milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Coating

  • 454 grams milk chocolate (chopped)

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line three 6-inch cake pans with parchment paper.
  • To make the batter: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, add the butter, cane sugar, and vanilla extract. Mix on low until combined and there are no chunks of butter. Add the eggs, milk, and sour cream and mix on low until combined.
  • In a separate bowl, add the cake flour, baking powder, and sea salt and whisk together. With the mixer on low, slowly add in the cake flour and mix on low until combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and mix again until completely combined.
  • Divide the batter evenly into each of the cake pans, about 227 grams each. Spread evenly and bake for 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Allow to cool completely.
  • To make the frosting: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, add the butter, powdered sugar, peanut butter, milk, and vanilla extract. Mix on low until combined and then speed mixer up to high for 1 minute or until light and fluffy. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and mix again until smooth.
  • To make the balls: Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Remove the cake from the pans, doesn't matter if you break it, as it all needs to be broken up into pieces anyways. Add into the bowl with the frosting and stir with a spatula, or I like to just use my hands and get messy (this is also where gloves come in handy). Mix until evenly combined. Form into 35 balls and place onto prepared baking sheets. Place in the freezer. I like to place in the freezer for about 10 minutes, then remove and reshape the balls as I have a very difficult time making perfectly round balls. You can skip this step if you like, or if you know how to roll perfect balls! Put back in the freezer.
  • To make the coating: Using a double boiler, add 80% of the milk chocolate. Melt until it reaches 110°F on a chocolate thermometer. Remove from heat and add in remaining 20% and stir vigorously to combine completely. Let the chocolate come down to 89°F.
  • Remove the balls from the freezer, and dip into the milk chocolate. Using a fork like a spoon, remove so excess chocolate drips off below. Place back on the parchment paper. Dip and coat all the balls. Place back in the freezer. If you have extra chocolate, you can remove again in about 10 minutes and drizzle over the top. This is optional but can make them look a little fancy. But, for me it doesn't matter how they look as I will just eat them all!
  • Store in the fridge for up to 7 days.

Notes

Tips
  • Always use a scale for the best results.
  • Just like cake, you want to make sure your butter is soft.
  • I prefer to use room temperature eggs, milk, and sour cream in cake as it will help keep your cake batter very smooth. When these ingredients are cold right out of the fridge and they are added to butter that is room temperature, it can seize up and create butter chunks. These butter chunks will then be in the batter, and that will cause little holes or pockets of butter in your cake. This makes the cake a different texture one that is not as fluffy and doesn't have a very good crumb. So, that's why using room temperature dairy is important in cake recipes that include softened butter.
  • If you don't have three 6-inch cake pans, you can also bake these off in cupcake pans instead. They will bake for the same amount of time, and because you are going to break up the cake anyways, it doesn't matter if they are baked in cake pans or cupcake pans.
  • When coating them, I use a fork like a spoon. I don't pierce the balls, but scoop them with a fork. This way the excess chocolate can drip through the fork back into the bowl, and then I can set it down on the parchment paper.
  • You can freeze cake balls in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Just thaw and enjoy!
Gluten Free — Replace the cake flour with 170 grams (1 cup plus 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon) gluten free flour blend.
High Altitude — Bake at 350°F for 17 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Nutrition

Calories: 215kcalCarbohydrates: 26gProtein: 2gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 29mgSodium: 108mgPotassium: 64mgFiber: 1gSugar: 21gVitamin A: 234IUVitamin C: 0.01mgCalcium: 19mgIron: 0.5mg
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