Banana Chocolate Peanut Butter Crunch Cake

Move over Banana bread, there’s a new cake in town. Banana Chocolate Peanut Butter Crunch Cake, that is. Before you turn those overripe bananas into muffins yet again, whip up this insanely tasty layer cake instead! The combo of banana + chocolate + peanut butter is rich and oh-so-satisfying, and Cocoa Crispies cereal adds a fun crunch element to this cake! It’s perfect for birthday celebrations, get togethers, or when you just really want cake.

The cake

The cake is essentially a super moist banana bread, with the twist of a decadent chocolate swirl. The easiest way to make it is to make the banana cake in one bowl, then pour half of the batter into another bowl which you’ll mix with the melted chocolate to create a super rich, chocolatey banana cake batter.

Then, grease your pans, and pour half of the plain banana cake batter into the pans. Using a tablespoon, dollop the chocolate cake batter all over the plain batter, and then dollop more plain batter, more chocolate batter, in a random pattern until your cake pans are filled evenly (about halfway each). Using a toothpick or a knife, swirl the batters together to create a chocolatey banana swirl cake.

The frosting

This cake has two frostings, which means it’s twice as delicious (at least in my book). Inside the cake, you have a peanut butter frosting, which you’ll likely want to slather on everything. I usually make a little extra and eat it with pretzels, nilla wafers, fruit – you name it.

To create the frosting, just combine the peanut butter with softened butter and powdered sugar in a stand mixer so that you get a super smooth frosting. Once fully combined, stir in the Cocoa Crispies. Note – they will soften if this sits for a few days, so if you’re not planning to eat this cake right away, I would advise leaving them out of the peanut butter frosting and just using them as a topping before servings.

The outside of the cake is frosted with a super fluffy chocolate frosting, made with all the good stuff – cocoa powder, butter, milk, sugar. I like to make it in my KitchenAid stand mixer with the whisk attachment so it gets super fluffy. I combine the ingredients at a 3-4 speed and once they’re fully incorporated, I turn it up to a 6-7 speed for about a 40 seconds, just long enough to whip air into the frosting. I love the way the fluffy frosting plays off the texture of the crunchy cereal and the chewy cake.

Banana Chocolate Peanut Butter Crunch Cake

Jacklin Altman

Move over banana bread – there's a new use for bananas. This cake has a dense yet fluffy banana chocolate swirl cake that's filled with peanut butter frosting and topped with a rich chocolate frosting.

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Prep Time 30 minutes mins

Cook Time 45 minutes mins

Decorating Time 30 minutes mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 12

Calories 774 kcal

Equipment

• Mixing Bowls
• Cake Pans
• Stand Mixer
• Oven

Ingredients

  

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Banana Chocolate Swirl Cake:

• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 4 tbsp canola oil
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/4 cup light brown sugar
• 3 ripe bananas mashed
• 3/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup milk chocolate chips

Peanut Butter Frosting:

• 2/3 cup creamy peanut butter
• 4 tbsp softened butter
• 2/3 cup powdered sugar
• 1/4 cup Cocoa Krispies cereal

Chocolate Frosting:

• 2 1/2 cup sticks unsalted butter softened
• 2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 3-4 cups powdered sugar
• 3-4 tbsp milk or heavy cream
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• pinch of salt

Instructions

 

• Preheat oven to 350F
• Mash bananas thoroughly, then add oil, eggs, yogurt, and stir together
• Add brown sugar and stir
• In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt
• Stir dry ingredients into wet ingredients, and mix together until uniformly combined
• Melt 1/4 c chocolate chips in microwave in 30 second intervals until chocolate is smooth and melted
• Remove 1/2 cup of the banana cake batter and mix together with melted chocolate
• Pour plain banana cake batter into greased cake pans
• Dollop chocolate batter onto plain banana cake batter and use a knife to swirl together
• Bake for 40-45 minutes, until toothpick comes out clean
• Allow to cool completely before frosting
• Combine peanut butter frosting ingredients in stand mixer, and layer into the middle of the cooled cake (note: if not eating right away, leaving cocoa crispies out of peanut butter frosting).
• Combine chocolate frosting ingredients in a stand mixer using the whisk attachment to get fluffy frosting. Start on a 2-3 speed to combine all of the ingredients, then whip them at a 6-7 speed for 40 seconds or so until the frosting is light and fluffy.
• Frost entire cake, top with additional Cocoa Crispies cereal, and enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories: 774kcalCarbohydrates: 79gProtein: 10gFat: 50gSaturated Fat: 25gCholesterol: 125mgSodium: 589mgPotassium: 319mgFiber: 4gSugar: 55gVitamin A: 1208IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 83mgIron: 2mg

Keyword chocolate, banana bread, banana, vegetarian, peanut butter, Cake, dessert

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