This recipe transforms the beloved flavors of chocolate and peanut butter cups into a visually stunning and decadent Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Roll Cake. This cake features a moist chocolate cake rolled around a creamy peanut butter filling, generously frosted with a rich chocolate ganache, piped with peanut butter whipped topping, and adorned with chopped Reese’s peanut butter cups. It’s a show-stopping dessert that is surprisingly achievable with the help of a chocolate cake mix, making it perfect for celebrations or indulging your sweet tooth. The light and airy texture of the rolled chocolate cake beautifully contrasts with the smooth and rich peanut butter filling, creating a delightful mouthfeel. The chocolate ganache adds a layer of intense chocolate flavor and a glossy finish, while the peanut butter whipped topping echoes the creamy filling and provides an elegant decoration. Finally, the chopped Reese’s peanut butter cups on top offer a direct hit of that iconic chocolate and peanut butter combination, both in taste and visual appeal. This roll cake is a dream for any Reese’s fan, offering a fun and impressive way to enjoy those classic flavors in a more substantial and celebratory dessert. The swirled interior reveals layers of chocolate cake and peanut butter filling, creating an attractive pattern when sliced. Served chilled, this Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Roll Cake is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.
The texture of the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Roll Cake is a delightful combination of a moist and tender chocolate cake, a smooth and creamy peanut butter filling, a rich and slightly fudgy chocolate ganache, and a light and airy peanut butter whipped topping, all punctuated by the solid, slightly waxy texture of the chopped Reese’s peanut butter cups.
The flavor profile is intensely rich and sweet, dominated by the classic pairing of chocolate and peanut butter. The chocolate cake provides a deep, slightly bitter cocoa flavor, while the peanut butter filling offers a salty-sweet and nutty taste. The chocolate ganache intensifies the chocolate notes, and the peanut butter whipped topping adds an extra layer of creamy peanut butter flavor. The Reese’s peanut butter cup pieces deliver concentrated bursts of both chocolate and peanut butter.
Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Roll Cake is a decadent and visually impressive dessert that perfectly captures the iconic flavor combination of chocolate and peanut butter in a fun and shareable format.
The preparation involves baking a thin chocolate cake, spreading it with a peanut butter filling, rolling it up, frosting it with chocolate ganache, decorating with peanut butter whipped topping, and garnishing with Reese’s peanut butter cups.
Ingredients:
- 1 box (15.25 ounce) chocolate cake mix (plus ingredients called for on the box, usually eggs, oil, and water)
- ½ cup creamy peanut butter
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- ¼ cup powdered sugar (for whipped topping)
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract (for whipped topping)
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- ½ cup heavy whipping cream (for ganache)
- 6-8 Reese’s peanut butter cups, chopped
Equipment:
- 10×15 inch jelly roll pan
- Parchment paper
- Mixing bowls
- Electric mixer
- Rubber spatula
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Small saucepan or microwave-safe bowl (for ganache)
- Piping bag and star tip (optional, for whipped topping)
Instructions:
- Prepare and Bake the Chocolate Cake: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line a 10×15 inch jelly roll pan with parchment paper, allowing a few inches of overhang on the long sides. Prepare the chocolate cake batter according to the package directions. Pour the batter evenly into the prepared pan. Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Be careful not to overbake, as you want a moist and flexible cake.
- Prepare the Peanut Butter Filling: While the cake is baking, prepare the peanut butter filling. In a medium bowl, beat together the creamy peanut butter, ½ cup of powdered sugar, and softened cream cheese with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy. Set aside.
- Prepare Peanut Butter Whipped Topping: In a separate chilled bowl, beat the 1 cup of heavy whipping cream with an electric mixer until soft peaks form. Gradually add the ¼ cup of powdered sugar and vanilla extract, and continue beating until stiff peaks form. Transfer the whipped topping to a piping bag fitted with a star tip, or simply set aside to spread.
- Prepare the Chocolate Ganache: Once the cake is out of the oven, let it cool in the pan for a few minutes. While it’s still warm, prepare the chocolate ganache. Place the semi-sweet chocolate chips in a heatproof bowl. In a small saucepan, heat the ½ cup of heavy whipping cream over medium heat until it just begins to simmer around the edges. Pour the hot cream over the chocolate chips and let it sit for 2-3 minutes without stirring. Then, whisk gently until the chocolate is completely melted and the ganache is smooth and glossy. Set aside to cool slightly until it thickens to a spreadable consistency.
- Assemble the Roll Cake: Once the chocolate cake has cooled slightly, carefully invert it onto a clean kitchen towel dusted with powdered sugar. Gently peel off the parchment paper. Spread the prepared peanut butter filling evenly over the warm cake, leaving about an inch border along one of the long edges.
- Roll the Cake: Starting from one of the long edges (the one without the border), tightly roll up the cake along with the peanut butter filling. Use the towel to help you roll and keep it tight. Once rolled, place the seam side down on a serving platter or a cutting board.
- Frost with Chocolate Ganache: Once the chocolate ganache has thickened slightly, pour it evenly over the top of the rolled cake, allowing it to drip down the sides. Use a spatula to spread it evenly.
- Decorate: Pipe swirls of the peanut butter whipped topping along the top of the chocolate-covered roll cake. Finally, sprinkle the chopped Reese’s peanut butter cups over the whipped topping.
- Chill: Refrigerate the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Roll Cake for at least 1-2 hours to allow the ganache to set and the cake to chill.
- Serve: Slice the chilled roll cake with a serrated knife and serve.
Enjoy this decadent Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Roll Cake – a perfect treat for any chocolate and peanut butter lover!