Introduction

This Peanut Butter Cup Dump Cake is an easy, delicious dessert that combines creamy pudding, rich chocolate cake mix, and chunks of peanut butter cups. With minimal equipment and simple steps, it’s perfect for anyone craving a quick, indulgent treat.

A glass baking dish filled with a thick, rich chocolate brownie that has a rough, bumpy texture on top showing swirls of lighter brown and dark chocolate. Small, round chocolate pieces are scattered across the top layer, adding shiny, smooth highlights. The edges of the brownie are darker and crisp, contrasting with the softer-looking interior swirls. The dish is placed on a white marbled surface with a white and blue striped cloth and a metal serving spoon next to it. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

1 package (3.4 oz) instant chocolate pudding mix
1¾ cups milk
1 package (18.25 oz) chocolate cake mix
1 cup peanut butter cups, roughly chopped

Instructions

Step 1: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the instant pudding mix and milk until smooth and well combined.
Step 2: Stir in the chocolate cake mix until the batter is thick and well blended.
Step 3: Fold in the roughly chopped peanut butter cups, leaving some pieces larger for melted pockets of peanut butter.
Step 4: Pour the mixture into a greased 13 x 9 inch baking dish and spread evenly. Bake at 350°F (180°C) for about 25 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.
Step 5: Let the cake cool slightly before serving, or enjoy warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Tips & Variations

Don’t overmix the batter to keep the cake tender and moist.
Use different sized pieces of peanut butter cups to create pockets of melted peanut butter.
The batter will be thick, which is normal for this recipe and results in a fudgy texture.
Check for doneness starting at 20 minutes to avoid overbaking.
Try using yellow cake mix with chocolate pudding for a different flavor, or devil’s food cake mix for an extra-rich chocolate taste.

Storage

Store any leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat individual slices in the microwave for 15-20 seconds. You can also freeze this cake for up to 3 months by wrapping slices in plastic wrap and placing them in a freezer-safe container. Thaw in the fridge before reheating.

How to Serve

A glass baking dish contains a rich dessert with two main layers visible: the bottom layer is golden-brown with a soft, gooey texture, while the top layer is thick and dark brown with a slightly cracked surface, showing a baked chocolate crust. Scattered across the top are small, round, shiny chocolate pieces that add texture and visual interest. The dish sits on a white marbled surface, next to a folded white cloth with blue stripes and a silver serving spoon. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

What is a dump cake?

A dump cake is a simple dessert where all ingredients are combined quickly and baked without complicated techniques like creaming or folding. Traditional dump cakes often layer cake mix, fruit, and butter, but this recipe uses pudding and milk to create a fudgy, cake-like texture.

Can I use a different flavour of cake mix?

Absolutely! Yellow cake mix with chocolate pudding or a devil’s food cake mix both work well. Just keep the same measurements as the original recipe.

What if I don’t have instant pudding mix?

You can omit the pudding mix but increase the milk to 1 cup. The texture will be slightly different but still tasty.

Can I use regular-sized peanut butter cups instead of minis?

While the recipe calls for chopped peanut butter cups, you can use regular-sized ones as long as you chop them into smaller pieces to distribute throughout the batter.