This peanut butter and jelly cake is a moist, sweet, and fluffy treat that brings the nostalgic flavors of a childhood favorite sandwich to a whole new level. With layers of rich peanut butter cake, strawberry jelly, and a creamy peanut butter frosting, this cake is delightfully sweet but not too rich.
Do you enjoy the classic taste of peanut butter and jelly but are getting tired of the same old sandwiches? Then this recipe is just what you need; it tastes just like the popular sandwich we all know and love, except in a very unique cake form.
If you love this cake, you should definitely try my raisin cake, an old-fashioned recipe that’s packed with flavor. Another vintage recipe you might enjoy is my pineapple upside-down cake, which is a true classic. And if you’re a fan of the classics, you can’t go wrong with my banana cake, a timeless favorite that’s always a hit.
This recipe was a Pillsbury winner. I found the recipe in the 15th Grand National Pillsbury mini cookbook in an antique shop. I used the cake recipe but decided not to use the listed vanilla frosting recipe and used a peanut butter frosting recipe from the Taste of Home cookbook. Together the flavors were out of this world!
Table of Contents
Why I Love This Recipe
- Classic Flavors: This recipe brings together the classic flavors of peanut butter and jelly in a new and exciting way, making it a hit with both kids and adults.
- Comfort Food: The moist, sweet, and fluffy cake layers combined with the creamy peanut butter and sweet jelly create a delicious comfort food, making this recipe perfect for any cozy occasion.
- Nostalgic: This cake is a nostalgic reminder of childhood. It’ll remind you of having PB&J sandwiches. Trust me, it’s a perfect treat for those who love a bit of nostalgia in their desserts.
- Family Favorite: This recipe is a surefire hit with the whole family. The familiar flavors and the fun twist on a classic sandwich make it a dessert that everyone will love, especially the kids.
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Key Ingredients
- All-purpose flour: This is the main dry ingredient in the recipe, providing structure to the cake layers.
- Granulated sugar: It adds sweetness to the cake and helps to give it a golden brown color when baked.
- Baking powder: This is the leaven that helps the cake layers rise and become fluffy.
- Salt: A pinch of salt enhances the flavor of the other ingredients in the cake.
- Brown sugar: It adds a deep, rich flavor and moistness to the cake layers.
- Shortening: This fat ingredient helps to tenderize the cake layers, making them soft and crumbly.
- Creamy peanut butter: It adds a delicious peanut flavor to the cake layers and makes them moist.
- Milk: This is the liquid component that helps to bring all the ingredients together and make the cake batter smooth. It’s also used in the frosting.
- Eggs: They act as a binder in the cake batter, holding all the other ingredients together.
- Vanilla extract: It adds a sweet, aromatic flavor to the cake layers, and also in the frosting.
- Strawberry jelly: We’ll be using this in our middle filling along with creamy peanut butter for that classic flavor combo.
- Butter: This will be the fat base of our peanut butter frosting.
- Confectioners’ sugar: Using powdered sugar will give the frosting a smooth consistency with the right level of sweetness.
Equipment
- 9-inch cake rounds – You’ll need two of these to bake the cake layers. They ensure that the cake layers are of the right size and shape.
- Large bowl – This is where you’ll sift the dry ingredients and mix the cake batter. It provides ample space for mixing.
- Electric mixer – This is essential for beating the cake batter and ensuring that all the ingredients are well combined. It saves time and effort compared to mixing by hand.
How to Make Peanut Butter and Jelly Cake
Preparation
To start, preheat your oven to 375˚ F and prepare your cake pans. Butter and flour two 9-inch cake rounds. This will prevent the cake layers from sticking to the pans.
Step 1 – Combine Dry and Wet Ingredients
In a large bowl, sift together the all-purpose flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Then, add the brown sugar, shortening, peanut butter, and milk.
Step 2 – Beat the Batter
Beat this mixture on low speed with an electric mixer for 1 ½ minutes, scraping the sides periodically. Next, add the eggs and vanilla, and beat for an additional 1 ½ minutes on low speed.
Step 3 – Bake the Cake Layers
Evenly pour the cake batter into your prepared cake pans. Place them in the oven and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake layers comes out clean.
Step 4 – Cool Cake Layers
Once baked, let the cake layers cool in the pans for 45 minutes before removing them. After this, let the cake layers cool completely on a wire rack before frosting.
Step 5 – Assemble the Cake
Once the cake layers are cool, it’s time to assemble the cake. Place one layer top side down on a serving plate. Spread a layer of peanut butter and then a layer of jelly on top of this. Finally, place the second cake layer on top.
Step 6 – Frost the Cake and Serve
Now, it’s time to frost the cake. To make the frosting, combine the frosting combine the butter and peanut butter and beat on high for 1 minute until smooth. Add the milk, confectioners sugar, and vanilla extract and mix until incorporated. Use the peanut butter frosting to cover the entire cake, including the top and sides. You can use a spatula to achieve a smooth finish. It’s now ready to serve.
Expert Tip
To guarantee that your cake layers come out of the pan easily, use a circle of parchment paper on the bottom of the greased cake pans and let it cool for about 45 minutes before attempting to remove it. This simple trick will make it easy to remove the cake without any sticking.
Recipe Variations
- Plain Buttercream: Instead of using peanut butter frosting, try plain buttercream for a different flavor profile.
- Jelly: Add jelly to the top of the cake, and press chopped peanuts into the sides for a fun and delicious decoration.
- Alternative Jelly: Use a different kind of jelly or jam for the middle filling. This is a great way to personalize the cake and make it your own.
What to Serve With
- For a classic dessert pairing, serve a slice of this with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. The creamy, cold ice cream is the perfect contrast to the rich, sweet cake.
- If you’re a fan of coffee, you’ll love how a strong cup of black coffee compliments the sweetness of the peanut butter and jelly cake. The bitter coffee helps balance out the flavors, making for a satisfying afternoon treat.
- For a fun twist, try serving this cake as part of a brunch spread. The fruity flavors in the strawberry jelly and the rich peanut butter go wonderfully with a glass of fresh orange juice and a plate of fluffy scrambled eggs.
Recipe FAQs
A jelly cake is a type of cake that has a layer of jelly or jam sandwich between two cake layers. It’s a dessert with classic flavors that both adults and kids will love.
Yes, you can substitute any other nut butter for the creamy peanut butter in this recipe. Almond butter or cashew butter would work well and still give the cake layers a delicious nutty flavor.
Absolutely! Feel free to use any type of jelly or jam you like. Raspberry jam, apricot jam, or even orange marmalade would all be delicious in this peanut butter and jelly cake.
To make sure that your cake layers don’t stick to the pan, make sure to properly grease and flour the cake pans before pouring in the batter. You can also use a circle of parchment paper on the bottom of the greased cake pans to make it easy to remove the cake.
If you don’t have an electric mixer, you can mix the batter by hand using a whisk. Just make sure to beat the batter well to incorporate all the ingredients and make it smooth.
To put jelly between the cake layers, first, make sure your cake layers are completely cool. Then, place one layer top side down on a serving plate. Spread the layer with smooth peanut butter and then with strawberry jam. Top with the second layer, and you’re good to go.
Storing and Reheating
- Storage Instructions: If you have leftover cake layers, you can store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days
- Freezing: The peanut butter and jelly cake can be frozen. Once the cake layers are completely cooled, wrap them individually in plastic wrap. Then, place them in a freezer-safe bag or container. They can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- Thawing Instructions: When ready to use, simply remove the cake layers from the freezer and let them thaw at room temperature. This should take about 2-3 hours.
More Peanut Butter Desserts You’ll Enjoy
Serving Size
- What to Expect: This peanut butter and jelly cake recipe yields two 9-inch cake layers, which are enough to make a delicious layered cake for 8-10 servings.
- How to Scale: If you want to make a larger cake, you can double the recipe and follow the rest of the instructions as directed. You can even make two cakes this way or add more layers for a taller cake.
Peanut Butter and Jelly Cake
Ingredients
Cake:
- 2 ½ Cups all purpose flour
- ⅔ Cup granulated sugar
- 4 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 Cup packed brown sugar
- ⅓ Cup shortening
- ⅓ Cup creamy peanut butter
- 1 ¼ Cup milk
- 3 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Middle Filling:
- ¼ Cup creamy peanut butter
- ½ Cup strawberry jelly
Peanut Butter Frosting:
- ¼ Cup butter softened
- ½ Cup + 1 Tablespoon creamy peanut butter
- 1 ¾ Tablespoons vanilla extract
- 3 Cups confectioners sugar
- 4-6 Tablespoons milk
Instructions
Cake:
- Preheat oven to 375˚ F. Butter and flour two 9-inch cake rounds.
- Sift the all-purpose flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt into a large bowl. Add the brown sugar, shortening, peanut butter, and milk. Beat for 1 ½ minutes with an electric mixer on low speed. Scrape the sides periodically.
- Add the large eggs and vanilla. Beat an additional 1 ½ minutes with an electric mixer on low speed.
- Turn evenly into two well-greased and floured cake pans. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick entered in the center comes out clean. Let cool for 45 minutes and then remove from the cake pan. Let cool completely before frosting.
Filling and Frosting:
- To make the frosting, combine the butter and peanut butter and beat on high for 1 minute until smooth. Add the milk, confectioners sugar, and vanilla extract and mix until incorporated.
- Once the cake is completely cool, place one layer top side down on a serving plate. Spread with peanut butter and then jelly. Top with the second layer. Frost the cake with the peanut butter frosting.
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