Peanut Butter Cup Dump Cake | Easy Chocolate & Peanut Butter Dessert

If you love chocolate and peanut butter together, this Peanut Butter Cup Dump Cake is going to be your new favorite dessert. With layers of rich chocolate cake, gooey peanut butter cups, and a buttery topping, this indulgent dessert is as easy as it is delicious. The best part? Just like all dump cake recipes, you don’t need to fuss with mixing bowls or complicated steps—just dump, bake, and enjoy!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Dump cakes are famous for being low-effort, high-reward desserts. You simply layer ingredients in a baking dish and let the oven do the work. This version takes it up a notch with the ultimate flavor pairing: chocolate and peanut butter. Perfect for birthdays, potlucks, holiday gatherings, or even a last-minute weeknight dessert, this recipe is guaranteed to satisfy your sweet tooth with minimal effort.

Ingredients You’ll Need

To make Peanut Butter Cup Dump Cake, you’ll need just a few pantry staples:

1 box chocolate cake mix (any brand)
1 box instant chocolate pudding mix (3.9 oz)
2 cups milk
1 cup peanut butter chips
1 1/2 cups mini peanut butter cups (halved)
1/2 cup melted butter
Optional toppings: vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, extra peanut butter drizzle

Step-by-Step Instructions

Preheat the oven – Set oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
Prepare the pudding base – In a bowl, whisk together chocolate pudding mix and milk until smooth. Pour into the prepared baking dish.
Add the peanut butter goodness – Sprinkle peanut butter chips and half of the chopped peanut butter cups over the pudding layer.
Dump the cake mix – Evenly sprinkle the dry chocolate cake mix over the top. Do not stir.
Add butter – Drizzle melted butter evenly across the cake mix to help it bake into a crispy, golden topping.
Bake – Place the dish in the oven and bake for 35–40 minutes, until the top is bubbly and cooked through.
Finish & serve – Once baked, top with the remaining peanut butter cups. Let cool slightly, then serve warm with ice cream or whipped cream.

Tips & Variations

Extra chocolatey: Add a handful of chocolate chips on top of the cake mix before baking.
Peanut butter swirl: Melt 1/4 cup peanut butter and drizzle it over the pudding layer for extra peanut butter flavor.
Nutty crunch: Sprinkle chopped peanuts or pecans on top before baking for added texture.
Holiday twist: Swap peanut butter cups for peppermint patties or seasonal candies for a festive version.
Slow cooker option: Make this in a crock pot by layering ingredients the same way and cooking on high for 2–3 hours.

Final Thoughts

This Peanut Butter Cup Dump Cake is the ultimate chocolate-and-peanut-butter dessert—gooey, rich, and unbelievably easy to make. With just a handful of ingredients and no complicated prep, it’s the perfect last-minute dessert for family dinners, potlucks, or holiday celebrations. Serve it warm with a scoop of ice cream, and watch it disappear fast!