Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake With Peanut Butter Frosting

By
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
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Updated on 12/13/22
Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake

The Spruce 

Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 25 mins
Total: 40 mins
Servings: 12 servings

This chocolate mayonnaise cake has long been a favorite with my family. Mayonnaise is the secret ingredient in this super easy, moist chocolate cake and the optional peanut butter frosting is amazing. Mayonnaise replaces the eggs and oil in this easy chocolate cake.

This is frosted with the included fluffy peanut butter frosting, but feel free to dust the cake with powdered sugar or use a fluffy caramel cream cheese frosting or a basic butter frosting.

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Ingredients

For the Mayonnaise Cake

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour

  • 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

  • 1 cup granulated sugar

  • 3/4 cup mayonnaise

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

  • 1 cup water

For the Frosting

  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

  • 3/4 cup creamy peanut butter

  • 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract, optional

  • 1 cup confectioners' sugar

  • Milk, as needed

Steps to Make It

Make the Chocolate Cake

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake recipe ingredients
    The Spruce 

  2. Heat the oven to 350 F (180 C/Gas 4).

    Grease and flour a 9-inch square baking pan.

    Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake recipe
     The Spruce

  3. Sift together the flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt.

    Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake recipe
     The Spruce

  4. Whisk the sugar and mayonnaise until smooth.

    Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake recipe
    The Spruce 

  5. Then, whisk in the vanilla and water.

    Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake recipe
     The Spruce

  6. Add dry ingredients to the mayonnaise mixture; whisk until well blended.

    Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake recipe
     The Spruce

  7. Pour batter into the prepared cake pan.

    Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake recipe
     The Spruce

  8. Bake for about 30 minutes, or until the cake springs back when lightly touched in the center with a finger.

    Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake recipe
    The Spruce 

  9. Cool and then remove from the pan. 

    Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake recipe
     The Spruce

Make the Peanut Butter Frosting

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Peanut Butter frosting recipe ingredients
     The Spruce

  2. In a mixing bowl with an electric mixer on high speed, beat 6 tablespoons of softened butter with 3/4 cup of creamy peanut butter and 1/4 teaspoon of vanilla extract, if using.

    Peanut Butter frosting recipe
     The Spruce

  3. With the mixer on low speed, beat in the confectioners' sugar. Increase the speed to high and beat until fluffy.

    Peanut Butter frosting recipe
    The Spruce 

  4. If the frosting is too thick, add milk or cream in small amounts.

    Peanut Butter frosting recipe
     The Spruce

  5. Dust the cake with confectioners' sugar or frost with the peanut butter frosting, if desired.

    Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake With Peanut Butter Frosting
     The Spruce

  6. Slice, serve, and enjoy!

    Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake With Peanut Butter Frosting
     The Spruce
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
425 Calories
24g Fat
47g Carbs
6g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 12
Amount per serving
Calories 425
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 24g 31%
Saturated Fat 7g 34%
Cholesterol 21mg 7%
Sodium 368mg 16%
Total Carbohydrate 47g 17%
Dietary Fiber 2g 7%
Total Sugars 27g
Protein 6g
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Calcium 16mg 1%
Iron 2mg 12%
Potassium 123mg 3%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)