PB and J Cake Black Currant Sauce (Printable)

Moist peanut butter cake layers filled with tangy black currant jam and finished with a sweet, glossy sauce.

# What You Need:

→ Peanut Butter Cake

01 - 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 teaspoon baking powder
03 - 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
04 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
05 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
06 - 3/4 cup creamy peanut butter
07 - 1 cup granulated sugar
08 - 2 large eggs
09 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
10 - 1/2 cup whole milk

→ Black Currant Jam Center

11 - 1/2 cup black currant jam or preserves

→ Black Currant Sauce

12 - 1 cup fresh or frozen black currants
13 - 1/3 cup granulated sugar
14 - 2 tablespoons water
15 - 1 teaspoon lemon juice

# How-To Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and line an 8-inch round cake pan with parchment paper.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
03 - In a large bowl, beat softened butter and creamy peanut butter until smooth and creamy.
04 - Add granulated sugar to the butter mixture and beat until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in vanilla extract.
05 - Alternately add the flour mixture and milk to the peanut butter mixture, beginning and ending with flour. Mix just until combined.
06 - Spread half the batter into the prepared pan. Spoon black currant jam evenly over the batter, leaving a 1/2-inch border at the edge. Gently spread the remaining batter on top to cover the jam.
07 - Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
08 - Combine black currants, sugar, and water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 8 to 10 minutes until thickened and syrupy. Stir in lemon juice and cool slightly.
09 - Serve cake slices drizzled with black currant sauce.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It tastes like a nostalgic sandwich transformed into something elegant enough to impress without pretending to be more complicated than it really is.
  • The black currant sauce adds a bright tartness that cuts through the richness, making every bite feel balanced and alive on your tongue.
02 -
  • Don't overmix once you start adding the flour; stop as soon as you see no white streaks, because overmixing develops gluten and creates a tough, dense cake instead of a tender one.
  • The black currant sauce continues to thicken as it cools, so it might seem a bit thin when you first turn off the heat; trust this and don't simmer it longer or you'll end up with jam instead of sauce.
03 -
  • Bring all your ingredients to room temperature before you start; cold eggs and butter don't emulsify smoothly into the peanut butter mixture, which can result in a greasy, separated batter.
  • If you can't find black currants, this cake is equally stunning with raspberry or blackberry jam, though the flavor profile shifts slightly toward sweeter and less complex.
Go Back