East African peanut cake with peanut butter frosting is a one-bowl, nutty-snack kind of cake: roasted peanuts folded into a soft crumb, then a crunchy peanut-butter spread over the top. It is straightforward enough for a Tuesday and sturdy enough for a bake sale. About an hour and a half covers the whole thing.
Some recipes are more than just ingredients; they’re a portal to another time and place. This cake is my love letter to a story my mum often tells from her childhood in Uganda. She and her Ismaili Gujarati friends, without ovens of their own, would whip up a special peanut cake batter and take it to the local baker in the East Nile District. While it baked to golden perfection, they’d pass the time swimming or, believe it or not, playing with baby crocodiles! The original recipe was lost to time, but I’ve poured all the love and nostalgia of that story into creating this version. It’s a tribute to friendship, resourcefulness, and the sweet taste of a cherished memory.
Ingredients
• For the Peanut Cake
• ¾ cup / 170g (6 oz) butter, melted, plus extra for greasing
• 1 cup / 145g (5.1 oz) roasted unsalted peanuts
• 1¾ cups / 220g (7.8 oz) self-rising flour
• ½ teaspoon / 2.5g (0.09 oz) baking powder
• 1 cup / 200g granulated sugar
• 3 large eggs
• For the Peanut Butter Frosting
• ⅓ cup / 85g (3 oz) crunchy peanut butter
• 1 cup / 120g confectioners’ sugar, sifted
• ½ cup / 113g (4 oz) butter, softened
• ¼ cup / 35g (1.23 oz) salted peanuts, skins removed and roughly crushed, for topping
Instructions
1. Prepare Your Pan and Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F / 175°C. Grease an 8-inch / 20cm round cake pan with butter, line the bottom with parchment paper, and grease the paper as well.
2. Grind the Peanuts: In a spice grinder or high-powered food processor, grind the 1 cup (240 ml) of roasted unsalted peanuts until they form a fine, flour-like powder. Be careful not to over-process, or you’ll end up with peanut butter.
3. Mix the Batter: In a large mixing bowl, combine the self-rising flour and baking powder. Add the granulated sugar, melted butter, eggs, and the finely ground peanuts. Stir with a spatula or wooden spoon until all are just combined and the batter is smooth.
4. Bake the Cake: Pour the batter into your prepared cake pan and spread it evenly. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.
5. Cool Completely: Let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes before carefully inverting it onto a wire rack to cool completely. It’s important the cake is fully cool before frosting.
6. Make the Frosting: While the cake cools, prepare the frosting. In a medium bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the softened butter, crunchy peanut butter, and sifted confectioners’ sugar together until light, smooth, and creamy.
7. Decorate and Serve: Once the cake is completely cool, spread the peanut butter frosting evenly over the top. For a rustic look, use the back of a spoon to create swirls. Sprinkle the crushed salted peanuts over the frosting before slicing and serving.
Nutritional Information
• (per serving)
• Calories: 560 kcal
• Protein: 11g
• Carbohydrates: 52g
• Fat: 36g
• Sugar: 38g
Pro Tips
• for the Perfect Peanut Cake
• For the finest ground peanuts, chill them in the freezer for 15 minutes before grinding. This prevents the oils from releasing too quickly and turning the nuts into a paste.
• Avoid overmixing the cake batter. Stir just until the dry and wet are combined to ensure a tender, moist crumb. Overmixing develops gluten, which can make the cake tough.
• If your frosting is too stiff, add a teaspoon of milk at a time until it’s perfectly spreadable. If it’s too thin, add a tablespoon of confectioners’ sugar until it thickens.
• For a deeper, more caramel-like flavor, substitute half of the granulated sugar with light brown sugar in the cake batter.
FAQ
Q: Can I make this peanut cake vegan
A: Yes, you can adapt this recipe to be vegan. Replace the 3 large eggs with a vegan egg substitute like 3/4 cup (960 ml) of unsweetened applesauce or 3 flax eggs (3 tbsp / 45 ml ground flaxseed mixed with 9 tbsp / 135 ml water). For the butter, use a high-quality plant-based butter alternative in both the cake and the frosting.
Q: Is this vegetarian cake a good source of protein
A: For a dessert, this cake provides a decent amount of protein, approximately 11g (0.39 oz) per serving. The protein comes primarily from the generous amount of peanuts used in the cake base and the eggs, making it a more satisfying treat.
Q: How do I make this recipe gluten-free
A: To make a gluten-free version, substitute the self-rising flour with a 1:1 gluten-free self-rising flour blend. If you use a gluten-free all-purpose flour that doesn’t contain leavening, be sure to add 2.5 teaspoons (12.5 ml / 0.4 fl oz) of baking powder and a 1/2 teaspoon (10 ml / 0.3 fl oz) of salt to the mix.
Q: How should I store this vegetarian peanut cake
A: Store the frosted cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. If your room is particularly warm, it’s best to refrigerate it to keep the peanut butter frosting from becoming too soft. Let it sit at room temperature for about 20 minutes before serving for the best texture.
More Recipes You’ll Love
- Vegetarian Cabbage Pie (Kulebyaka)
- Homemade Almond Cake from Whole Almonds
- Vegan Blueberry Cornmeal Muffins
East African Peanut Cake with Peanut Butter Frosting
Ingredients
Method
- Prepare Your Pan and Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F / 175°C.
- Grease an 8-inch / 20cm round cake pan with butter, line the bottom with parchment paper, and grease the paper as well.
- Grind the Peanuts: In a spice grinder or high-powered food processor, grind the 1 cup (240 ml) of roasted unsalted peanuts until they form a fine, flour-like powder. Be careful not to over-process, or you'll end up with peanut butter.
- Mix the Batter: In a large mixing bowl, combine the self-rising flour and baking powder.
- Add the granulated sugar, melted butter, eggs, and the finely ground peanuts.
- Stir with a spatula or wooden spoon until all are just combined and the batter is smooth.
- Bake the Cake: Pour the batter into your prepared cake pan and spread it evenly.
- Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool Completely: Let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes before carefully inverting it onto a wire rack to cool completely. It's important the cake is fully cool before frosting.
- Make the Frosting: While the cake cools, prepare the frosting.
- In a medium bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the softened butter, crunchy peanut butter, and sifted confectioners’ sugar together until light, smooth, and creamy.
- Decorate and Serve: Once the cake is completely cool, spread the peanut butter frosting evenly over the top. For a rustic look, use the back of a spoon to create swirls.
- Sprinkle the crushed salted peanuts over the frosting before slicing and serving.
