Description
This Salted Chocolate & Peanut Butter Loaf is a rich, moist cake combining the deep flavors of cocoa and dark chocolate with creamy peanut butter and crunchy salted peanuts. Perfectly balanced with a hint of sea salt, this loaf offers delightful textures and surprising pockets of peanut butter, making it an irresistible treat for any chocolate and nut lover.
Ingredients
Loaf Ingredients
- 225 g Unsalted butter (plus extra for greasing the tin)
- 225 g Caster sugar
- 4 Free range eggs (medium)
- 200 g Self raising flour
- 25 g Good quality cocoa powder
- A good pinch of sea salt
- 50 g Dark chocolate chunks
- 50 g Crunchy peanut butter
- 50 g Salted peanuts
Instructions
- Prepare the tin: Grease a loaf tin with butter thoroughly. If available, line with baking parchment by cutting one long strip to cover the sides and bottom for easy removal.
- Preheat oven: Set your oven temperature to 160°C (320°F) to ensure it is fully heated when the loaf is ready to bake.
- Cream butter and sugar: Beat room temperature unsalted butter with caster sugar until the mixture is pale, light, and fluffy, indicating proper aeration for a tender crumb.
- Add eggs: Incorporate the eggs one at a time, beating vigorously after each addition. If the batter looks curdled, don’t worry; it will smooth out after adding the dry ingredients.
- Add dry ingredients: Mix the self-raising flour, cocoa powder, and a pinch of sea salt by hand into the batter to keep the sponge light and airy.
- Fold in mix-ins: Gently stir in the dark chocolate chunks, crunchy peanut butter, and 30 g of the salted peanuts, leaving some peanut butter chunks to create delightful surprises in the baked loaf.
- Fill tin and decorate: Spoon the batter into the prepared tin, smoothing the surface with the back of a spoon. Make a slight dip in the center to allow for rising. Sprinkle the remaining salted peanuts evenly on top.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean, indicating the loaf is fully cooked.
Notes
- Ensure butter is at room temperature for easier creaming with sugar.
- Using a hand to mix in the flour and cocoa helps maintain a light texture.
- Adding peanuts on top adds a crunchy texture and visual appeal.
- Check for doneness by inserting a skewer into the loaf; it should come out clean without wet batter.
- Allow the loaf to cool before slicing for cleaner cuts.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: British
