It was my hubby’s birthday a few days ago so I made his ultimate favorite cake of all time: a chocolate mayonnaise cake with peanut butter buttercream frosting.

Marlin’s mother made this cake for all of her children’s birthdays (there are 6 total…only one, Ruby, wanted something different which was a pineapple upside down cake).

She also made it for Marlin’s dad’s birthday as well.

My husband and his siblings didn’t grow up with a lot of money and they had tough times but there sure was a lot of love amongst this crew of six – and there still is to this very day. I listen to the childhood stories of Marlin’s upbringing and the forefront of it all was his mother’s love. She didn’t have much to give for each child on their birthdays but she anyways gave this special token of love in making them their favorite cake on their special day.

So…it is definitely a family tradition that still lives on to this day. The Dixon’s love chocolate mayonnaise cake (except for the rebel “pineapple upside down cake lover”, Ruby ❤️)

Happy Birthday (again) to my Marlin. May your new year bring you all of the blessings and greatness that you deserve. And as your sister Ruby likes to say on each birthday…eat cake 😋

Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake

Cake Ingredients

6 TBSP Hershey’s Unsweetened Cocoa

3 cups King Arthur’s All Purpose Flour

1 TBSP baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 1/2 cups Duke’s Mayonnaise

1 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups cold water

Peanut Butter Buttercream Frosting Ingredients

1 cup unsalted butter, softened

4 cups confectioners sugar

1/4 cup of milk, heavy cream or half and half (I use whole milk)

2 tsp pure vanilla extract

A heaping tablespoon (or more…all depends on your preference) of creamy peanut butter

Cake Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour two 8″ cake pans or line with parchment paper.

In a large bowl, sift cocoa, flour, baking soda, salt and sugar and mix well.

Add the mayonnaise, vanilla and water. Use an electric mixer at low speed and mix until smooth. Do not over mix.

Pour the batter into the cake pans and bake for 30 minutes or until completely done.

Remove from the oven and let the cake sit in the pans for at least ten minutes. Remove the cakes from the pans and onto a cooling rack.

Cool completely before frosting.

Frost with your favorite frosting.

Chocolate frosting is a popular one for this cake. I always make Peanut Butter Buttercream for the cake because it’s a personal favorite.

Directions for Peanut Butter Buttercream Frosting

With a handheld or stand alone mixer, beat the butter on medium speed until creamy – about 2 minutes.

Add 4 cups confectioners sugar, the milk, vanilla extract and peanut butter.

Beat for 2 minutes.

(Adapted from Duke’s Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake recipe)