This cake is beautiful. It is the ultimate crowd pleaser and would make a great birthday cake, especially for anyone who loves chocolate and peanut butter aka the best flavor combination. I made this for my boyfriend's 21st birthday and he and his friends seemed to enjoy it. So did my roommate. It is a pretty easy to make cake and doesn't require too much time or too many ingredients that you probably don't already have. It also actually tastes better cold (in my opinion). This means that you should make it for yourself and keep it in the fridge for a week.
RATING: 4 OUT OF 5
LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY: 3 OUT OF 5
TIME HANDS-ON: 30 min
Total time: 60 min
LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY: 3 OUT OF 5
TIME HANDS-ON: 30 min
Total time: 60 min
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RECIPE
as adapted by Picky Palate
Cake:
4 tbsp unsalted butter (try coconut oil!)
1 cup white whole wheat flour
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup turbinado sugar
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1 large egg + 1 egg yolk
1/4 cup sour cream
1/4 cup hot water
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup chocolate chips
dark chocolate covered caramels (for garnish)
Frosting:
8 oz softened cream cheese
½ Cup powdered sugar
¼ Cup creamy peanut butter
Ganache:
3/4 cup heavy whipping cream/half and half
1 cup or 6 oz bittersweet or semisweet chocolate chips (I like bittersweet)
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 325F. Grease two 9 x 1 1/2 inch pans. (If you only have one pan like me, cook one layer at a time.) Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
2. Mix together brown sugar, peanut butter and butter for two minutes. Add egg and egg yolk and mix for another two minutes. Scrape down the sides and mix for another minute.
3. Add half of the flour mixture and mix until incorporated about 20 seconds. Add the sour cream, mixing again for 20 seconds. Slowly add the remaining flour mixture. Add the hot water and mix to combine for 30 seconds. Add the vanilla and mix for another 10 seconds. Add the chocolate chips and use a rubber spatula to finish mixing the ingredients until thoroughly combined.
4. Divide the cake batter into the prepared pans, spreading it evenly. Bake for about 15 minutes. If you have Use a toothpick to see if it is done. Let cool completely.
5. Place cream cheese, powdered sugar, and peanut butter into a medium bowl. Stir until smooth. Once cakes are cooled, spread cream cheese over bottom of one of the cakes. Top with 2nd cake.
For the ganache:
1. Place chocolate chips into a medium mixing bowl.
2. Place cream and butter into a small saucepan over medium heat.
3. Heat cream/butter until just boiling. Remove and pour over chocolate chips.
4. Let sit for 3-5 minutes then stir until smooth.
To Assemble:
Place layered cake on a wire rack.
Place rack on top of a cookie sheet so that the extra chocolate has a place to drip onto.
Pour chocolate ganache over cake and using a narrow metal spatula, quickly pared it evenly over the top and sides of the cake.
Garnish with dark chocolate covered caramels (or any candy!)
Alternative versions:
1. Replace the chocolate chips with peanut butter chips, white chocolate chips, candies, etc.
2. Garnish with any candy that you would like!
2. Mix together brown sugar, peanut butter and butter for two minutes. Add egg and egg yolk and mix for another two minutes. Scrape down the sides and mix for another minute.
3. Add half of the flour mixture and mix until incorporated about 20 seconds. Add the sour cream, mixing again for 20 seconds. Slowly add the remaining flour mixture. Add the hot water and mix to combine for 30 seconds. Add the vanilla and mix for another 10 seconds. Add the chocolate chips and use a rubber spatula to finish mixing the ingredients until thoroughly combined.
4. Divide the cake batter into the prepared pans, spreading it evenly. Bake for about 15 minutes. If you have Use a toothpick to see if it is done. Let cool completely.
5. Place cream cheese, powdered sugar, and peanut butter into a medium bowl. Stir until smooth. Once cakes are cooled, spread cream cheese over bottom of one of the cakes. Top with 2nd cake.
For the ganache:
1. Place chocolate chips into a medium mixing bowl.
2. Place cream and butter into a small saucepan over medium heat.
3. Heat cream/butter until just boiling. Remove and pour over chocolate chips.
4. Let sit for 3-5 minutes then stir until smooth.
To Assemble:
Place layered cake on a wire rack.
Place rack on top of a cookie sheet so that the extra chocolate has a place to drip onto.
Pour chocolate ganache over cake and using a narrow metal spatula, quickly pared it evenly over the top and sides of the cake.
Garnish with dark chocolate covered caramels (or any candy!)
Alternative versions:
1. Replace the chocolate chips with peanut butter chips, white chocolate chips, candies, etc.
2. Garnish with any candy that you would like!
make this.
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