Chocolate And Espresso Layer Cake With Peanut Butter Icing Recipes

CHOCOLATE ESPRESSO CAKE WITH PEANUT BUTTER FROSTING & RUM DRIZZLE RECIPE - (4.1/5)

Steps:

• To Make the Cake Layers: Position rack in center of oven; preheat to 325. Generously butter two 9-inch cake pans; dust with cocoa, tapping out excess. Line bottom of pan with parchment paper. Sift 2 cups cake flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt into medium bowl. Using electric mixer, beat butter in large bowl until smooth. Add brown sugar and beat until well blended, about 2 minutes. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in vanilla. Add flour mixture in 3 additions alternately with buttermilk in 2 additions, beating just until blended after each addition. Gradually add hot espresso-water mixture, beating just until smooth. Divide batter between pans; smooth tops. Bake cakes until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 40 minutes. Cool cakes in pans on rack 15 minutes. Run small knife around sides of pans to loosen cakes. Invert cakes onto racks; lift pans off cakes and remove parchment. Place wire rack atop each cake, invert again so top side is up. Cool completely. Mark each cake layer with toothpicks halfway up the sides; use the toothpicks as a guide to cut each cake layer in half. To Make the Frosting: In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together the peanut butter and butter for 2-3 minutes. Add the powdered sugar, scrape the sides of the bowl and mix on high for one minute. Add the rum and vanilla and mix in. Add the heavy cream and beat until smooth; scraping the sides. Beat for 3 minutes on high. Use immediately For the Rum Drizzle: Put all of the ingredients into a medium size saucepan. Heat until bubbly and cook for one minute. Cool completely. Putting it all together: Spread a tablespoon of frosting in the middle of your cake plate to help hold cake in place. Brush crumbs from one cake layer and put in the middle of the plate. Drizzle one Tablespoon of rum drizzle over cake layer and spread 1 and 1/2 cups of frosting on cake, smoothing to edges. Repeat with all layers. I used the back of a small spoon to even the frosting along the edges but that's really optional. Swirl frosting over top of cake and either pipe rosettes in the center of the cake on the top or dollop additional frosting and swirl in center. Gently pour rum drizzle over cake; letting pool on top and drip down the sides. Serve.

PEANUT BUTTER CHOCOLATE LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and line two 9-inch round cake pans with parchment paper.
• Beat butter and peanut butter for cake together with an electric mixer at medium speed until blended; gradually add brown sugar, beating well. Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each egg.
• Combine flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl; add to peanut butter mixture alternately with milk, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Mix at low speed after each addition until blended. Stir in vanilla extract. Pour batter evenly between the prepared cake pans.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of each cake comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool completely on a wire rack.
• While cakes cool, place unsweetened and semisweet chocolate in the top of a double boiler; bring water to a simmer and cook until chocolate melts, stirring often, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Beat 1 cup butter with an electric mixer at medium speed until creamy. Add melted chocolate, powdered sugar, cocoa powder, milk, and vanilla extract; beat until spreading consistency.
• Place peanut butter and 1/2 cup butter in a small bowl. Beat with electric mixer at medium speed until creamy. Add powdered sugar gradually, alternately with milk, until frosting is thick and spreadable. Beat an additional 3 minutes.
• Remove 1 cooled cake layer from its pan and frost with chocolate buttercream frosting. Place second cake on top and complete frosting with chocolate buttercream.
• Frost a thick line on the top and bottom edges of the cake with peanut butter frosting using a frosting pouch fitted with a cake decorating tip. Place 16 dollops of peanut butter frosting around the perimeter of the cake. Place mini peanut butter cups on each dollop. Serve immediately.

CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F Grease and flour 3 (9-inch) cake pans.
• In a large bowl,beat butter and sugar with electric mixer until fluffy. Beat in eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
• In a medium bowl, combine flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder and salt; sift 2 times.
• Add sifted flour mixture to butter mixture alternately with buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Stir in vanilla.
• Pour batter into prepared cake pans. Bake 33 to 38 minute.
• Cool cake in pans on a wire rack 10 minutes. Remove from pans and cool completely on wire rack.
• For chocolate ganache:.
• Combine morsels and cream in a small microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high for 30 seconds; stir. Continue microwaving in 30 second intervals until mixture is smooth when stirred. Let cool 10 minutes.
• For peanut butter mousse:.
• Combine morsels and 1/4 cup cream in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high for 30 seconds; stir. Continue microwaving in 30 second intervals until mixture is smooth when stirred. Stir in peanut butter; let cool.
• In a small bowl, beat remaining whipping cream with an electric mixer until thickened.
• Add confectioners sugar, 1 tbsp at a time, beating until stiff peaks form. Fold whipped cream into cooled peanut butter mixture.
• For rich chocolate frosting:.
• In a large bowl, beat butter with an electric mixer until creamy. Gradually beat in cocoa and confections sugar until smooth.
• Add milk, 1 tbsp at a time, beating after each addition, until desired consistency is reached.
• For peanut butter ganache:.
• Combine morsels and cream in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high for 30 seconds; stir. Continue microwaving at 30 second intervals until mixture is smooth when stirred. Let cool slightly.
• Spread chocolate ganache evenly over each cake layer. Place 1 cake layer on a serving platter.
• Spread half of smooth peanut butter mousse on top of chocolate ganache, to within 1/2 inch of edges of cake. Top with another cake layer.
• Spread remaining smooth peanut butter mousse on top of ganache to within 1/2-inch of edges of cake.
• Top with final cake layer. Spread rich chocolate frosting over top and sides of cake. Drizzle with peanut butter ganache and garnish with peanuts, if desired.

CHOCOLATE-PEANUT BUTTER LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour three 8-inch cake pans.
• Mix sugar, oil, sour cream, cocoa powder, eggs, vinegar, vanilla, and salt together in a mixing bowl. Add flour and water in batches, mixing and alternating between each, until incorporated. Whisk to create a smooth batter. Pour evenly into the prepared cake pans.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of each layer comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Cool on a wire rack for 5 minutes. Run a table knife around the edges to loosen. Invert carefully onto a serving plate or cooling rack. Let cool, about 30 minutes.
• Combine cream cheese and butter for frosting in a very large mixing bowl with an electric mixer. Slowly add confectioners' sugar a few cups at a time until smooth. Mix in peanut butter to incorporate thoroughly.
• Generously distribute the frosting between the layers of the cake and on the top and sides. This frosting is a bit firm and easy to work with. At this point, place the cake in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour to set; it will be extremely heavy.
• Microwave chocolate, peanut butter, and corn syrup for glaze together in short 30-second intervals, mixing between each, until the chocolate is melted. Whisk in half-and-half until smooth. While warm, drizzle over the frosted cake.
• Place the cake back into the refrigerator to set, about 30 minutes. Remove the cake from the refrigerator 30 minutes to 1 hour before serving.