Chocolate Cake Peanut Butter Cups Recipes

PEANUT BUTTER CHOCOLATE LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F (176°C) and prepare three 8 inch cake pans with non-stick baking spray and parchment paper in the bottom. 2
• . Add the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder and salt to a large mixer bowl and combine. Set aside.
• . Add the milk, vegetable oil, vanilla extract and eggs to a medium sized bowl and combine.
• . Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and beat until well combined.
• . Slowly add the hot water to the batter and mix on low speed until well combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed to make sure everything is well combined.
• . Divide the batter evenly between the prepared cake pans and bake for 22-25 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out with a few moist crumbs.
• . Remove cakes from oven and allow to cool for 2-3 minutes, then remove to a cooling rack to finish cooling.
• . To make the frosting, combine the butter and peanut butter in a large mixer bowl and mix until well combined.
• . Add about half of the powdered sugar and mix until smooth.
• 0. Add 3 tablespoons of water or milk and mix until smooth.
• 1. Add remaining powdered sugar and mix until smooth.
• 2. Add remaining water or milk and mix until smooth, keeping an eye on the consistency of the frosting so it doesn't get too thin. 13
• To build the cake, use a large serrated knife to remove the tops of the cake layers so that they're flat. See my tips on how to level a cake and how to stack a cake. 14. Pl
• ce the first cake layer on a serving plate or cardboard cake circle and top with about 1 cup of frosting. Smooth frosting into an even layer. 15. Ad
• about half of the chopped Reese's on top of the frosting and press into the frosting. Spread a small amount of frosting on top of the Reese's so that it's sticky on top for the next cake layer. 16. Add the
• ext cake layer and top with about 1 cup of frosting. Smooth frosting into an even layer. 17. Add rema
• ning half of the chopped Reese's on top of the frosting and press into the frosting. Spread a small amount of frosting on top of the Reese's so that it's sticky on top for the next cake layer. 18. Add the final
• ake layer to the top of the cake. 19. Smooth out the
• frosting on the sides of the cake, creating a thin crumb coat. 20. Add about 1 cu
• of frosting to the top of the cake and smooth into an even layer. 21. Frost the cake
• using my tutorial for a smooth cake. Stop just before using the paper towel, which won't be necessary with the pattern on the sides of this cake. 22. Use an offset spa
• ula to create the stripes around the cake. For guidance, see the video above starting at about 1:40. 22. Set the cake asid
• and make the chocolate ganache (see my tips for making chocolate ganache). Put the chocolate chips in a heat proof bowl. 23. Microwave the hea
• y whipping cream until it just begins to boil, then pour it over the chocolate chips. Allow it to sit for 2-3 minutes, then whisk until smooth. 24. Use a squeeze bot
• le or a spoon to drizzle the chocolate around the edges of the cake, then fill in the top of the cake and smooth it with an offset spatula. See my tips for making a chocolate drip cake. 25. Allow the ganache
• to firm a bit, about 10 minutes, then top with remaining frosting, additional Reese's chopped in half, and Reese's crumbles. 26. Refrigerate the cake
• ntil ready to serve. Serve at room temperature. Cake is best for 3-4 days.

CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Grease two 8-inch round baking pans and line the bottoms with parchment paper.
• Stir together sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt in large bowl.
• Add eggs, milk, oil and vanilla and beat on medium speed for about 2 minutes.
• Stir in the boiling water (your batter will be very thin--that's OK!). Pour batter into prepared cake pans.
• Bake for about 30 to 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow to cool in the pan for 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks. Cool completely.
• Once cakes have cooled, use a sharp serrated knife to cut each cake horizontally in half, so that you end up with four, thin cake rounds.
• Place one cake layer on serving plate. Smooth 1/3 of the peanut butter frosting on top of that cake layer. Repeat with the remaining cake layers, adding a layer of peanut butter frosting between each layer of cake.

PEANUT BUTTER CUP CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the cake mix, water, peanut butter, oil and eggs; beat on low speed for 30 seconds. Beat on medium for 2 minutes or until smooth., Fill paper-lined muffin cups half full. Place a peanut butter cup in the center of each cupcake. Cover each with 1 tablespoonful batter. , Bake at 350° for 18-22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cupcake comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely., Place chocolate in a small bowl. In a small saucepan, bring cream just to a boil. Pour over chocolate; whisk until smooth. Stir in peanut butter. Cool, stirring occasionally, to room temperature or until mixture reaches a spreading consistency, about 10 minutes., Spread over cupcakes; immediately sprinkle with additional peanut butter cups. Let stand until set.

PEANUT BUTTER CUP CHOCOLATE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and/or line 2 (8-inch) round cake pans. Line with parchment paper, then butter and flour the pans.
• Sift the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment and mix on low speed until combined. In another bowl, combine the buttermilk, oil, eggs, and vanilla.
• With the mixer on low speed, slowly add the wet ingredients to the dry. With mixer still on low, add the coffee and stir just to combine, scraping the bottom of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Pour the batter into the prepared pans and bake for 35 to 40 minutes, until a cake tester comes out clean. Cool in the pans for 30 minutes, then turn them out onto a cooling rack and cool completely.
• Place 1 layer, flat side up, on a flat plate or cake pedestal. With a knife or offset spatula, spread the top with frosting. Place the second layer on top, rounded side up, and spread the frosting evenly on the top and sides of the cake.
• Chop up your peanut butter cups and stick them all over the cake!
• Chocolate Frosting.
• 6 ounces good semisweet chocolate.
• 2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, at room temperature.
• 1 extra-large egg yolk, at room temperature.
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract.
• 1 1/4 cups sifted confectioners' sugar.
• 1 tablespoon instant coffee powder.
• 2 teaspoons water.
• Chop the chocolate and place it in a heat-proof bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Stir until just melted and set aside until cooled to room temperature.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter on medium-high speed until light yellow and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the egg yolk and vanilla and continue beating for 3 minutes.
• Turn the mixer to low, gradually add the confectioners' sugar, then beat at medium speed, scraping down the bowl as necessary, until smooth and creamy.
• Dissolve the coffee powder in 2 teaspoons of the hottest tap water. On low speed, add the chocolate and coffee to the butter mixture and mix until blended. Don't whip! Spread immediately on the cooled cake.