Stunning Peanut Butter Chocolate Layer Cake 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.

SMITH ISLAND CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• Pulse 4 peanut butter cups in a food processor into small chunks; transfer to a bowl. Pulse the remaining 6 peanut butter cups into a fine powder; transfer to another bowl. Chill both until ready to use.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease four 8-inch round cake pans with cooking spray. Dust flour and knock out any excess. Set aside.
• In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder and salt.
• Cut up the butter into 1-inch pieces and place them in the large bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment or beaters. Beat on medium-high speed until the butter is light and creamy in color, about 3 minutes. Stop and scrape the bowl. Cream the butter for an additional minute. Add the granulated sugar, 1/4 cup at a time, beating 1 minute after each addition. Scrape the sides of the bowl occasionally. Add the eggs one at a time. Reduce the mixer speed. Stir the vanilla into the buttermilk. Add the dry ingredients to the butter alternately with the buttermilk. Mix just until incorporated. Scrape the sides of the bowl and mix for 15 seconds longer.
• Divide half the batter between the prepared cake pans. Set the remaining batter aside. Using the back of a spoon, spread out the batter so that it covers the bottom of each pan, making it slightly thicker around the edges than in the middle. Bake until cooked through and golden around the edges, 12 to 14 minutes. Set aside to let cool slightly, then loosen the cake layers with a knife and invert onto cooling racks.
• Wash and dry the cake pans. Repeat the process a second time with the cooking spray, flour and batter.
• Once all 8 layers have baked, place the first layer on a serving plate. Spread with about 3 tablespoons Chocolate Frosting and sprinkle with about 1 tablespoon powdered peanut butter cups. Top with another cake layer and repeat the process to make 8 layers in all. Frost the outside of the cake with the remaining frosting and sprinkle the top with the peanut butter cup chunks.
• In a large saucepot over medium-high heat, bring the milk to a simmer, and then remove from the heat.
• In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the yolks, flour, 1/3 cup confectioners' sugar and a pinch of salt. Add the hot milk in a stream, whisking. Return the mixture to the saucepot and bring to a boil over moderate heat. Whisk until very thick, about 3 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl. Cover the surface of the custard with a buttered round of wax paper and cool completely, about 45 minutes.
• Using electric beater, add the vanilla and remaining 1 cup confectioners' sugar to the custard. Beat at moderate speed until well combined. Then increase the speed to medium-high and beat in the butter, 2 tablespoons at a time, until smooth. Add the chocolates and beat until well combined.

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.