Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Reese's Peanut Butter Chocolate Cake

So, I'm here to help you with your New Year's resolution.
You know...the one where you eat more cake in 2012.
You did make that resolution, right?
 Because, more cake = more happiness. :0)
(I think I should put that on a T-shirt.)


This scrumptious cake was inspired by my daughter, when she sang me this little ditty:  

A peanut sat on a railroad track,
His heart was all a-flutter.
The five-fifteen came rushing by--
Toot toot!
Peanut butter!

Which, of course, made me think of peanut butter frosting...
and how long it has been since I made some...
and how I love it so much that I could eat it by the spoonful...
which inspired me to make this cake.



Moist chocolate cake,
creamy peanut butter frosting,
chunks of Reese's peanut butter cups,
all covered with chocolate/peanut butter ganache...

It's like a party in your mouth!



Reese's Peanut Butter Chocolate Cake 
by Bird On A Cake

Ingredients
    Chocolate Cake
    • 1 cup boiling water
    • 2 cups sugar
    • 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
    • 3/4 cup cocoa powder
    • 2 teaspoons baking soda
    • 1 teaspoon baking powder
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 2 eggs
    • 1 cup buttermilk (OR 1 c. milk mixed with 1 T. vinegar)
    • 1/2 cup oil
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

    Peanut Butter Frosting
    • 1 cup salted butter (softened)
    • 2 cups creamy peanut butter
    • 4 cups confectioners' sugar
    • approx. 1/3 cup milk

    Chocolate Peanut Butter Ganache
    adapted from Smitten Kitchen
    • 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
    • 4 tablespoons peanut butter
    • 1 cup heavy cream
    • 4 tablespoons light corn syrup
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

    Instructions
    Chocolate Cake
    Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line the bottoms of three 8 inch round cake pans with wax paper; grease the sides of the pans. Bring a small pan of water to a boil and keep it simmering while you mix the other ingredients.
    In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the sugar, flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Add the eggs, buttermilk, oil and vanilla. Beat with mixer until combined.
    Add 1 cup of the boiling water and carefully stir until it is mixed in. Beat for 1 1/2 minutes with mixer. Batter will be thin. Pour the batter into prepared pans and bake for 18-22 minutes (until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean).

    Peanut Butter Frosting
    In a medium bowl, beat the butter and peanut butter with an electric mixer until creamy. Gradually add the sugar. When it starts to get thick, add the milk a little at a time until frosting is spreadable. (The amount of milk you use depends on the thickness of your peanut butter.) Beat for 3 minutes or until fluffy.

    Chocolate Peanut Butter Ganache
    Place the chocolate chips and peanut butter in a metal bowl. Heat cream over medium heat. Watch it closely and immediately remove from heat when it starts to boil. Pour over chocolate chips and peanut butter. Let sit for 2 minutes. Slowly stir the mixture until all the chips have completely melted and it is thoroughly combined. Stir in the vanilla and corn syrup. Let the ganache cool if you prefer a thicker consistency.



    Assembling your cake:
    You need one 12 oz. bag of Reese's miniatures. Eat 2 peanut butter cups, save 12 to garnish the top of the cake, and chop up the rest. Level your cake layers and place one on a cake stand. Spread peanut butter frosting on the first cake layer, then sprinkle half of the chopped Reese's on top. Press them down into the frosting with your spatula. Repeat with the second cake layer. Place your third cake layer on top, then cover the whole cake with peanut butter frosting. Pour ganache on the top of the cake, and smooth it with a spatula. Garnish the cake top with your remaining 12 Reese's minis.
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    This cake is very rich and so delicious...
    Enjoy!

     I share my recipes & tutorials at these fun link parties.

    Wednesday, December 28, 2011

    New Year's Eve Cake Banner

    Here is a cute and simple way to make a New Year's Eve cake...
    Add a 2012 banner!


    This was super easy and really dressed up this cake!
    Another bonus was that I actually used some of my scrapbooking supplies
    that I have been neglecting for about a decade...

    What You Need:
    Number stickers
    Card stock circles in two sizes: 1 7/8 in. and 2 in.
    Hole punch (rectangle shape)
    Grosgrain ribbon
    Wooden skewer
     Glue


      I attached my numbers to the smaller circles, which I then glued to the larger circles. I punched out 2 rectangle shapes at the top of each circle, and threaded my ribbon through. I cut my skewer in half, and tied the ribbon to the ends. To finish, I placed the skewers in the cake at an angle.


    Saturday, December 24, 2011

    Christmas Wishes


    Here is a Christmas wish from my family to yours.
    We hope you have a beautiful Christmas,
    filled with love, laughter and yummy treats! :0)

    But most of all...
    we hope your heart is filled with JOY
    because of the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
    He is the best gift of all!

    Merry Christmas!

    Wednesday, December 21, 2011

    Christmas Cupcake Carrier

    I found this fabulous idea on Pinterest, and I just had to share it with you!
    It is a cupcake carrier made out of a gift box...perfect for delivering my Christmas goodies.
    I made a cupcake version of my Andes Mint Chocolate Cake.

     
    First, get some boxes. I found a package of three small gift boxes for $1 at Dollar Tree!
    On the top of your box, measure a 2 1/4 inch square for each cupcake and mark the corners with a pencil.
     
     
    Use an Xacto knife to cut an X from corner to corner, and bend down each point. 
    Decorate or write a message on your box.
     

    Place your cupcakes in the carrier, and you are ready to deliver!
    Hope you are having fun making lots of Christmas treats this week. :0)

     And speaking of Pinterest, don't you just love it?!
    I added a button in the right column, so you can follow me there.
    Go click on it!

    Saturday, December 10, 2011

    Red Velvet Bundt Cake

    Bundt.

    Every time I hear that word I imagine the family dinner from "My Big Fat Greek Wedding",
    when the future in-laws arrive with a Bundt cake.


     "What is it?"
    "It's a Bundt."
    "Bonk?"
    "Bundt."
    "Bunnn...t?"
    "Bundt!"
     (Look of dawning realization)
     "It's a cake!"


    Red Velvet Bundt Cake
    • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
    • 2 cups granulated sugar
    • 1 cup vegetable oil
    • 1 teaspoon baking soda
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 3 tablespoons cocoa powder
    • 1 tablespoon white vinegar
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 2 eggs
    • 1 cup buttermilk (OR 1 c. milk + 1 T. vinegar)
    • 1 oz. red food coloring

    Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease a Bundt pan really well. Place one cupcake liner in a cupcake tin. (You will use the cupcake for a garnish.) In a medium bowl, mix eggs with a wire whisk. Add oil, vinegar, vanilla, buttermilk and food coloring. Whisk together and set aside.

    In a large mixing bowl, mix together all the dry ingredients. Add the wet ingredients and mix on medium high until combined. Fill cupcake liner half full with batter, then pour the rest of the batter into your Bundt pan. Bake the cupcake for 20-25 minutes, bake the cake for 50-55 minutes.

    Cream Cheese Frosting
    • 8 oz. package cream cheese
    • 1/2 cup unsalted butter
    • 4 cups confectioners' sugar
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 1/4 cup milk*

    Let cream cheese and butter sit in mixing bowl until softened. Mix together. Add sugar, vanilla and milk. Pour over cooled cake.
    * I added milk to my favorite cream cheese frosting, to make the consistency pourable.


    Crumble the cupcake and sprinkle over the top of your cake. Done!
    This cake is really yummy...take it to your next Christmas party and impress everyone.

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