(I don't like dark chocolate, make it milk chocolate for me ;P )
(Took me three seven minutes to figure out where the fluffin' instructions were X'D)
Prep time 45 mins Cook time 25 mins Total time 1 hour 10 mins This is the ultimate peanut butter cake. It's moist, fluffy and bursting with peanut butter flavor. The dark chocolate frosting complements it beautifully. Serves 10-12.
Author: The Tough Cookie Ingredients
For the peanut butter cake:
80ml (or ⅓ cup) sunflower or canola oil
170g (or ⅔ cup) creamy peanut butter, I used Skippy
220g (or 1 cup, packed) dark brown sugar
2 large eggs (about 110g)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
180g (or 1⅓ cup + 5 teaspoons) all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
⅛ teaspoon table salt
240ml (or 1 cup) butter (or buttermilk i dunno give it a try X'D)
milk
For the chocolate frosting:
200g (or ¾ cup + 2 tablespoons + ½ teaspoon) unsalted butter, softened at room temperature
325g (or 2½ cups + 5 teaspoons) powdered sugar
100g (or ¾ cup + 5 teaspoons) Dutch-processed cocoa powder
1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
120ml (or ½ cup) heavy whipping cream
pinch of salt
50g (about 3 tablespoons) creamy peanut butter, to decorate Instructions
Start with the peanut butter cake: Preheat the oven to 175°C/350°C (standard oven setting) and line the bottom of two 7-inch baking pans with baking parchment. Lightly butter the sides of the pans and dust with a spoonful of flour, discarding the excess flour that doesn't stick to the buttered sides.In a medium-sized bowl, combine oil, peanut butter and sugar. Whisk until combined. Add the eggs and vanilla and whisk to incorporate. Add the dry ingredients and buttermilk and whisk until the batter looks smooth, about 1 minute.Divide the batter over the prepared cake pans and place on a rack in the middle of the oven. Bake for 25-27 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cakes comes out clean. Remove from the oven and allow the cakes to cool in the pans on a wire rack. Once cool, remove from the pans.While the cakes cool, make the chocolate frosting: In a medium-sized bowl, beat softened butter with a mixer fitted with a whisk attachment until smooth and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Using a rubber spatula, scrape the sides of the bowl, then beat for another 30 seconds.Add powdered sugar and cocoa powder. Combine vanilla, cream and salt and add it to the bowl with the butter. Using a rubber spatula or a wooden spoon, stir ingredients until somewhat incorporated and the mixture looks dry and crumbly, but not powdery. This is just so that you don't end up with a big cloud of powdered sugar and cocoa in your kitchen when you turn the mixer on.Mix for 3-5 minutes, or until the buttercream looks creamy, fluffy and smooth.Assemble the cake: First make sure the cakes are completely cool and reserve ¾ cup of frosting (180ml) to make the decorative border after you've finished frosting the cake.Place one cake layer on a serving plate. Cover the top with frosting, using an ordinary knife, the back of a spoon or an offset spatula. Top with the second layer and frost the top and sides of the cake.Melt the peanut butter in the bowl of a double boiler (or a bowl set over a pan of simmering water) and, using a spoon, drizzle it over the edges of the cake.Using a piping bag fitted with a large open star tip and filled with the reserved frosting, pipe a border on top of the peanut butter drizzle along the edge of the cake.Cake can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to five days. Allow to come to room temperature before serving.