8/18/08

chocolate & peanut butter cake w/ ganache & reese's pb cups

PB & C Cake 4

Calling all peanut butter & chocolate fans! This, my friends, is the ultimate cake for you. If you are a huge PB & C fan then you must make this extremely decadent cake. This cake has PB & C in every pore of its being: in the cake, in the frosting and as a edible garnish.
I have been craving this cake for a while now, and I finally made it a reality. To be honest I ate so much of the ganache that I barely had room for a slice a cake, but don't worry I made room, I'm not dumb. You really need to have a tall glass of ice cold milk at the ready when you have a slice of this PB & C masterpiece, as it really is that rich, and makes you really thirsty. All good cake creations, if they are made right, they leave you thirsty. PB & C Cake 2 PB & C Cake 10

peanut butter & chocolate cake w/ chocolate ganache & reese's pb cups
print recipe

for the cake: 1 box (18.25 ounces) devil's food cake mix
3 eggs
1 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
Good pinch of salt
2 cups mini Reese peanut butter cups, chopped, plus 1 1/2 cups more for garnish (about 2 - 12oz. bags) 

ganache:
12 ounces dark chocolate, chopped
1 cup heavy cream
3/4 cup creamy peanut butter
4 TB of confectioners sugar

Heat oven to 350 degrees F.
Coat two 9-inch round cake pans with nonstick cooking spray.
Line with waxed paper; coat paper. In a large bowl, beat cake mix, eggs, buttermilk, vegetable oil and salt on low for 30 seconds. Increase speed to medium-high; beat for 2 minutes, scraping down side of the bowl after 1 minute. Fold in 2 cups of the chopped peanut butter cups.
Divide batter between prepared pans.
Bake at 350 degrees F for about 34 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let layers cool on a wire rack for 15 minutes.
Turn out cakes onto wire racks and cool completely. To make the PB ganache place chopped dark chocolate in a medium-size bowl. Bring cream just to a boil and pour over chocolate. Whisk until chocolate melts. Add peanut butter and confectioners sugar, whisking all till nice and smooth.

To frost the cake, you can first trim the tops of you cakes (with a serrated knife) first to make them flat, I didn't do this. Put one cake layer on cooling rack and place on a baking sheet. Pour some ganache on top; spread evenly with a spatula.
Then place remaining cake layer, and pour remaining frosting over the top, allowing it to spill over the sides. Smooth top and sides with spatula (see Note below). Refrigerate 1 hour to set. Transfer cake to serving plate and garnish with the chopped Reese's PB Cups.

cook notes: I saved a bit of the ganache to put on the cake just before adding the chopped Reese's PB Cups to act as a glue, making sure everything adhered correctly, then chilled it again to let it set. So basically, frost the cake, then chill, then add a thin layer of ganache again, add the garnish, then chill again.

39 comments:

  1. Oooh, a devilishly delicious cake!! Yum!!

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  2. That is a chocolate masterpiece! I would happily pass out from chocolate overload from this.

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  3. Dawn, you are evil, woman! I just can't resist pb and chocolate. What a gorgeous work!

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  4. I thinkI might have heard the angels sign while looking at this post!!!

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  5. Looks absolutely mouthwatering! I'll bet these would be fun to make into cupcakes too!

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  6. for crying out loud, dawn! why must you tempt me so? this is a ridiculous creation, and i must have some immediately. i have a feeling i'll need more than one glass of milk (and more than one piece, but that goes without saying...). :)

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  7. Wow, that is very decadent! I love PB & chocolate together!

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  8. Wow, I get thirsty for both milk and chocolate just looking at that. The chopped PB cups make it look awesome. I like how you took a cake mix to a whole other planet :)

    That cake could create world peace

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  9. Uh...hello! That might actually be my dream cake. My SIL is also a PB&C fan so I am going to have to forward her this post.

    Wow.

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  10. For those of you reading this blog, I can attest to the fact that not only does it look great, but it tasted great too!

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  11. OMG, I think my husband would buy me diamonds if I made him that!

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  12. This cake is sinful! Oh. My. I will be having this very soon I must say!

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  13. I'd like a very large piece please!

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  14. These look seriously insanely amazing!

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  15. That looks great! I like the huge chunks of peanut butter cups!

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  16. Wow - that is one serious cake! I think a huge glass of milk would be required! Rich and delicious. Yum!

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  17. WHOA! Now that is a SERIOUS cake!

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  18. i saw this post on tastespotting and HAD to come over and check it out! this looks so yummy and the perfect combination of peanut butter and chocolate! bravo!

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  19. You have hit my week spot. OMG, straight from the devil and I love it! Wow! I feel like a kid with no self-control!

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  20. That cake look so sinful. I wish I can sink my teeth into it.

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  21. Oh. My. Gosh! Is 11:42 at night too late to want to dive into a slice of that?????

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  22. I want to reach in the screen and gobble this one up! It looks beyond delicious!

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  23. Wow! My eyes literally widened when I saw all those peanut butter cups scattered on top of that chocolately cake. The cake looks absolutely delicious!

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  24. Yum! Makes me want a cold glass of milk just looking at it. Wish I could have a big piece right now! It's beautiful!

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  25. I am obsessed with peanut butter cups. My favorite addition to my Blizzards from Dairy Queen.

    Mouth is watering so badly over here right now staring at the pictures.

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  26. Why oh why? Why do I have to see this? This is not food porn, this is plain torture!

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  27. Whoa. Chocolate PB overload. Not that I'm complaining. I would pay you to send me a slice of this...if you have any left! :)

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  28. That cake is evil, I tell ya. Pure, delicious, unbelivably decadent evil. Can I have 2 slices?

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  29. ooooh, I am actually licking the screen and salivating on my keyboard ;-)

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  30. Wow, that cake looks absolutely amazing!

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  31. Seriously, wow!

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  32. I am so excited that cup of jo linked to this.....I am all over it!

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  33. I've definitely gotta try this!

    ~F

    p.s. Is there a substitute for the buttermilk? Just curious...

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  34. is this heaven on earth?

    i think so!

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  35. This is INSANELY amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wowza can't wait to make this?!
    Im pretty sure if you made this for someone they would instantly fall in love with you...im kinda in love just looking at it on my screen...wow

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  36. It was certainly interesting for me to read this blog. Thanks for it. I like such themes and anything that is connected to them. I definitely want to read a bit more on that blog soon.

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  37. me lo podran mandar en español

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