Peanut Butter & Chocolate Layer Cake

If there were ever a definition for "sometimes" food, there would be a picture of this cake next to it in the dictionary. Unfortunately, the picture wouldn't be particularly good since I ran out of batteries and back-ups for my camera, and had to use my iPhone.

This cake was part of Stephen's birthday present (the other half were awesome seats at Cirque Du Soleil in September), and it took me all day to make it. It's a pretty simple cake recipe, but it's the assembly and waiting for the cake layers to cool that takes the most time - especially since I only had one cake tin at the time.

This badass cake is a tribute to the wonders of peanut butter - three layers of a simple, moist chocolate cake, separated by peanut butter buttercream, then topped with a chocolate and peanut butter ganache. The original recipe found at Bird On A Cake called for Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, but I had trouble finding them on short notice, so I used Maltesers instead and they worked a treat. Just make this cake when you're expecting a lot of guests, because it's addictive and you'll want to scoff the leftovers.

Peanut Butter & Chocolate Layer Cake
*Adapted from Bird On A Cake

Chocolate Cake
INGREDIENTS

1 cup boiling water
2 cups sugar
1 3/4 cups flour
3/4 cup cocoa powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup oil
1 teaspoon vanilla

Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius and prepare three 20cm springform cake tins. Bring a small pan of water to a boil and keep it simmering while you mix the other ingredients.

In a large bowl combine the sugar, flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Add the eggs, buttermilk, oil and vanilla and beat with mixer until combined.

Add 1 cup of the boiling water and beat for 1 1/2 minutes with mixer. Pour the batter into pans and bake for roughly 20 minutes (until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean).

Peanut Butter Buttercream

INGREDIENTS

1 cup salted butter, softened
2 cups creamy peanut butter
4 cups icing sugar
approx. 1/3 cup milk

In a medium-sized bowl, beat the butter and peanut butter with an electric mixer. Gradually add the sugar, and when it starts to get thick, add the milk a little at a time and beat, alternating between the sugar and the milk until frosting is light and fluffy.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Ganache

INGREDIENTS

1 cup dark chocolate chips or melts
4 tablespoons peanut butter 
1 cup double cream
1 teaspoon vanilla

Place the chocolate chips and peanut butter in a metal bowl. Heat cream over medium heat, then just before it boils take it off the heat and pour over chocolate chips and peanut butter. Let sit for 2 minutes, then slowly stir until the chocolate and peanut butter is melted and the mixture is thoroughly combined. Stir in the vanilla, then allow to cool to room temperature.

Assembly

Take a large 230g bag of Maltesers. Trim the cake layers so that they are even. Spread peanut butter buttercream on the first cake layer, then top with the second cake layer. Spread more buttercream on top of the second layer, then place your third cake layer on top. Cover the whole cake with buttercream, then stud the bottom of the cake with Maltesers. Chop up about a third of the packet of Maltesers, then use them to top the cake. Pour ganache on the top of the cake, and smooth it with a spatula if needed. Garnish the top by piping on the remaining buttercream, then top with Maltesers.

Comments

[Helen (Grab Your Fork)]

omg come to Mama! This looks amazing and I love the chocolate icing dribble :)

[Greg]

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[Chopinand @ ChopinandMysaucepan]

Dear Jasmyne

I'm not a big fan of cake but those Maltesers are very tempting when you have decorated the cake that way! Well done.

[Nic@diningwithastud]

Oh. My. God! Im in food envy overload right now. Ugh its delicious!

[Spencer]

Mate that looks absolutely delicious! I would love to try some.

[Anna @ the shady pine]

One word: WOW!!!!!! This is literally a jaw dropping cake!

[Winston]

Oh wow, you are seriously such a talented baker! I hope I get to bake as well as you one day. Those cakes are SO fascinating I love it. Good stuff!

[briarrose]

Peanut butter and chocolate heaven right there. That is definitely a cake to celebrate with. ;)

[Angie@Angie's Recipes]

That's decadent and gorgeous!

[Greg]

Thanks! I just approved your blog claim. Now your Urbanspoon profile picture is displayed on your blog page. You can upload a blog-specific photo if you prefer, and can change a few other blog settings there. Also, if you vote for a restaurant that you've reviewed on your blog, we now show your vote next to your post everywhere on our site.

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[Joanne]

I don't know...in my opinion this looks absolutley totally worth all the waiting and time and cooling! Amazing.

[Sara (Belly Rumbles)]

That cake looks just so decadent, love the flavours, big faves.

[Rita (mademoiselle délicieuse)]

I'm not a fan of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups so I actually prefer the fact you had to substitute Maltesers! And what a glorious layer of Maltesers that is hiding under the ganache *swoon*

[Lucy @ Lucyeats]

Badass indeed! I cannot remember the time I had Maltesers but I think it's about time that I remedy that..

[muppy]

this is INCREDIBLE!!!! that is love, spending all day making it :D

[Dolly]

OH GOD.

I love peanut butter... added with chocolate.... my dream came true :P

Thanks for the recipe. Its on the list :P

[InTolerantChef]

What a labour of love indeed! Awesome birthday cake, can I have a gluten free one for my next birthday please!?!

[Janine]

gosh i thin kthe malteasers totally top the cake! it looks super good!