Friday, July 24, 2009

Chocolate Cake with Peanut Butter Frosting and Glaze

Yesterday was my son's birthday, and I made a Sour Cream Chocolate Cake with Peanut Butter Frosting and Chocolate Peanut Butter Glaze for him. He loves peanuts. Last year he even grew peanut plants. Taking after his mother, chocolate also tops his list of favorites. Chocolate and peanuts are a dynamic duo. So when I saw this Chocolate and Peanut butter cake with it's glossy chocolate glaze on smittenkitchen.com, I knew the birthday boy I'd make it for!

The weather here lately in the northeast has been very rainy and at times tropical. Yesterday was no exception. Trying to capture the lusciousness of this cake in weather that is more changeable than a moody teen, was challenging. In the end, it worked out well. I didn't want a cake as large as the recipe, so I halved the recipe and made it in a 6x4 inch cake pan. I then sliced the cake into 3 layers and assembled it according to the recipe. The only deviation was spreading the glaze on the entire cake versus letting it spill over in long luxurious drips. That takes me back to the weather...the drips just didn't drip too well. The glaze did spread over the entire cake very nicely though, and it looked and tasted perfectly. Outside, the rain pelted down as we celebrated. Later that night the wind whirled around as trees were downed and we lost our electricity. I was starting to think I should have built an ark instead of baking a cake, but after one taste of this rich and delicate cake, I think Noah would have approved.

Happy 19th Birthday, Zac!

This cake is moist and delicate with the cream cheese lightened Peanut Butter Frosting. The Chocolate Peanut Butter Glaze brings both tastes together as it drips down the sides or is glazed on top of the frosting.

Sour Cream Chocolate Cake with Peanut Butter Frosting and Chocolate Peanut Butter Glaze

Adapted from Sky High: Irresistible Triple-Layer Cakes, by Alisa Huntsman

Makes an 8-inch triple-layer cake; serves 12 to 16

2 cups all-purpose flour
2 1/2 cups sugar
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, preferably Dutch process
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup neutral vegetable oil, such as canola, soybean or vegetable blend
1 cup sour cream
1 1/2 cups water
2 tablespoons distilled white vinegar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter the bottoms and sides of three 8-inch round cake pans. Line the bottom of each pan with a round of parchment or waxed paper and butter the paper.

Sift the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt into a large bowl. Whisk to combine them well. Add the oil and sour cream and whisk to blend. Gradually beat in the water. Blend in the vinegar and vanilla. Whisk in the eggs and beat until well blended. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and be sure the batter is well mixed. Divide among the 3 prepared cake pans.

Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a cake tester or wooden toothpick inserted in the center comes out almost clean. Let cool in the pans for about 20 minutes. Invert onto wire racks, carefully peel off the paper liners, and let cool completely.

To frost the cake, place one layer, flat side up, on a cake stand or large serving plate. Spread 2/3 cup cup of the Peanut Butter Frosting evenly over the top. Repeat with the next layer. Place the last layer on top and frost the top and sides of the cake with the remaining frosting.

To decorate with the Chocolate Peanut Butter Glaze, put the cake plate on a large baking sheet to catch any drips. Simply pour the glaze over the top of the cake, and using an offset spatula, spread it evenly over the top just to the edges so that it runs down the sides of the cake in long drips. Refrigerate, uncovered, for at least 30 minutes to allow the glaze and frosting to set completely. Remove about 1 hour before serving. Decorate the top with chopped peanut brittle. (I used chopped peanuts.)

Peanut Butter Frosting
Makes about 5 cups

10 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
1 stick (4 ounces) unsalted butter, at room temperature
5 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted
2/3 cup smooth peanut butter, preferably a commercial brand (because oil doesn’t separate)

In a large bowl with an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese and butter until light and fluffy. Gradually add the confectioners’ sugar 1 cup at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition and scraping down the sides of the bowl often. Continue to beat on medium speed until light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes.

Add the peanut butter and beat until thoroughly blended.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Glaze
Makes about 1 1/2 cups

8 ounces semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
3 tablespoons smooth peanut butter
2 tablespoons light corn syrup
1/2 cup half-and-half

In the top of a double boiler or in a bowl set over simmering water, combine the chocolate, peanut butter, and corn syrup. Cook, whisking often, until the chocolate is melted and the mixture is smooth.

Remove from the heat and whisk in the half-and-half, beating until smooth. Use while still warm.

Written and photographed by Diane.

Sour Cream Chocolate Cake with Peanut Butter Frosting and Chocolate Peanut Butter Glaze recipe (pdf)


14 comments:

  1. Wow, this looks fantastic.

    Happy Birthday to your son!

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  2. It looks great! Too funny I read and walked out well:)

    I love make desserts smaller..to me they are fresher.. look prettier and they are more appetizing that way..
    I am sure your son loved it..My husband would have also!

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  3. That glaze alone is making me drool! It looks sooo decadent!

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  4. Oh yum - this looks ridiculously delicious.
    You son has very good taste.
    Hope he had a happy birthday (despite the rain).

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  5. YUM, I love this cake! So delicious. :) I want to go make one right now! :)

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  6. YUMMY cake, so beautiful and decadent! Your little boy has superb taste :)

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  7. What a lucky boy! This looks fantastic! Darn weather, I love drippy frosting!

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  8. Happy Birthday to Zac!

    Oh what a luscious, beautiful CAKE ~ I can tell that your boy is well loved. :) Lucky guy.

    Thank you so much for sharing the recipe and gorgeous pictures. I love your cake pedestal too. xo~m.

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  9. What a fantastic cake ! I feel I have to taste it ! ;o)

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  10. This looks terrific - wish I could make it today!

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  11. Anything that combines chocolate and peanut butter is real winner in my book! :) You should consider entering this cake into Recipe4Living's 5th Birthday Recipe Contest! The site is turning 5 years old, and we're giving away a Scharffen Berger gift basket to the top birthday cake that's submitted!

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