I wish I could blame my chocolate-peanut butter addiction on pregnancy, but alas, I have been plagued with it all the days of my life! I love salty/sweet combinations in my dessert, just like I love sweet/savory combinations in my dinner entrees.
This recipe is a good balance of sweet and salty, especially with the addition of salted, roasted peanuts crumbled on top! The frosting is a peanut butter cream cheese frosting. Yum! You will definitely need a big glass of milk to wash a piece of this down.
I used a basic chocolate cake recipe, so if you have one that works for you, then use it! If not, keep this one handy!
Chocolate Cake
1 3/4 cup flour
2 cups sugar
3/4 cup cocoa powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk
1/2 cup neutral tasting oil (I normally use grape seed, but you can use canola or vegetable)
2 eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup of freshly brewed coffee (you won’t taste it!)
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare two 8- or 9-inch baking pans by spraying with baking spray or greasing with shortening, then flouring. Sift the dry ingredients together in a large bowl. In a smaller bowl, combine the wet ingredients, then, with the mixer set on low, slowly add the wet ingredients to the dry. Add the 1 cup of coffee and mix until just combined, scraping to bowl to make sure you got it all. Bake for about 40 minutes, or until cake is done (test with a butter knife or toothpick).
Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Frosting
8oz softened cream cheese
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 1/2 cups confectioners sugar
1 tablespoons milk
handful of salted peanuts, chopped
In your standing mixer, mix peanut butter and cream cheese on high for about 3-5 minutes. Turn the mixer off {or don’t and see what happens} and add the sugar, one cup at a time. Add the vanilla and milk. Taste and feel the frosting to make sure it’s the consistency of normal cake frosting. If it’s a little dry, add another tablespoon of milk. If it’s a little wet, add another cup of sugar. I sprinkled my cake with a tiny bit of cocoa powder and a handful of salted peanuts.
Enjoy!
wow. looks so delicious. love how you finished it with the powder and broken nuts on top. yuuuum.
Oh yea, gotta have a little crunch in there!
This sounds AMAZING!! Since I can’t really have chocolate, I think I’m going to make the frosting and eat it by itself! LOL
YES!!! I’m guilty of finishing off the small amount that was left. I did scoop it out with apple slices, at least.
If only I didn’t live on the other side of the Atlantic, I’d love to have popped round for a slice. 😉
Find a way! If I don’t get help, I’ll end up eating the whole thing by myself! Unfortunately, my husband doesn’t likes desserts.