Peanut Butter Chocolate Cake

by Ariel
(Winner, SD, USA)

I saw a picture in a cooking magazine one time that inspired me to create this recipe. I love chocolate and peanut butter together, so I thought it would be a fun creation.

Cake:

2 cups white sugar
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup cocoa powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1/2 cup oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup boiling water

Frosting:

1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup creamy peanut butter
3 tablespoons milk
2 cups confectioner's sugar

Garnish:

chocolate candy squares
1/4 cup salted peanuts

1. Preheat oven to 350F (180C) degrees. Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans.

2. In a large bowl, stir together the sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add eggs, milk, oil and vanilla; mix on medium speed of electric mixer for 2 minutes. Stir in the boiling water last (batter will be thin). Pour evenly into prepared pans.

3. Bake 30-35 minutes in preheated oven, until cake tests done with toothpick. Cool in pans 10 minutes before transferring to wire rack to cool completely.

To prepare frosting:

1. Cream together butter, peanut butter, and milk. Gradually add confectioner's sugar until frosting consistency (you may need more). Frost the top and sides of one of the cakes. Place second cake on top of frosted one, and frost top and sides of that one.

2. Garnish cake by sticking candy squares all along the bottom sides of the cake, and sprinkling peanuts on top.

Serves 16.