Makeover Peanut Butter Layer Cake Recipes

PEANUT BUTTER LAYER CAKE WITH PEANUT BUTTER FROSTING

Steps:

• For the cake: Position an oven rack in the center of the oven, and preheat to 350 degrees F. Butter two 9-inch round cake pans, and line the bottom of each with a round piece of parchment. Sift the flour, baking powder, salt and baking soda together onto a piece of parchment or into a large bowl.
• Beat the butter, brown sugar, peanut butter and granulated sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until the mixture is light and creamy, about 5 minutes. Scrape down the side of the bowl as needed. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Continue beating until the mixture is light and creamy, about 2 minutes. Beat in the vanilla. Reduce the mixer speed to medium-low, and add the flour mixture in 3 additions and the milk in 2 additions, beginning and ending with the flour. Beat until just combined.
• Evenly divide the batter among the prepared cake pans. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes. Let the cakes cool in the pans for a few minutes, then transfer them to a cooling rack to cool completely. Invert each onto a cooling rack, and remove the parchment. (The cakes can be stored at room temperature, wrapped in plastic wrap, for 1 day.)
• For the buttercream: Bring a few inches of water to a boil in a saucepan large enough to hold the heatproof bowl of a stand mixer above the water.
• Whisk together the granulated sugar, egg whites and salt in the stand mixer bowl. Set the bowl above the boiling water, and whisk until the mixture is warm to the touch and the sugar has completely dissolved. Transfer the bowl to the stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, and beat at medium-high speed until cool and the whites hold stiff peaks, about 5 minutes. Beat in 3/4 cup of the peanut butter until smooth. Beat in a couple of chunks of butter at a time, making sure the pieces are incorporated before adding more. Continue beating on medium-high speed until the buttercream thickens into stiff peaks. (The mixture at some point may appear to be very liquidy, but continue to beat.) Beat in the vanilla.
• To assemble: Slice each cake in half, for a total of 4 cake rounds. Spread the remaining 1/2 cup peanut butter on 3 of the rounds, dividing evenly. Put 1 round, peanut butter-side up, on a cake stand or serving platter, and spread about 3/4 cup of the buttercream on top, leaving about a 1/2-inch border all around. Repeat with 2 more layers of peanut-buttered cake and buttercream. Place the last cake round (without the peanut butter) on top. Frost the outside of the cake with the remaining buttercream. Refrigerate the cake until it sets up (this makes it possible to cut neat slices), at least 4 hours up to overnight. Sprinkle the top with peanut brittle before serving. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

MAKEOVER PEANUT BUTTER LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• Coat two 9-in. round baking pans with cooking spray and line with waxed paper. Coat the paper with cooking spray and dust with flour; set aside. In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar until crumbly. Beat in the egg, egg whites, melted chips, applesauce and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt; add to peanut butter mixture alternately with buttermilk. , Pour into prepared pans. Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely., For frosting, in a small bowl, beat cream cheese, melted chips, vanilla and salt until light and fluffy. Beat in confectioners' sugar until smooth. Spread between layers and over top and sides of cake. Garnish with peanuts if desired. Store in the refrigerator.

PEANUT BUTTER CHOCOLATE LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F (176°C) and prepare three 8 inch cake pans with non-stick baking spray and parchment paper in the bottom. 2
• . Add the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder and salt to a large mixer bowl and combine. Set aside.
• . Add the milk, vegetable oil, vanilla extract and eggs to a medium sized bowl and combine.
• . Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and beat until well combined.
• . Slowly add the hot water to the batter and mix on low speed until well combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed to make sure everything is well combined.
• . Divide the batter evenly between the prepared cake pans and bake for 22-25 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out with a few moist crumbs.
• . Remove cakes from oven and allow to cool for 2-3 minutes, then remove to a cooling rack to finish cooling.
• . To make the frosting, combine the butter and peanut butter in a large mixer bowl and mix until well combined.
• . Add about half of the powdered sugar and mix until smooth.
• 0. Add 3 tablespoons of water or milk and mix until smooth.
• 1. Add remaining powdered sugar and mix until smooth.
• 2. Add remaining water or milk and mix until smooth, keeping an eye on the consistency of the frosting so it doesn't get too thin. 13
• To build the cake, use a large serrated knife to remove the tops of the cake layers so that they're flat. See my tips on how to level a cake and how to stack a cake. 14. Pl
• ce the first cake layer on a serving plate or cardboard cake circle and top with about 1 cup of frosting. Smooth frosting into an even layer. 15. Ad
• about half of the chopped Reese's on top of the frosting and press into the frosting. Spread a small amount of frosting on top of the Reese's so that it's sticky on top for the next cake layer. 16. Add the
• ext cake layer and top with about 1 cup of frosting. Smooth frosting into an even layer. 17. Add rema
• ning half of the chopped Reese's on top of the frosting and press into the frosting. Spread a small amount of frosting on top of the Reese's so that it's sticky on top for the next cake layer. 18. Add the final
• ake layer to the top of the cake. 19. Smooth out the
• frosting on the sides of the cake, creating a thin crumb coat. 20. Add about 1 cu
• of frosting to the top of the cake and smooth into an even layer. 21. Frost the cake
• using my tutorial for a smooth cake. Stop just before using the paper towel, which won't be necessary with the pattern on the sides of this cake. 22. Use an offset spa
• ula to create the stripes around the cake. For guidance, see the video above starting at about 1:40. 22. Set the cake asid
• and make the chocolate ganache (see my tips for making chocolate ganache). Put the chocolate chips in a heat proof bowl. 23. Microwave the hea
• y whipping cream until it just begins to boil, then pour it over the chocolate chips. Allow it to sit for 2-3 minutes, then whisk until smooth. 24. Use a squeeze bot
• le or a spoon to drizzle the chocolate around the edges of the cake, then fill in the top of the cake and smooth it with an offset spatula. See my tips for making a chocolate drip cake. 25. Allow the ganache
• to firm a bit, about 10 minutes, then top with remaining frosting, additional Reese's chopped in half, and Reese's crumbles. 26. Refrigerate the cake
• ntil ready to serve. Serve at room temperature. Cake is best for 3-4 days.

PEANUT BUTTER LAYER CAKE WITH PEANUT BUTTER FROSTING

Steps:

• Grease and sugar three layer-cake pans. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. In a bowl cream the shortening, peanut butter, and sugar. Add the eggs one at a time, beating after each addition. In a separate bowl combine the flour with the baking soda, and add to the mixture alternately with the buttermilk, beating after each addition. Add the vanilla, and mix well. Bake for 30 minutes. Remove from the oven, and after the cakes have cooled 5 to 10 minutes, remove from the pans to a cooling rack. As the layers cool, make the frosting by beating together the butter, sugar, peanut butter, and vanilla extract, adding just enough milk to make a creamy, spreadable frosting. Thinly spread the frosting on two layers of the cooled cake; pile the frosted layers together, and add the unfrosted layer on top. Use the remaining frosting to cover the outside of the whole cake. If desired, garnish with chopped reese's candy bars.

NO-BAKE CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER BARS

Steps:

• Prepare an 8x8 or 9x9 inch square baking pan by greasing it lightly with butter or coconut oil.