Chocolate Peanut Butter Fun Cake

CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER FUN CAKE

source: Bon Appetite

Ingredients:

Chocolate Cake

Nonstick vegetable oil spray

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup sugar

3/4 cup natural unsweetened cocoa powder

1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup finely chopped semisweet or bittersweet chocolate (3 1/2 ounces)

Peanut Butter Buttercream

1/2 cup  sugar

1/4 cup egg whites (from about 2 large eggs)

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1/4 cup creamy peanut butter

6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) chilled unsalted butter, cut into 1/4-inch cubes

Kosher salt

1/4 cup chopped semisweet or bittersweet chocolate (about 1 3/4 ounces)

1/4 cup chopped unsalted, dry-roasted peanuts

Directions: 

Preheat oven to 350°.

Chocolate Cake

8x8x2-inch cake pan

Coat bottom and sides of pan with nonstick spray; line bottom of pan with parchment paper.

Whisk flour and next 4 ingredients in a large bowl. Add oil, vanilla, and 1 1/4 cups water; whisk until smooth.

Fold in chopped chocolate. Scrape into prepared 8x8x2 pan; smooth top.

Bake until a tester comes out clean when inserted into center, 35–40 minutes.

Let cool completely in pan on a wire rack.

Peanut Butter Buttercream

Combine sugar and egg whites in a medium metal bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water. Whisk constantly until sugar dissolves and mixture is hot to the touch, 3–4 minutes.

Remove from heat; using an electric mixer, beat on high speed until cool and thick, 5–6 minutes. Beat in vanilla, then peanut butter.

With mixer running, add butter a few pieces at a time, beating to blend between additions. Season with salt.

Run a thin knife around pan to release cake. Invert cake onto a serving plate. Spread peanut butter buttercream over top. Garnish with chopped chocolate and peanuts.

DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Store airtight at room temperature.

Cut into 2-inch squares and serve, enjoy !

This will be on the menu at The Lodge at Whitehawk at some point this season :)