Sour Cream-Chocolate Cake with Peanut Butter Frosting and Chocolate-Peanut Butter Glaze
Sky High Irresistible Triple Layer Cakes
Cake Batter:
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
1/2 cup coarsely chopped peanut brittle (skipped this)
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.(1)
4. To frost the cake, place one layer, flat side up, on a cake stand or large serving plate. Spread 2/3 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.(2)
5. 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.(3) Decorate the top with chopped peanut brittle (optional).
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 (4)
2/3 cup smooth peanut butter, preferably a commercial brand (because oil doesn’t separate out)
1. 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 time5, 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.
2. 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
1. 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.
2. Remove from the heat and whisk in the half-and-half, beating until smooth. Use while still warm.
Radish Notes:
1. I found these cakes very soft and so after letting them cool on cooling racks, I stuck them in the freezer for 30 minutes, which made frosting much, much easier. I would recommend that you do this as well.
2. To have a beautiful coat of frosting, I recommend doing a crumb coat first. A crumb coat is a very thin layer of frosting that binds the crumbs to the frosting – after which you chill the cake (about 30 minutes) and the use the remaining frosting to create a smooth, crumb-free, pretty coat! Also, while we’re on the subject of chilling, once you finish frosting your cake, chill it again for another 30 minutes (I know, I know a lot of fridge time) because it’ll make your ganache set faster and you’ll have a prettier effect of the drip).
3. I prefer this cake on the slightly chilled side – so I would only wait about 30 minutes, not 1 hour. Also, it all depends on what time of year you make this – I would have this straight from the fridge in the summer.
4. I used about 3 cups of confectioners’ sugar because the idea of 5 cups was making me dizzy – I’m very glad I did. However, I would up the cream cheese a bit and add a bit more butter. So maybe 12 oz of cream cheese, 1 tbsp butter and 3 cups confectioners’ sugar – I barely had enough frosting for the cake, and it’s not because I kept “tasting” it to get it just right.
5. I added in ΒΌ cup increments – I like the result better.
Makes an 8-inch triple-layer cake; serves 12 to 16 (or so the book tells you, we fed nearly 25 people with it)