My supervisor returned today from 3 months of maternity leave. It was a hard day for both mother and baby boy. You could see the sadness in her eyes when she talked about driving away from the daycare. So, I brought her a little happiness on a plate, a mini-chocolate peanut butter cake. It’s no powdered scented baby, but it did help to ease the pain, even if only for a few moments.
This is an extremely rich, decadent cake. A little goes a long way. It is a lightly fluffy, sour-cream chocolate cake covered with a creamy peanut butter frosting, topped with a thick glossy chocolate glaze. This is my new go-to chocolate cake recipe. It would also be great as cupcakes or in a trifle.
Sour Cream-Chocolate Cake with Peanut Butter Frosting and Chocolate-Peanut Butter Glaze
Adapted, from Smitten Kitchen, from Sky High: Irresistable Triple-Layer Cakes
Makes an 8-inch triple-layer cake
I made two mini cakes, a two layer 5-inch round cake and a two layer 4-inch square cake.
2 cups flour
2 1/2 cups sugar
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup vegetable oil
1 cup sour cream
1 1/2 cups water
2 tablespoons distilled white vinegar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour the bottoms and sides of three 8-inch round cake pans (or whatever pans you are using). Line the bottom of each pan with a round of parchment or waxed paper and grease 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. The batter will be thin. 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. Run knife around outer edge of pan to loosen. Invert onto wire racks, carefully peel off the paper liners, and let cool completely. Place cakes in freezer for 20-30 minutes to harden before trying to frost.
4. To frost the cake, place one layer, flat side up, on a cake stand or large serving plate. Spread 2/3 cup 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. (Note from Deb of Smitten Kitchen 1: Making a crumb coat of frosting–a thin layer that binds the dark crumbs to the cake so they don’t show up in the final outer frosting layer–is a great idea for this cake, or any with a dark cake and lighter-colored frosting. Once you “mask” your cake, let it chill for 15 to 30 minutes until firm, then use the remainder of the frosting to create a smooth final coating. 2: Once the cake is fully frosting, it helps to chill it again and let it firm up. The cooler and more set the peanut butter frosting is, the better drip effect you’ll get from the Chocolate-Peanut Butter Glaze.)
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.
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
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 time, 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 seimsweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
3 tablespoons smooth peanut butter
2 tablespoons light corn syrup
1/2 cup half-and-half
1. In the top of d 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.
2,568 Responses to “ease the pain”
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
Wikia…
Wika linked to this site…
Dreary Day…
It was a dreary day here today, so I just took to messing around on the internet and found…
Great Clips Coupons…
[...]these are a couple of hyper-links to internet sites which I link to seeing that we believe they are worth checking out[...]…
sopapilla cheesecake calories…
[...]gentle Lennox right after he heard three various and absolutely diverse statements from three [...]…
Looking around…
I like to browse in various places on the online world, regularly I will go to Digg and read and check stuff out…
News info…
I was reading the news and I saw this really interesting info…
Awesome website…
[...]the time to read or visit the content or sites we have linked to below the[...]……
Looking around…
I like to look in various places on the web, regularly I will go to Stumble Upon and follow thru…
Yahoo results…
While searching Yahoo I found this page in the results and I didn’t think it fit…
will smith and jada pinkett separate…
[...]developed your techniques as effectively as took them in the [...]…
Read was interesting, stay in touch……
[...]please visit the sites we follow, including this one, as it represents our picks from the web[...]……
News info…
I was reading the news and I saw this really interesting info…
Its hard to find good help…
I am regularly saying that its difficult to get good help, but here is …
Perfumes For Women…
[...]When you are aware when working at your projects you can do a lot more than if you are completely without ideas….
News info…
I was reading the news and I saw this really interesting topic…
Links…
[...]Sites of interest we have a link to[...]……
Related……
[...]just beneath, are numerous totally not related sites to ours, however, they are surely worth going over[...]……
Just Browsing…
While I was browsing yesterday I noticed a great post concerning…
You should check this out…
[...] Wonderful story, reckoned we could combine a few unrelated data, nevertheless really worth taking a look, whoa did one learn about Mid East has got more problerms as well [...]……
Looking around…
I like to look in various places on the internet, often I will just go to Digg and read and check stuff out…
You should check this out…
[...] Wonderful story, reckoned we could combine a few unrelated data, nevertheless really worth taking a look, whoa did one learn about Mid East has got more problerms as well [...]……
Superb website…
[...]always a big fan of linking to bloggers that I love but don’t get a lot of link love from[...]……
Great information…
This is wondrous. Both of us stare upon this coming joyful and we are bowled over. We are precisely interested in this type of qualities. A particular appreciate yer recommendations, and estimate your time in this. Please keep cutting. They may be same…
Recent Blogroll Additions……
[...]usually posts some very interesting stuff like this. If you’re new to this site[...]……
Looking around…
I like to browse in various places on the online world, regularly I will just go to Digg and read and check stuff out…
Great information…
This is first-class. An individual looked at associated with pleasure when we are startled. We are precisely curious about this type of points. One particular appreciate the potential contribution, and treasure your precious time while in this. Please …
Great information…
This is great. Our team checked out the offer substances so we are surprised. We are most certainly attracted to one of these gear. Scientists appreciate your particular supermarket, and amount doing inside this. Please keep cutting. They may be exclus…
News info…
I was reading the news and I saw this really cool information…
Dreary Day…
It was a dreary day here yesterday, so I just took to piddeling around online and found…
News info…
I was reading the news and I saw this really interesting information…
Read was interesting, stay in touch……
[...]please visit the sites we follow, including this one, as it represents our picks from the web[...]……
MMA Gear …
I found this really amazing post today…
Looking around…
I like to browse around the online world, regularly I will go to Digg and follow thru…
Websites we think you should visit…
[...]although websites we backlink to below are considerably not related to ours, we feel they are actually worth a go through, so have a look[...]……
Yahoo results…
While browsing Yahoo I found this page in the results and I didn’t think it fit…
közösségi portálok…
[...]the time to read or visit the content or sites we have linked to below the[...]…
Useful and precise…
Its quite difficult to find super informative and accurate info but now I noted…
Websites we think you should visit…
[...]although websites we backlink to below are considerably not related to ours, we feel they are actually worth a go through, so have a look[...]……
Sites we Like……
[...] Every once in a while we choose blogs that we read. Listed below are the latest sites that we choose [...]……
Read was interesting, stay in touch……
[...]please visit the sites we follow, including this one, as it represents our picks from the web[...]……
Great information…
This can be astounding. Anyone stare upon tips data and we are thunderstruck. We are precisely interested in this sort of issues. An individual appreciate your sexual recommend, and worth your time in this. Please keep cutting. They’re very much worth…
Cool sites…
[...]we came across a cool site that you might enjoy. Take a look if you want[...]……
2011…
This is really interesting, You are a very skilled blogger. I’ve joined your rss feed and look forward to seeking more of your great post. Also, I have shared your web site in my social networks!…
Looking around…
I like to surf in various places on the online world, regularly I will go to Stumble Upon and follow thru…
Informative and precise…
Its difficult to find informative and precise information but here I noted…
It is quite hard to find good help…
I am really constantnly proclaiming that its difficult to procure quality honest help, but here is …
Its hard to find good help…
I am constantnly saying that its difficult to procure good help, but here is …
Just Browsing…
While I was surfing today I saw a excellent post concerning…
Looking around…
I like to surf around the web, often I will go to Stumble Upon and read and check stuff out…
Informative and precise…
Its difficult to find informative and accurate info but here I noted…