Prep Time: 3 hrs | Cook Time: 30 mins | Total Time: 3 hrs 30 mins
This cake is the best of the best! It might be a little complicated at first, but I promise you that it will be worth it! Try it now. Enjoy!
Ingredients:
FOR THE CAKE:
2½ c + 1 tbsp all-purpose flour
3 c granulated sugar
1 c + 1 tbsp Dutch-process cocoa powder
1 tbsp baking soda
1½ tsp baking powder
1½ tsp salt
3 eggs (at room temperature)
1½ c buttermilk (at room temperature)
1½ c strong black coffee (hot)
¾ c vegetable oil
4½ tsp vanilla extract
FOR THE PEANUT BUTTER FROSTING:
2 c powdered sugar
2 c creamy peanut butter
10 tbsp unsalted butter (at room temperature)
1½ tsp vanilla extract
½ tsp kosher salt
⅔ c heavy cream
FOR THE CHOCOLATE GANACHE:
8 oz semisweet chocolate (finely chopped)
¾ c heavy cream
30 miniature peanut butter cups (coarsely chopped, divided)
Directions:
To Make the Cake:
Step 1: Prepare the oven and preheat to 175 degrees C or 350 degrees F.
Step 2: Apply cooking spray, line with parchment paper, and sprinkle flour in three 8-inch round cake pans.
Step 3: In a large mixing bowl. Sift the flour, cocoa powder, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
Step 4: In another mixing bowl, add in the eggs, coffee, oil, vanilla, and buttermilk. Whisk until well combined.
Step 5: Transfer the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix on medium speed for about 2 minutes or until the batter becomes thin. Make sure to scrape the bottom and the sides of the bowl.
Step 6: Split the batter between the prepared pans.
Step 7: Place them inside the preheated oven and bake for 20 minutes.
Step 8: Rotate the pans and bake for another 12 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean after inserting it in the middle of one cake.
Step 9: Remove from the oven and let them sit on wire racks to cool completely.
To Make the Peanut Butter Frosting:
Step 1: Mix on medium speed the peanut butter, powdered sugar, salt, and vanilla using an electric mixer until creamy.
To Assemble the Cake:
Step 1: Make sure to level off the tops of the cake before assembling them.
Step 2: Put a cake on a serving plate and spread about 1 cup of peanut butter frosting on top, then sprinkle about 10 chopped peanut butter cups on top of the frosting.
Step 3: Repeat this process until all the cakes are arranged in layers.
Step 4: Place it inside the fridge and allow it to chill for an hour.
To Make the Chocolate Ganache:
Step 1: Put the chocolate into a 4-cup measuring cup.
Step 2: Place a saucepan on the stove and in the cream. Turn the heat to medium and allow the cream to become warm.
Step 3: Pour the hot cream over the chopped chocolate. Leave it for 2 minutes at room temperature.
Step 4: Stir the mixture beginning in the middle going up until smooth.
To Garnish the Cake:
Step 1: Pour the chocolate ganache in the middle of the cake until the sides are covered as well.
Step 2: Sprinkle the rest of the chopped peanut butter cups on top.
Step 3: Place it inside the fridge to chill for at least 30 minutes.
Step 4: Remove from the fridge.
Step 5: Serve after 20 minutes. Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts:
CALORIES: 875KCAL FAT: 71G SATURATED FAT: 35G CHOLESTEROL: 109MG SODIUM: 986MG POTASSIUM: 725MG CARBOHYDRATES: 125G FIBER: 7G SUGAR: 90G PROTEIN: 20G VITAMIN A: 835% VITAMIN C: 0.2% CALCIUM: 140% IRON: 4.7%