Peanut Butter Silk Cake and frosting

Peanut Butter Silk Cake
1 box yellow cake mix

1 1/4 cups water

1/2 cup creamy peanut butter

1/3 cup vegetable oil

3 eggs

1/4 cup butter or margarine

1/4 cup packed brown sugar

1 cup whipping cream

1/2 cup creamy peanut butter

1 container chocolate frosting, or dark chocolate frosting recipe (see below)

1 cup chopped peanuts, if desired



1. Heat oven to 350°F (or 325°F for dark or nonstick pans). Generously grease bottoms only of 2 round cake pans.

2. In large bowl, beat cake mix, water, 1/2 cup peanut butter, the oil and eggs with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds. Beat on medium speed 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Pour into pans.

3. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes. Run knife around sides of pans to loosen cakes; remove from pans to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 1 hour.

4. In small saucepan, melt butter over medium heat; stir in brown sugar. Heat to boiling; boil and stir 1 minute. Remove from heat. Refrigerate 10 minutes.

5. In chilled medium bowl, beat whipping cream on high speed until soft peaks form; set aside. In another medium bowl, beat 1/2 cup peanut butter and the brown sugar mixture on medium speed until smooth and creamy. Add whipped cream to peanut butter mixture; beat on medium speed until mixture is smooth and creamy.

6. Split each cake layer horizontally to make 2 layers. Fill each layer with about 2/3 cup peanut butter mixture to within 1/2 inch of edge. Frost sides and top of cake with frosting. Press peanuts onto frosting on side of cake. Store covered in refrigerator.

High Altitude (3500-6500 ft): Heat oven to 375°F. Use 9-inch pans. Stir 1 tablespoon flour into dry cake mix. Decrease oil to 2 tablespoons. Bake 30 to 35 minutes.



Dark Chocolate Frosting
1/4 cup butter or margarine

1/3 cup baking cocoa powder

1 tsp vanilla

1 to 2 Tbsp milk or cream

2 cups powdered sugar

Melt butter and stir in baking cocoa. Stir in vanilla and 1 Tbsp milk. Stir in powdered sugar one cup at a time. If necessary, add up to 1 more Tbsp milk to make frosting of a spread-able consistency.

You can make this frosting up to several days ahead and store in the fridge until needed. Warm in the microwave until spread-able, stirring every 15 seconds.
submitted by: Saralynn Jensen