Chocolate and Peanut Butter Cake

One of my colleagues went to America recently. I asked if she could get me some duty free items as I had some airline vouchers to use. She kindly bought what I wanted but it cost more than my vouchers and she refused cash before she left in case the items were out of stock or she forgot. When she gave me my goods, I got my purse out but she stopped me and said that her husband (who paid for the item) would prefer a cake. He wanted anything with chocolate in it. The last cake he had from me were my snickers cupcake with peanut butter caramel buttercream and he has been asking for another batch for a while. 

I wanted to make something a little different so I decided to make a chocolate and peanut butter cake. I used my all time favourite Nigella's old fashioned chocolate cake recipe. I added a layer of peanut butter in the middle then covered the cake with a chocolate ganache and decorated it with Reese's peanut butter cups. The cake was moist and chocolatey and I was really pleased that the peanut butter layer remained intact even though it was not quite in the middle of the cake as I hoped. 

I'm entering this to Love Cake hosted by Jibber Jabber UK. The theme this month is savoury and yes peanut butter counts!

I'm also entering this to AlphaBakes hosted this month by Caroline from Caroline Makes and co-hosted by myself on alternate months. The letter is P for Peanut Butter.

 Adding a layer of peanut butter 

 top with more batter

 decorate with chocolate ganache and peanut butter cups

 I was given permission to cut a slice for my blog but I dropped it hence the smudged top! 

For the cake 

200 grams plain flour
200 grams caster sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
40 g cocoa powder
175 g unsalted butter
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
150 ml sour cream

300g smooth peanut butter

For the ganache

150mls double cream

200g dark chocolate, chopped

For the decoration

10 peanut butter cups

• Preheat the oven to 180C.
• Place all the ingredients for the cake in a stand mixer and mix until smooth. Alternatively mix everything by hand in a large mixing bowl.
• Place half the cake batter into the cake tin.
• Add a layer of peanut butter on top.
• Cover with the remaining cake batter. 
• Bake for approximately 35minutes or until cooked and a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.
• Allow to cool completely before decorating.
• To make the ganache, bring the cream to a boil in a small saucepan.
• Remove from the heat and stir in the chopped chocolate. 
• Continue stirring until all the chocolate has melted and you have a smooth, glossy ganache.
• Once the cake has cooled, pour the chocolate ganache on top of the cake and decorate with peanut butter cups.