Peanut Butter Wishes and Chocolate Dreams

Hey guys!!  Have you ever gotten in the mood to get in the kitchen and create something amazing?  I mean like, AH-MAZING?  You know it is out of your culinary knowledge and you think your ability but you decide to go for it anyway?  Well that is what I did with this cake.  I wanted to make my husband his dream cake, just because he is, ya know, so DREAMY!! I took to YouTube for some ideas, and found only one cake that I thought to myself would be something I could experiment with.  More the method, than the actual flavors and colors.

My Geo, is a peanut butter and chocolate loving man!  I have been spending so much time away I just wanted make him something special.  I mean after all, food is love, right?  I wanted to make this so far over the top it was almost ridiculous.  There is some explaining to do, so let me get to it.  This is NOT hard, not even a little, but there are some specific things you need to do! 

OH!  Did I mention this cake has a surprise in the middle?!?!

Once again I used a box cake mix, do what you want, but the star of the show for me was not the actual cake.  You will need an angel food cake pan, 9 inch cake pan and an 8 inch cake pan.  (2-9's will work but it make it difficult to work with once you have cut the cake to fit)

For the CAKE you will need:
2 chocolate cake mixes (or a double recipe of your favorite "from scratch" recipe
1, 9 inch round cake pan
1, 8 inch round cake pan
1 angel food cake pan (approx. 9 inches at the base)

Preheat your oven and prepare cake mixes per box directions.   Line cake pans with parchment and spray with non stick spray.  Divide the batter so that about 1/4 goes in each round cake pan and 1/2 goes into the angel food cake pan.  The round layers will go on the top and bottom of the angel food cake and don't need to be the normal thickness.  Once this is done, bake according to the box directions.  A few minutes less for the round cakes and up to 15-20 min longer for the angel food cake because it is obviously thicker.  When they can be poked with a toothpick that comes out clean, they are done.  Let cool COMPLETELY!!

While they are baking, prepare your frosting and filling:

FILLING:
3/4 cup creamy peanut butter
1 cup Reese's Pieces
1-1 1/2 cups mini Reese's Peanut Butter Cups or Regular size cut into quarters.

FROSTING:
2 cups creamy peanut butter
1/2 cup butter (softened)
4 cups confectioners sugar
1 tbsp. vanilla
3-5 tbsp. milk (depends on the consistency you want, may need even more or less)

In a bowl with a hand mixer or in a stand mixer combine 2 cups peanut butter, butter, confectioners sugar, and vanilla.  Beat until smooth.  Begin adding milk until you achieve the desired consistency for your liking.  Beat for 2 minutes on high when you have achieved that consistency and set aside.

When cakes have cooled, on a cake plate or cake board, place your 9 inch cake.  Spread a thin layer of plain peanut butter on top.  Now, add your angel food cake pan layer, largest side down so it is evenly placed on top of the 9 inch layer.  Spread a layer of peanut butter on top. 

Fill the hole with the Reese's pieces and peanut butter cups you have for the filling.  Fill to the top!  Now place the 8 inch cake on top.  (NOTE, if you use a 9 inch cake, it will need trimmed which makes icing a little trickier but not impossible by any means)

Frost the entire cake with your frosting.  Make sure you have enough left to do any decorating with a piping bag that you want to do.

I also poured ganache over the top of my cake for added decoration and interest.  Here is my recipe for Ganache.

Garnish:
Reese's Peanut Butter Cups
Reese's Pieces Candy
Peanut Butter Cream Frosting

Use these as you wish.  Decorate to your hearts content!!  When you cut your cake, it will be like a piñata!  Candy will spill out from the center like this....

Complete joy and love in every bite!!

Your "brownie points for this wife" Chefwannabe

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