I Feel Like Chocolate Cake (with peanut butter frosting!)

Last night at dinner (we spent too much time at the skate park after school and ended up at our favorite sports bar Zipps), I suddenly had the urge for chocolate cake. Not necessarily to EAT the cake, but to make one from scratch. Don't ask me why. Perhaps it's because homemade chocolate cake fills the entire house with sweetness, and the presentation is always a celebration. My mom always made a killer chocolate cake for my birthday and I still get goose bumps when I think of it (her cake was especially good the next day when the buttercream frosting was hardened from sitting in the refrigerator overnight). To satisfy my craving to bake, I created this chocolate cake with peanut butter icing. If you have a birthday celebration coming up (or Labor Day picnic), this would make a nice addition!

Chocolate Cake with Peanut Butter Frosting

Chocolate Cake: 

Cooking spray

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 cups packed light brown sugar

3/4 cup cocoa powder

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 1/4 cups buttermilk or yogurt (vanilla or plain)

2 large eggs

4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 cup boiling water

Peanut Butter Frosting: 

1 cup creamy peanut butter

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened

2 cups confectioners sugar

3 tablespoon milk, or more as needed

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat a 9x12-inch baking pan with cooking spray.

To make the cake, in a large bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Mix well and set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, combine the buttermilk (or yogurt), eggs, melted butter, and vanilla. Mix on low speed until blended. Gradually beat in boiling water. Gradually add flour mixture and mix on low speed until blended.

Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 20-25 minutes, until a wooden pick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool cake, in pan, on a wire rack.

To make the frosting, combine the peanut butter and butter in a mixing bowl and beat until blended. Gradually beat in the confectioners sugar, and when the mixture starts to get thick, add the milk one tablespoon at a time. Repeat until all of the confectioners sugar is mixed in and the frosting is thick and spreadable. Beat for at least 3 minutes for a fluffier frosting. 

When cake has cooled, spread the frosting on top. Slice and gobble it up!

Serves 12

FreeDigitalPhotos.net, phanlop88