Chocolate Peanut Butter Refrigerator Cake Recipes

Steps:

• For the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Coat three 6-inch-round cake pans with cooking spray.
• Sift the flour, granulated sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder and salt into a large bowl. Mix with an electric mixer at medium speed for 1 minute. Add the buttermilk, coffee, vegetable oil and eggs. Mix at medium speed for 1 minute. Scrape the side and bottom of the bowl and mix on medium speed for 1 minute more. Divide the cake batter evenly among the prepared pans. Bake on the top rack until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cakes comes out clean, about 30 minutes.
• Cool the cakes in the pans for 20 minutes then turn out onto wire racks to cool completely.
• For the buttercream: Add the confectioners' sugar and butter to a large mixing bowl. Beat with an electric mixer on low speed until completely incorporated, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the peanut butter, milk and salt. Mix on high speed until the mixture becomes fluffy and lighter in color, about 2 minutes. Scrape the side and bottom of the bowl and mix again on high speed for 1 minute.
• To assemble the cake: Level each cake round with a serrated knife or cake leveler. Use an offset spatula to spread a thin layer of the buttercream on top of one round. Top with a second round and spread it with a thin layer of buttercream. Repeat with the third round, spreading the buttercream on the top and sides of the cake. Smooth with a bench scraper.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Oil and line the base of three 19cm sandwich tins. Mix the flour, cocoa, bicarb and sugar in a bowl. Make a well in the centre and beat in the syrup, eggs, oil and milk with an electric whisk until smooth.
• Divide the mix between the tins, and bake for 25-30 mins until the cakes are risen and firm to the touch. Cool in the tins for 10 mins before turning out onto a cooling rack and cooling completely. At this stage, they can be frozen, well wrapped, for up to eight weeks.
• Make the bark while the cake is cooling. Melt the chocolate in short bursts in the microwave, stirring every 20 secs, until smooth. Spoon onto a parchment-lined baking tray and smooth over with a spatula to make a thinnish layer, around 35 x 20cm. Sprinkle over the chocolate chips along with the pieces of pretzel and honeycomb, then chill until solid. Remove the bark from the fridge and leave for a minute to come to room temperature before using a sharp knife to cut it into shards (if it's fridge cold, the chocolate will snap rather than cut). Chill again until you're ready to decorate the cake.
• To make the icing, melt the chocolate in the microwave, stirring between short blasts, then leave to cool a little. Meanwhile, beat the butter, icing sugar and 1 tbsp boiling water with an electric whisk or stand mixer, slowly at first, then turn up the speed and beat until you get a pale, fluffy icing. Spoon out a third of the mix into a separate bowl and stir in the peanut butter. Whisk the melted chocolate into the remainder of the icing, then beat in the cocoa if you want a darker, more chocolatey-coloured icing.
• Sandwich the three cakes together with the peanut butter icing. Use half the chocolate icing to coat the sides and top of the cake and fill in the edges between the layers, scraping off any excess. Chill for 20 mins. This is called a crumb coating, allowing you to get a really smooth finish when it comes to the final icing.
• Spread the remaining chocolate icing over the lightly chilled cake, smoothing over the sides and top so you get a neat finish. Chill again for 20 mins.
• To make the ganache, heat the cream in a small pan until steaming. Tip the dark chocolate into a bowl, then pour over the cream. Mix well until smooth and shiny. Transfer to a piping bag and leave to cool for a few mins at room temperature.
• Pipe the ganache on top of the cake, nudging it over the edge and allowing it to drip down neatly. Do this all the way round the cake, then fill in the centre with more ganache. Smooth the top with a knife. Chill for 1 hr for the ganache to set.
• Press the bark shards into the cake, sticking up. Add lots of chocolate eggs, popcorn and pretzels in and around the shards. Cut into slices to serve. Will keep for up to three days kept in a cool place in an airtight container.

Steps:

• For the crust: set oven to 325°F.
• In a food processor blend the wafers, sugar and cinnamon to fine crumbs.
• Add in melted butter and blend with on/off turns.
• Press the crumb mixture onto bottom and up sides of a 10-inch springform pan (this can be prepared well in advance).
• Bake for about 15 minutes, or until crust starts to puff up and darkens; cool completely.
• For the filling: using an electric mixer, beat the 2 cups peanut butter and softened cream cheese in a large bowl until well blended.
• Add in powdered sugar, and 1-1/2 tablespoons vanilla; beat well until blended.
• Using clean beaters beat the 2 cups whipping cream in a bowl until stiff peaks form.
• Using a spatula fold into peanut butter mixture in three or four additions.
• Spoon into prepared cooled crust.
• For the topping: combine 1/2 cup whipping cream, 1/4 cup sugar and espresso powder in a heavy medium saucepan; stir over medium heat until the espresso powder dissolves and mixture comes to a simmer; remove from heat.
• Add in the chopped chocolate; whisk until melted and smooth.
• Whisk in 1 teaspoon vanilla; cool for 6 minutes.
• Spread topping evenly over the filling.
• Refrigerate cake until cold (about 5 hours, longer is better!).
• Serve cake chilled and keep refrigerated.

Steps:

• Heat 2/3 cup cream in a large microwave safe bowl until steaming. (Time will vary depending on wattage of oven.) Add chips; whisk until smooth. Slowly whisk in remaining cream. Chill 15 minutes.
• Beat mixture in step one with mixer just until soft peaks form. Arrange 3 crackers, side by side, long edges touching on a serving plate. Spread evenly with 1/2 cup cream mixture. Repeat for 4 more layers; add 1 more layer of crackers. Chill 1 hour. Chill remaining cream.
• Spread top and sides of cake with remaining cream. Chill 4 hours or up to 2 days.
• Decorate with peanut butter chips, if desired. Slice with serrated knife using a sawing motion.

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the cake mix, water, eggs and applesauce. Beat on low speed for 30 seconds. Beat on medium speed for 2 minutes. Transfer to a 13x9-in. baking dish coated with cooking spray. , Bake at 350° for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. , Immediately drop small amounts of peanut butter over hot cake; return to the oven for 1 minute. Carefully spread peanut butter over cake. Cool on a wire rack. , For frosting, in a small bowl, whisk milk and pudding mix for 1 minute. In a small bowl, beat cream cheese and peanut butter until smooth. Gradually beat in pudding. Beat in half of the whipped topping; fold in remaining whipped topping. Frost cake. Store in the refrigerator.

Steps:

• In a mixing bowl, combine dry ingredients.
• Add eggs, milk, oil and vanilla.
• Beat for 2 minutes.
• Stir in coffee, (batter will be thin).
• Pour into a greased 9x13 inch baking pan.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes.
• Cool completely on a wire rack.
• Frosting:.
• Beat the cream cheese and peanut butter in a mixing bowl until smooth.
• Beat in sugar, milk and vanilla.
• Spread over cake.
• Sprinkle with chocolates chips.
• Store in refrigerator.

Steps:

• CAKE:.
• Make cake as directed on box. (I always use the 13x9 pan.).
• FROSTING:.
• In a medium bowl, mix the cool whip, pudding, and peanut butter until smooth.
• Frost the cooled cake with the frosting. Put in the refrigerator for an hour or so (to give the frosting time to set up).
• * Optional- If you like, you may drizzle chocolate syrup across the top for a pretty presentation.
• ** Cooking time includes chill time.