Peanut Butter Chocolate Cake

I made this for my son's 11th birthday. He asked for a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup cake so I improvised with chocolate cake and peanut butter frosting. He loved it! Thank goodness! These kids can be so difficult to please at times!

 

Chocolate Cake

2 c. flour

2 c. sugar

3/4 c. cocoa powder

2 tsp. baking powder

1 1/2 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

1 c. milk

1/2 c. oil

2 eggs

2 tsp. vanilla

1 c. boiling water

Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cocoa powder, and salt in a large bowl. Add the milk, eggs, oil, and vanilla. Beat with a hand mixer on medium speed until it is well combined. Turn the speed down to low and slowly add in the boiling water. Continue beating for one minute. Pour cake batter into a 9x13 pan or 2 9 inch round pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean when inserted into the center of the cake. Remove the cake from the oven and cool about 10 minutes. Remove from the pan and cool completely before frosting. 

Peanut Butter Mousse Frosting

2 c. creamy peanut butter

2 8 oz, package cream cheese, softened

2 c. powdered sugar

2 Tbsp. vanilla

2 c. cold whipping cream

Using a hand mixer, beat the cream cheese and peanut butter together until smooth. Add the powdered sugar and vanilla and mix well. In a separate bowl with clean beaters, beat the whipping cream until stiff peaks form. Fold the cream into the peanut butter mixture in 3-4 additions. 

Frost the cake generously with the frosting. This makes quite a bit so there will be plenty for the filling between the layers and on the cake. Top with chopped peanut butter cup candy.