Something Edible on Video: A Most-decadent Chocolate Peanut Butter Frosting - Something Edible
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Something Edible on Video: A Most-decadent Chocolate Peanut Butter Frosting

Something Edible on Video: A Most-decadent Chocolate Peanut Butter Frosting

Abstract:

I'm no expert when it comes to designing cakes. Even a simple layer cake takes me forever to assemble. One layer cake in particular took me so stinking long that I had to film the thing in time-lapse to show it all step-by step. Seriously, if I gotta bake, I'd much rather have my mitts in some bread dough; but you can't really get a birthday cake outta that now can you?

Anyhow, I reckon that y'all are busy too; and while sometimes you're doing good just to throw a box cake mix in the oven, that doesn't mean that you have to skimp on the icing; especially when it's this stinking easy. This video's gonna show you that with this chocolate peanut butter ganache recipe and one simple trick, you can very quickly and very, very easily take a so-so cupcake from St. Charles Place all the way up to Pennsylvania Avenue. And hey, if you do have the time, I've also included a recipe here for an uber-rich chocolate cake and a peanut butter buttercream that when combined with the ganache in this video, were met with high accolades at my significant other's birthday party. Enjoy!




Recipe: Jump to the detailed recipe. (or, keep reading for the gist of it) -

The Cake

Adapted from this recipe at Epicurious.com.

  • 3 oz 70% cacao chocolate (Almost a large bar.)
  • 12 fluid oz hot fresh-brewed coffee (French press joe works awesome.)
  • 3 cups sugar
  • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 cups unsweetened cocoa powder (Keep the Dutch Process in the pantry.)
  • 2 tsps baking soda
  • 3/4 tsp baking powder
  • 1 1/4 tsps Kosher salt
  • 3 eggs (Big ones.)
  • 3/4 cup canola oil
  • 1 1/2 cups buttermilk
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • Peanut Butter Buttercream Frosting

    Adapted from the Cream Cheese Frosting recipe on pg. 171 of my 12th ed. BHG Cookbook.

  • 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
  • 1/2 cup butter (That's one stick; room temperature.)
  • 1/2 tsp Kosher salt
  • 1 Tbsp spiced rum
  • 3 fluid oz milk
  • 20 oz powdered sugar (That's roughly 5 cups.)
  • Chocolate Peanut Butter Ganache Frosting

    Adapted from Aida Mollenkamp's recipe at Chow.com.

  • 8 fluid oz heavy cream
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 6 oz semi-sweet chocolate chips (Half a standard bag.)
  • 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
  • 1 Tbsp light corn syrup

  • To make the cake layers:
    Preheat oven to 300°F. Lightly grease either 9 or 10 inch round cake pans and then line the bottoms with discs of parchment.
    Finely chop the chocolate and in a bowl combine with hot coffee, salt and vanilla. Let mixture stand, stirring occasionally, until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth. Then into a large bowl whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and baking powder.
    In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat eggs and oil together for about 3 minutes at medium speed. Slowly add buttermilk and melted chocolate/coffee mixture to the eggs, on medium-low speed until integrated. Continuing on medium-low, slowly add sugar and then slowly add the flour and cocoa mixture until just combined. Divide batter between pans; about 2.4 oz for a 9 inch and about 2.8 oz each for a 10 inch pan. Bake on the center rack for 60 to 70 minutes or until a bamboo skewer comes out clean (If you're using 9 inch pans, then you'll also get about 5 cupcakes out of that surplus batter).
    Cool layers completely in their pans resting on racks. Run a knife around edges of the cakes to loosen 'em up (find a plastic knife if you're rocking nonstick) and invert layers onto wire racks. Carefully remove parchment and wrap each layer completely in plastic wrap to freeze for at least eight hours.

    To make the Peanut Butter Buttercream:
    Mix peanut butter, butter, salt, rum, and milk (all but the powdered sugar) together with the whisk attachment in the stand mixer on medium-high for 3 minutes. Slowly add powdered sugar until your desired consistency is reached. If the frosting starts to dry out and  "ball up" as the sugar is added then you can adjust the consistency as needed with milk added by the tablespoon.

    To make the Ganache Frosting:
    Combine cream and vanilla in a small saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Into the bowl of a stand mixer with your whisk attachment, add chocolate chips, peanut butter and corn syrup. Pour the hot cream over chocolate mixture and let sit until chocolate is mostly melted; about two minutes. Whip it all up on medium speed until the ganache begins to cool and just starts to become lighter and spreadable. If it all gets too cold and sets up, then move the mess to a microwave-safe container and nuke and stir until it just becomes spreadable again.

    To assemble the cake:
    Pull the layers from the freezer and level with a large serrated knife (if needed). Move the bottom layer to a parchment or foil-covered surface (such as a cardboard disk), and pipe or spread the peanut butter buttercream on the top (lay it on thick). Place the top cake layer and fill in any between-layer voids with more buttercream. Next, frost the whole cake with the chocolate peanut butter ganache using an offset spatula. Dip the spatula in hot water as needed to smooth the ganache and keep stickage to a minimum. Move quick, as the ganache will want to set up on those cold cake layers! To finish, pipe the edges and top with any additional buttercream and/or ganache you have (you'll have significant surplus on a 9 inch cake; the 10 inch variant will be just about right). Garnish with peanut butter cups (because you can).



    Notes:

    For all the details on that sexy-looking layer cake in the picture, you'll want to check out my original post for details on the recipes listed here!

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