Peanut Butter Cup Brownie Cake

Peanut butter cup brownie cake, a.k.a. the richest thing I have ever made. 

There’s no doubt in my mind, this cake will feed a crowd! Just a small slice will satisfy the biggest chocolate-peanut butter craving. Those of you who have made the homemade version of Reece’s peanut butter eggs (popular at Easter-time) may find the recipe for the peanut butter layers very familiar.  

Oh yes, I did.

The brownie layers are very moist and dense, and just a small amount of lightly sweet chocolate frosting holds it all together.

One recommendation? Serve with a tall glass of milk.  Or many.

Peanut Butter Cup Brownie Cake

Yield: One 9-inch cake; serves approximately 25-30 

                                                                                                                  [click for printable recipe]

Make this cake for family reunions and large gatherings- it serves many!  It’s richness can be cut with a dollop of whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.  You can also half the recipe for the peanut butter layers.

My husband loves a slice of this heated in the microwave with a scoop of ice cream on top. 

Brownie layers:

1 1/2 cups butter

6 ounces unsweetened baker’s chocolate, chopped

3 cups granulated sugar

5 large eggs

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1. In a medium saucepan over medium-low heat, melt butter
   and chocolate; stir until smooth. Transfer to a large bowl and whisk in sugar.
   Add eggs, one at a time, whisking well after each addition.  Whisk in vanilla, flour, salt and baking soda.
2. Pour into three greased and floured 9-inch round baking
   pans. Bake at 350° for 23-25 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes; remove from pan to a
   wire rack to cool completely.  Wrap in
   plastic wrap or store in air-tight containers until needed.

 Peanut butter
layers:

6 cups powdered sugar

2 cups creamy peanut butter

1/2 cup butter, melted

1/4 cup (maybe more) heavy cream

1. Mix together the powdered sugar, peanut butter and melted
   butter in a standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment.  Mixture will be crumbly.  Add cream 1 tablespoon at a time until the
   mixture becomes a consistent workable dough. 
   It should not be crumbly or stick to your fingers.  The mixture should hold together easily when
   a small amount is squeezed tight in the palm of your hand.
2. Divide the dough into two even portions.  Spray one (or two if you have them) 9-inch spring-form
   pans with cooking spray or line two 9-inch pans with parchment rounds.  Press peanut butter dough into the bottom of
   the pans evenly, forming the peanut butter layers.  Turn the layers out onto two cookie sheets
   and place in freezer until frozen solid.

Chocolate frosting:

1 1/2 cups butter, softened

1 1/4 cups powdered sugar

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

2 tsp. vanilla extract

1 tsp. espresso powder

1. Beat softened butter and powdered sugar together in the bowl
   of a standing mixer fitted with the whisk attachment.  Scrape down the sides of the bowl and beat
   again until creamy.  Add cocoa powder and
   vanilla extract; beat well.  Add espresso
   powder and beat for 1-2 minutes longer until thoroughly incorporated.

(Note: I use King Arthur espresso powder, but you could substitute finely ground instant coffee)

Assembly:

8 peanut butter cups, each cut in half

3 tsp. chocolate shavings

Pearlized gold crystal sugar *optional

1. Remove peanut butter layers from the freezer.  Thinly frost a brownie layer and top with a
   peanut butter layer; frost peanut butter layer and top with a brownie
   layer.  Repeat steps until all layers are
   frosted and stacked.  Thinly frost the entire
   cake.  Pipe 11 frosting rosettes around
   the top edge of the cake with a large French piping tip; pipe one rosette in
   the middle of the cake.  Top each rosette
   on the outer edge of the cake with a peanut butter cup half.  Place four peanut butter cup halves, fanned,
   on the middle rosette.  Sprinkle top of
   cake with chocolate shavings. 
2. If using the gold sugar, place the cake (on the cake
   stand or serving platter) in a clean kitchen sink and toss sprinkles onto the
   sides of the cake.   Sprinkle a little on
   top of the cake, too. Keep cake covered tightly in plastic wrap to prevent loss
   of moisture.