chocolate peanut butter cake

Emerson turned eight this past Saturday…so…hard…to…believe! She is growing up fast. We’ve been warned about this so we try to do our best to enjoy each and every day with them. But really these photos make us want to snuggle those sweet baby cheeks again.

We know these days will be gone soon enough. So we celebrate with streamers and balloons, even if our house is on the market {and we ended up with a showing that morning}. Because traditions trump house showings.

To go along with the traditional birthday pancakes, she also requested a chocolate peanut butter cake.

So in honor of our little girl turning 8, we decided to try our hand at a semi-homemade concoction. Here’s a super moist, deliciously rich Peanut butter Chocolate cake! (Side note: We made a two layer cake…because birthday. I think this makes a great one layer cake too.)

Here is what you need for a one layer cake: • 1 box of devil food chocolate cake mix • eggs • vegetable oil • 1 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter • 1/2 cup milk chocolate chips • 1/2 cup peanut butter chips • 2 cups confection sugar • 1 cup unsalted softened butter • 14 oz. can condensed milk • milk • miniature Reese cups

To start, simply mix and bake the cake according to the box directions and let it cool completely.

Once the cake has cooled, pour 1/4 cup of the peanut butter chips into a microwave-safe bowl and melt them. Then mix in 7 oz. or half of the condensed milk. Mix until blended. Repeat the same process with the chocolate chips.

Simply poke holes in the top of the cake about 3/4 of the way through with a large wooden spoon. Alternate pouring each mixture into the holes until all the holes are close to filled. This process will not only infuse more flavor, but helps it become super moist! (If you’re doing a multi layer cake, you can do one layer with the chocolate and one with the peanut butter.)

To make the icing, combine your creamy peanut butter, with your softened butter, confection sugar and add tablespoons of milk as needed to make it creamy. Mix it together until you reach a spreadable consistency that you can work with.

Once the cake is iced, unwrap several reese miniature cups and cut them into halves. Then simply place them on the cake by gently pushing them into the icing.

Emerson’s current obsession is My Little Pony…so you know. We take our obsessions seriously around here when it comes to celebrations.

We aren’t sure what Malone is contemplating, but he looks like he has an evil plan for those Ponies.

We hope you get to try this out… your taste buds will thank you! As always, let us know if you make it!

Have an inspired day!