What can I say? I’m just totally crazy about cheesecake cakes. Maybe one of these days I’ll write a cookbook totally devoted to this type of cake. Wouldn’t that be a fun book to have? Goodness, I think I’d gain about 40 pounds writing a book like that! Anyway, the combination of chocolate and peanut butter is appealing to so many people these days, so I thought this would be a good combo for my latest cheesecake cake. There are two layers of chocolate cake, and sandwiched in between the cake layers is a layer of peanut butter cheesecake. The whole cake is covered with peanut butter frosting, topped with chocolate ganache, and then sprinkled with peanut butter cups. IT’S VERY RICH… so a small slice’ll do ya just fine!
I’ve told you about my secret before, right? » these cake strips?? They are the best baking invention known to mankind. Soak them in water, wrap them around each of your cake layers, and those cake layers will stay nice and flat for your cake. You don’t want to have to deal with rounded mounds of cake! I use them for every cake I bake. They’re cheap ($8.10 for two), and they last forever.
How to make a Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake Cake:
One chocolate cake layer goes on your platter. I like to slip little pieces of wax paper under the edges so the frosting doesn’t mess up my platter.
A small amount of peanut butter frosting goes on top of the first cake layer.
Then the cheesecake layer goes on next!
More frosting is spread onto the cheesecake layer (the frosting just kind of helps the layers stick together a little better).
The 2nd layer of cake tops the cheesecake.
Then the whole thing is frosted. Once you have everything covered, you can then slip out the wax paper and throw it away.
I added a chocolate ganache to the top. I’m not sure you really need it since the cake is completely and totally decadent and perfect all on its own. It’s totally your call. My chocolate seized up on me a little bit, so it’s not super shiny and beautiful (but it can be!) Otherwise, the peanut butter cups are sprinkled over the top. Don’t skip out on those! The Reeses mini cups can be found in your market’s candy aisle.
Ahhhh, the unveiling of the inside of the cake! You know why I love this cake so much? Because there are three kinds of desserts going on here > cake, cheesecake and candy! You won’t need dessert for a week after eating a slice of this! I served this at a little dinner party I had at my house recently. A friend of mine that I hadn’t seen since high school was in town and we had him and his partner over for dinner. They raved about this cake, which was really, really nice since my friend is a caterer in San Francisco!! I’m so glad it was a big hit. I’m thinking it would be cool for Mother’s Day or Father’s Day too… if your mom or Dad or your dude or chick is into the chocolate-peanut butter combo. It’s a special treat indeed!
Here are a few more cheesecake cake recipes you might enjoy:
Red Velvet Cheesecake Cake Strawberry Cheesecake Cake Snickers Cheesecake Cake Chocolate Cheesecake Cake Carrot Cake Cheesecake Cake Red, White and Blue Cheesecake Cake
