Peanut Butter Cup Cake

Peanut Butter Cup Cake

1 devil’s food cake mix

3 eggs

1 cup buttermilk

1/2 cup vegetable oil

2 cups chopped peanut butter cups (plus more for garnishing – I used 2 bags)

8 oz. dark chocolate, chopped

1 cup heavy cream( I doubled this, and maybe even tripled it)

1/2 cup peanut butter

* Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat two 9-inch cake pans with non-stick cooking spray. Line with wax paper and coat paper.

* In a large bowl, beat cake mix, eggs, buttermilk and vegetable oil on low for 30 seconds. Increase speed to medium-high and beat for 2 minutes. Scrape down sides after 1 minute. Fold in 2 cups of the chopped peanut butter cups.

* Pour batter into pans and bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean.

* Cool cakes completely.

* Place chopped dark chocolate in a medium bowl. Bring cream just to a boil and then pour over chocolate. Whisk until chocolate melts. Add peanut butter and whisk until smooth. ( I then added two more cups of whipped heavy cream and spread it over the cake. It looked like cake batter and I thought it would fall apart but as soon as I put it in the fridge it firmed up and set. Then once set I added the chunks of peanut butter cups.)

* Trim each cake layer so the tops are flat. Place one layer on a cooling rack and pour 1 cup frosting on top. Spread evenly with a spatula. Add second layer and pour remaining frosting over top and sides of cake. Smooth out with spatula.

* Allow frosting to set for a minute and gently press remaining chopped peanut butter cup pieces all over top and sides of cake. Place in refrigerator for about an hour to set. Remove and serve.