I once worked for a principal who had a habit of making up words. The general consensus was that she was trying to sound smarter than she was. The students mock her behind her back…and yes, even the staff did. So much so that we made Bingo cards that we would use in the staff meetings. Try not to judge too much it helped pass the time. Plus the winner got free drinks at Happy Hour on pay day Fridays. 🙂
So when I was making this cake all I could think of was the word Boo-riffic. Which of course is not a word but it is to me. And well it’s my blog and now that I have a print button I can do whatever I want. Because print buttons give you and excuse to rule the blog world…to be the best blog!!! Anyway… I’ve made these little meringue ghosts pretty much every Halloween but this time I decided I needed to put them on top of a cake.
Staring at my bag of peanut butter cups I decided that I needed to make a buttercream frosting out of them. And this cake was born. The ghost come into play as I am quite sure you could die from overload with eating this cake: chocolate chip cake layers, peanut butter cup butter cream, peanut butter cups, Oreos and ganache. It’s super-cra-olistic (hopefully that’s on your made up word Bingo card).
To Die For Peanut Butter Cup Chocolate Chip Oreo Explosion Cake
1 recipe chocolate chip cake (see recipe)
1 cup crushed Oreo
1 cup chopped peanut butter cups
1 recipe peanut butter cup buttercream (see recipe)
Chocolate ganache (see recipe)
Meringue ghosts (for recipe go here)
For the chocolate chip cake:
8 TBSP unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 cup light brown sugar, loosely packed
3 large eggs
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 TBSP vanilla bean paste
1 1/2 cups cake flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
3/4 cup mini chocolate chips
Combine the butter and sugars in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and cream together on medium-high for 2-3 minutes.
Scrape down the sides of the bowl, add the eggs, and mix on medium-high again for 2-3 minutes.
Scrape down the sides of the bowl once more. On low speed, stream in the milk, oil, and vanilla bean paste.
Increase the mixer speed to medium-high and paddle for 4-6 minutes, until the mixture is practically white.
Stop the mixer and scrape down the sides of the bowl.
On very low speed, add the cake flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix for 45-60 seconds, just until your batter comes together.
Spray a quarter sheet pan with cooking spray and line it with parchment.
Using a spatula spread the cake batter in an even layer in the pan. Give the bottom of your sheet pan a tap on the countertop to even out the layer. Sprinkle the chocolate chips evenly over the cake batter. Bake the cake for 20-25 minutes. At 20 minutes, gently poke the edge of the cake with your finger: the cake should bounce back slightly and the center should no longer be jiggly. Leave the cake in the oven for an extra 3-5 minutes if it doesn’t pass these tests.
Take the cake out of the oven and cool on a wire rack.
Peanut Butter Cup Buttercream
1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup chopped peanut butter cups
2-3 cups powdered sugar
Milk to thin
Using a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, beat the butter and peanut butter cups together until fully incorporated.
Add powdered sugar one cup at time.
Add until you get the consistency you desire.
Chocolate Ganache:
8 ounces semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup heavy cream
1 TBSP unsalted butter, at room temperature
Place chocolate in a medium heatproof bowl; set aside.
Place cream in a small saucepan over medium heat and bring to a simmer. Pour over chocolate and let stand until chocolate has softened, about 5 minutes.
Add butter and stir until smooth. Let cool slightly before using.
To assemble cake:
Cut cake into 12 equal rectangle pieces. You will use three pieces per cake making four cakes total.
Spread some of the buttercream onto the bottom layer and add some peanut butter cups and Oreo pieces. Top with a layer of cake. Then add more buttercream, peanut butter cups, and Oreo pieces. Then add the top piece. Add a thin layer of buttercream but no peanut buttercups or Oreo piece. Top with some ganache and then top with meringue ghosts.
Carie says
OMG that sounds so rich. Did you use black food coloring in the ganache? It looks so dark.
Peabody says
@Carrie- no, just a little adjustment in photo editing.
Krista says
I’m one of those weirdos that doesn’t really like chocolate, but whatever photo manip you did on the ganache is making me want to lick the screen. I think that qualifies you for Best Blog! Plus the ghosts are freaking cute.
Becca - Cookie Jar Treats says
Ok, you were right. I’m pretty sure I just gained about 5 pounds just looking at this magnificent masterpiece of cake. It looks incredible. If I got a slice I’ve got to admit that I would keep the little ghosties as a souvenir because they are so gosh darn cute! I love them 🙂
Anita at Hungry Couple says
I love the little ghosts and that peanut buttery (it’s a technical term) cakey killer thing under them. I wouldn’t like any of it, though, if you didn’t have a print button!
michelle says
The cake looks incredible, but I must make those ghosts ASAP! I have 4 egg whites in my fridge and my kids love meringues!!
Melody says
Definitely boo-riffic!
Alice says
I think that is the craziest concoction I’ve ever seen you deliver to date! It looks sinfully delicious and I’m going to have to jump on your crazy train and make it in your honor.
** But only because you have a “print” button.
Erin says
Holy crapolla!! The ghosts on top are too stinking cute to start off with, and then the contents of that cake in mind blowing!
Rodzilla says
The made up word that came to my mind was diaobesity – a more severe form of both conditions..and maybe worthwhile for this cake.
Destinie says
YUUUUUMMMMYYY! This recipe looks like the kind of sin I need in my life. WOWZA sister! The only way I could ever come up with something this amazing is if I went on a diet because thats when I come up with my best ideas. But you can see how that ends up being a lose lose situation. ;p
Christine says
naughty stuff there….. I like it!
Melissa says
This is so out of control…PERFECT! So glad you gave that print button to have the very best blog like Ree. Do you know her? 😉
jeri says
Boo!-yah! I think I’m going to use that PB buttercream on everything. Well, maybe not Brussel Sprouts. And please feel free to share this tip with your readers, especially that mean lady. Your lovely new print button can also be used to save directly and paperlessly to ones computer. Just hit the print button, but instead of hitting print, copy all (control + a) and paste into a new word document. It works beautifully.
derek curtis says
any changes i should make if i use low suger sweeteners
Peabody says
@derek – I have no idea. I don’t use low sugar sweeteners in any way.