Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Cake

Remember that Reese's Peanut Butter Cup commercial from the '70's or '80's where two people, one eating chocolate and one eating peanut butter, run into each other?  One yells, "Hey, you got your chocolate in my peanut butter!" and the other yells back, "You got your peanut butter in my chocolate!"  Then they try the mixture and decide it tastes delicious and the commercial ends with "two great tastes that taste great together."  Remember?  OK, for those who don't remember or are too young to remember, here it is:

I couldn't get that silly commercial out of my head as I made this Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Cake for my son's birthday.  He is past the age of theme parties and character cakes, so I decided to make him a cake based on his favorite candy.  This cake is very good, especially the peanut butter frosting.  It really is "two great tastes that taste great together."  But I will warn you--make sure you pour yourself a big glass of milk when you have a slice because you will need it.   

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Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Cake

by Jill {www.dulcedough.com} May-19-2011

Chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting decorated with Reese's Peanut Butter Cups.

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup shortening
• 1 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 2 eggs
• 2 squares (1 ounce each) unsweetened chocolate, melted

    For Frosting

• 2 cups creamy peanut butter
• 3/4 cup butter, softened
• 2 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 3 - 4 tablespoons milk
• 6 Reese's Peanut Butter Cups
• 1 package Reese's Peanut Butter Cups Miniatures

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.2. Grease and flour (or spray with cooking spray) two 8 or 9 inch round pans.3. Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl.4. Add shortening, milk, and vanilla; mix at a low speed for one minute then scrape the sides of the bowl.5. Add eggs and chocolate and mix at medium speed for two minutes. 6. Pour into prepared pans and bake at 350°F for 30 - 35 minutes or until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean. 7. Cool 10 minutes, then remove from pans; cool completely on a wire rack before frosting.8. To make the frosting, cream together the peanut butter and the butter.9. Gradually add the confectioners' sugar and beat well.10. Add salt and vanilla and continue to beat.11. Add milk and beat until frosting is at the desired consistency for spreading.12. Sprinkle chopped Reese's Peanut Butter Cups on top of cake and decorate as desired. (If you wish to cut the Reese's in half, I found they cut best when refrigerated, but not frozen.)

Details

Prep time: 30 mins Cook time: 35 mins Total time: 1 hour 5 mins Yield: 1 cake