Chocolate Cake with Peanut Butter Frosting

Chocolate Cake with Peanut Butter Frosting.
Coffee is the secret ingredient in this tantalizing cake that's covered in a satiny peanut butter-cream cheese frosting.
(that's what the recipe says)

The cake is easy to make. And it's good. To be honest tho, one must like peanut butter to like this frosting, but if you do? YUM...MEE!

Today, during our lunch hour, my friend Betty and I are walking. Yes, we're going to spend the hour walking the perimeter of the sports complex. It's 38 degrees right now at 6:30 a.m. At noon, it will have warmed up into the 40's. High 40's or low 50's.
If it seems like one might need some insulation, you are right! And this cake, this chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting will help you get that little extra layer of fat that you might need to keep you warm.
So, just eat one piece (at a time). And make is sparingly (once a week), or just throw caution to the wind and eat, but take up the walking.
I mean, what's a girl to do, really?
I have no will power what-so-ever..... so (sigh), I will have my cake and eat it too, and then, walk, walk, walk.

Seriously tho, it's a great little cake. Easy to make and it disappears fast. My husband is not a big peanut butter fan, but he does like this cake.
It's from an e-mail subscription from Better Homes and Gardens, Homecooking magazine, which was spotlighting "Down-home Desserts from the heart of Iowa", November 2000.


Simple ingredients
some flour, sugar, cocoa, soda, baking powder, salt, and eggs, milk, oil, vanilla, instant coffee (the secret ingredient---LOL )

Mix it all together

The batter will be thin

Put it in the oven at 350, take it out and let it cool while you have a cup of coffee.






On to the frosting
cream cheese, peanut butter, milk, vanilla and powdered sugar and chocolate chips.





Just mix it all together and frost!

Cut and serve. Wa-lah!

Chocolate Cake with Peanut Butter Frosting

2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups granulated sugar
2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
2 eggs
3/4 cup milk
2/3 cup cooking oil
1 tsp. vanilla
2 tsp. instant coffee crystals
1 cup cold water

For cake, grease a 13x9x2 inch baking pan; set aside. In a large bowl, stir together flour, granulated sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Add the eggs and 3/4 cup milk, the oil and vanilla. Beat with an electric mixer on low speed until combined, then on medium speed for 2 minutes.

Dissolve coffee crystals in the cold water; add to cocoa mixture. Beat on low speed until smooth--batter will be thin. Pour into prepared pan. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 35-40 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan on wire rack.

1 3-oz pkg. cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
2 Tbs. milk
1/3 tsp. vanilla
2 1/4 to 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar

3 Tbs. miniature semisweet chocolate chips (optional)

For frosting, in a medium bowl, beat together cream cheese and peanut butter--mixture will be thick. Gradually beat in the milk and the vanilla. Beat in enough powdered sugar to make a good spreading consistency. Spread on cake.
Sprinkle with chocolate chips if desired.