Yeah it is. It's better than money, that's how good it is.
And remember back yonder when I whipped up Better Than Robert Redford Cake? Yeah well this is even better than that!
No, seriously, you will toss away your Ben Franklin's, your Euro's or whatever currency you use for this cake. Yeah, you will.
I just offered the hooligans $5 for each of their pieces. And you know what, they wouldn't take it! Why? BECAUSE IT'S BETTER THAN MONEY!
This recipe comes from one of my favorite books, The Cake Book, by Tish Boyle. If you don't own this book, think seriously about adding it to your collection. The recipes are to die for.
This Sour Cream Fudge Cake with Creamy Peanut Butter Frosting and topped with sugared peanuts is...well there are no words other than, it's better than money.
This is one of those fudge-like cakes that you make in a regular 9 x 13 pan and either serve it right from there or use a biscuit cutter to cut out cute little circles from the cake pan and pile the frosting high.
And by the way the frosting...Oh Mama...you've just never tasted anything so utterly satisfying. A little of this with black coffee...I don't even think I'd be able to talk.
Unfortunately there will be no rest in this house until this cakes disappears.
Let's make another one together!
Here's what you will need for the cake: Cake flour, salt, baking soda, unsweetened chocolate, unsalted butter, granulated sugar, eggs vanilla extract, sour cream and hot water.
In a medium bowl sift 2-1/4 cups cake flour, 1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Set aside.
Also, this is a good time to melt the chocolate. You want it to be only lukewarm when you add it to the batter so do this early. You can either melt the 3 ounces of unsweetened chocolate in a double boiler or in the microwave (which is what I did). If using the microwave stir every 15 seconds until done. About two minutes.
In the bowl of your electric mixer add 1-1/2 sticks unsalted butter. Beat for about 1 minute, until creamy. Slowly add 2-1/4 cups granulated sugar. Beat for 3 minutes more. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add 2 teaspoons vanilla extract and beat until incorporated. Add three eggs, one at a time, mixing well before each addition.
Add half the melted chocolate and beat for one minute. Add second half of chocolate and beat for another minute or until fully incorporated. Scrape down the bowl.
On low speed add 1/3 of the flour mixture and beat just until blended. Don't over-mix. Add 1/2 the sour cream until blended. Continue with another 1/3 of flour and once it's blended add the other half of the sour cream. Finish with the last 1/3 of the flour mixture. Make sure to blend each step just until incorporated. Do not over blend.
Add 3/4 cup hot water to the mixture but add in three additions. Blend each addition until fully incorporated.
Pour batter, which will seem more runny than a cake mix batter, into a greased and floured 9 x 13 pan. Place in a 325 degree oven for 45 to 55 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean. Mine took 50 minutes.
When done let cake completely cool.
Let's make the frosting. You will need: Peanut butter, whole milk, unsalted butter, confectioner's sugar and pure vanilla extract.
In a mixing bowl add 4 Tablespoons unsalted butter and 3/4 cup peanut butter until well blended. Add 1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla and blend. Slowly add 3 cups confectioner's sugar in three additions alternating with 1/3 cup whole milk in two additions.
What you get is an incredible creamy-peanut butter frosting. If you taste it here you will not be able to stop eating it and there will not be any left for the cake.
Make this frosting after the cake is completely cool or you will have to refrigerate it and bring it back to room temperature to be able to frost the cake.
Go ahead and frost the cake. Make sure you spread the frosting carefully as the top layer is very delicate due to the fudgey nature of this cake. I'm telling you it is so good.
Top the cake with some type of sugared peanuts, walnuts or pecans. Use whatever you like, buy them or make them yourself. This is what I used. It adds a great textural change.
I want to make sure you see every fudgey-pothole.
And every glob of frosting.
You just have to try this cake. You have to. Don't you hear its siren song calling you?
Sour Cream Fudge Cake
adapted from The Cake Book by Tish Boyle
2-1/4 cups cake flour
1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped
1-1/2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
2-1/4 cups granulated sugar
3 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3/4 cup sour cream
3/4 cup hot water
Rack should be placed in the center of the oven and the oven preheated to 325 degrees. Grease and flour a 9 x 13 baking dish and set aside.
Sift cake flour, baking soda and salt into a medium bowl and set aside.
Melt chopped chocolate in a double boiler or the microwave. I used the microwave. It took about 2 minutes, stirring every 15 seconds Set the chocolate aside until it is lukewarm.
In the bowl of the electric mixer add butter. Mix for about 1 minute and slowly add granulated sugar. Beat for about 3 more minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add vanilla and beat just until incorporated. Add eggs one at a time. Beat each egg until fully incorporated into the batter. Scrape down the bowl.
Add lukewarm, melted chocolate to the mixture in two additions. Blend until each addition is incorporated. Add flour-mixture in thirds and alternate with two additions of sour cream. Blend only until fully incorporated. Then add hot water in three separate additions as well. Blend each addition only until it's fully incorporated. Add batter to the prepared pan.
Bake cake for 45 to 55 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Mine took 50 minuted.
Cool the cake completely before frosting it and adding sugared nuts.
Creamy Peanut Butter Frosting
adapted from The Cake Book by Tish Boyle
3/4 cup creamy peanut butter (do not use a natural brand or sugar-free)
4 Tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 cups confectioner's sugar
1/3 cup whole milk
Mix peanut butter and butter together until fully incorporated. Add the vanilla extract. Beat one more minute.
Alternately add confectioner's sugar and milk until completely mixed. Beat at low speed.
Use the frosting right away.
Cake should be stored in the refrigerator after making it.
Enjoy this, I know you will love it.
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I love chocolate and I love peanutbutter…I just know that I’m gonna love this cake!!! The name is spot on…I love that you tried to bribe your kids!!! Thanks again for another wonderful recipe.
Oh. Lord. In. Heaven. This looks, well, there are no words! My hubbyman would think I’m a goddess if I made this. And, it’s a good thing if he thinks I’m a goddess! Wonderful, wonderful, recipe!
A personal question…..how much do you weigh?
Oh boy does this look dangerous – I want a pieces of that! I’m not picky, I’ll take either a square or a circle piece.
HAHA!!! You offered your kids $5 for their slices of cake, that’s the funniest thing I’ve ever heard. You make me laugh so hard. But that cake….man oh man. Post bookmarked in my “MUST try” del.icio.us set.
Good lord, woman! I’m trying to LOSE weight! This looks way too scrumptious for me to read through the entire recipe.
I love that, “better than money!” Those look delicious, and way more complex than your traditional chocolate-combined-with-peanut-butter desserts.
Your kids turning down money to keep their cake pieces…now that’s convincing! Cravings coming my way…
Oh goodness. Hold me.
My pajama bottoms just stretched out by reading this. Good grief.
I am drooling all over my laptop. Seriously, adopt me. Please?
“Every Fudgy pothole”, are you trying to kill me here?! Oh my…
Looks delicious! Nothing is better than peanut butter and chocolate together! I loved the sugar coated nuts for the crunch!
OH MY GAWD! I can’t believe you posted this and my oven is broken so I won’t be able to make it! I feel like crying right now.
Okay – it isn’t good for me to drool this much when I am in front of the computer – it might short out the circuits!
This looks absolutely yummy!
Those look YUMMY! Especially now that I’m PMSing, I want chocolate! ( look at my blog sidebar and you can see what kind of day I’m having, at the very top)
Gotta try those soon.
thanks for sharing
YUMMMMMMMMY! I am sick today but this could possibly make me feel better!
What currency will you take for even one slice:D
You are going to have to buy me a new keyboard…I’m sorry but I blame you because of the drool that keeps collecting in it. I’m waiting for the little “pop” and a few sparks. ThenI’ll know it was too much. Heh.
Again – amazing sounding, looking dessert! Tis may well be a must for us!
i’m just going to make the icing and eat it for breakfast. sounds like a plan me.
That frosting looks soooooo gooey and good. I could eat a bowl of just that.
looks scrumptious!!! i’m craving some cake now!!
Omggg Cathy your killin me
ooohh man looks sooo yummy
My husband is a peanut butter freak. I am going to make it for him tonight. He’ll LOVE it!!!
YUMMMMMM
My monitor never tasted so good! Thanks for sharing the recipe! this is a total keeper for sure!
OMG–that sounds unbelievable!! I wish I could see the pics–but the computer I’m on is SO slow they won’t load. But I can imagine how hoe gooey and incredible it looks! I will definitely be making this one!!
That would be dangerous in my home! Thanks for the recipe!
Cathyyyyyyyyyy,
I am utterly drooling over my keyboard. Oh Ohhhh!
Love your photographs (a lot)! Cheers.
So, uh, I know you have all that property for your vineyard… but do you think maybe you could move to the Philadelphia/Delaware/South Jersey area? Maybe start a new trend in wine making? Live next door to me?
Yes? Please.
Every element of this cake looks yummy!
i have been doing a ton a mini cakes lately! now you are forcing me to make another one!
My stomach’s grumbling now and I’m ready to claim my piece. What’s your address again?
Well, great! I have to stop this blogging now and go run around my seven acres trying to work off the weight that just magically appeared while reading this decadent post! Oh wowie wow wow! That looks amazing! How many calories? (I knew you couldn’t count that high!!!) ; )
I’m sorry – I can’t comment – I have drowned in a pool of drool. Yum!
That was just plain mean…
Oh I remember peanutbutter frosting from when I was a kid on Sunday afternoons…but SOUR CREAM cake too???
How’d you do the round thing in the top photo!?
You’re killing my no-sweets diet! I feel sinful just looking at it!
OMG! I’m trying to eat healthy and you are not helping!
I checked this book out of the library once and it’s been on my want list since then. I’ve made the sour cream chocolate cake, but I didn’t try the frosting. I’ll have to now!
Ugh. You hate me. I haven’t had a carb in 7 days.
I’m going to have to start putting plastic wrap on the keyboard before clicking your URL.
This cake looks devilishly de-lish!
The world will be a better place if we replace money with these sour cream fudge cakes. They look so absolutely yummilicious!
ogh. my. god. I am so upset I just clicked my way over to this blog – all I want to do is go out and buy these freaking ingredients make this dessert. But I have to work! I am so hungry for PB now….yum!
I believe you, darling. So much better!
That cake looks amazing! I’m not sure on the frosting and you know I love peanut butter… but the cake… the cake!!!
Wow. I’ve never felt the urge to lick my monitor until now. Your photos are amazing. Wonder if this recipe would work for cupcakes? I need a group “thank-you” gift and just might try it! Thanks for an incredible blog!
This combo is a match made in heaven!!
This looks so amazing
Cheers
Cathy
http://www.wheresmydamnanswer.com
Seriously, I think I just gained 5 pounds looking at the photos. YUUUUUMMMMM.
I do not believe this is on Weight Watchers core foods list. (BIG sigh
)
moist and chocolatey cake. sweet and nutty frosting. yeah…definitely better than money. definitely.
thanks for providing my daily dose of food porn.
Fudgy chocolate AND peanut butter frosting! My gosh woman, my kids will never let me leave the kitchen!
…Oh girl, you’re as wicked as Ree the Pioneer Woman! And that’s a good thing! ;o)
…Will def’ be trying this recipe – thank you!
…Blessings…
)
I really love your step by step instructions and photographs. It feels so interactive! And you photos blow mine out of the water..I should learn how to use my camera
YU-HUM!
Printed this one out and gave it to Betty. The next time she needs something special to take to a Church meeting this is it.
Woman! Get thee and thy evil cake away from me!
It’s just TOO tempting.
You are an evil, evil woman. Oh. My. Goodness.
I’m drooling. I am eating delicious spinach and beef stir fry and I’m drooling over this.
Damnit woman
Money can be replaced – the memory of something this gorgeous has to be much much better than money. I would give you my money for this – all $1.25 of it.
GOOD GOD!
60 comments later (and 4 Blue Lagoons!!!!) what can i drunkly add?!?! i will make this for my church treats as i usually do from your “dessert” area…
i read EVERY day!!!!
I’ve wanted this book (the Tish Boyle cake cookbook) ever since I made a peanut butter pie she contributed to a Lisa Yockelson cookbook I won. It was unbelievable. This looks to be so as well.
I just found her cookie cookbook used and did a happy dance.
Good God, woman. What are you trying to do to me? I can’t take much more of this!
Oh My, I am just drooling over the pix! It looks yummy! I have filed this recipe under 1st thing to make when I lose 40lbs! Thanks for sharing!
Oh, this is simply divine! My teen daughter is always looking for a new chocolate recipe, so I’ll toss this her way. Talkin’ money … I just keep the basics in the pantry, and she bakes up a storm. (Although only one of us has to jog 4 miles each morning to keep our girlish figure, hahaha).
Better than money? Definitely. Better than sex? Almost
You amaze me again dear Noble Pig. That Wild Boar and those hooligans are very lucky!
I hear the “siren song”. Gotta go do some baking!
oh my word. I’m going to dream about this. I think I’ll make it to take on vacation so I don’t eat it all myself. WOW.
))
(and thanks for the comment on my blog!! Woot woot!!)
OMG this looks so good!
Yikes, that sounds so freakin’ good. My stomach is rumbling. Do you have to make the cake? Couldn’t I just frost my fingers?
Oh stop it. How do you keep this pace up girl? And how much does the Wild Boar weigh? You are “money” machine.
this is better than anything! WOWWWW
You are so bad. Better than money, maybe even better than sex. I didn’t write my wine description; be sure you taste that! It was killer. Girlfriend you might not be able to download a link but will you please tell your fan club to go vote for you! A post like this is why you got nominated in the first place. If it wasn’t 2 am,….
Ok. I think I need the wild boar’s help, here. I just smashed my face into the computer screen trying to get a taste of this. I think I need stitches.
Must. Have. Now.
I have a nervous twitch now that will surely not go away until I try this recipe!
Oh. How did you know the Baby Shower was coming up. I was going to go to Costcos and buy a couple of monster pies – but I think I’ll give these a go instead. Also have a Craft Party to go to if I can’t wait.
Got anything else up your sleeve? Need something awesome for the shower/BBQ. 
Like the mini potatoes (which I am SO making again)… fingery food for people to nibble on.
I can’t imagine saying no to $5, but this reflects on me as an extremely cheap person rather than on this cake. Which I think I need to live. Oh, those fudgey potholes…
$10?
Wow! That first photo pulled me in. And, they’re better than money too?! I’m sold.
You are seriously going to make me FAT! These look amazing.
OK this has me wanting to go make this right now. That fudgy delight will turn my son-in-law into a blithering baby. He loves chocolate cake, especially fudgy and moist. Yummmmm.
I seriously just drooled on myself.
Oh God. Do you realize how hard it is to read posts like this when I cook only for TWO???????
Sinful! Drool drool drool!
That chcolate cake looks so moist and fudgy and good! And a peanut butter frosting…mmm…
Oh my….this is outrageously yummy looking!
imma hurt you for real. im on a desperate mission to shed 6 pounds before i travel again, to another beach destination overseas and ur over here tantalizing me…
what is wrong with you!? seriously!?!?
girlfriend, this is almost better than sex!!!
maybe i’ll make it while in Mexico.. then i won’t feel so bad.
I think I just gained 5 pounds looking at the picture. Can I lick the beaters?
Now I’m starving.
will have to add to my menu…Mmmm….yummy!
Currently have a very popular sour cream chocolate cake that I do, but have never done it with PB!!!
thanks
Oh my. I think I love you.
I have no other words.
OMG… would you come live with me… PLEASE!
As soon as I’m done unpacking and putting away things – which of course will come after we are done doing all the work that needs to be done on this house… I’m going to make me some of this… YUM!
ok ok – so i’m 27 posts behind
gawd you are PROLIFIC
but as i was reading my way down, this stopped me dead in my tracks…
holy moley
i want this nooooooooooooow
Have you ever tried to do cupcakes with this cake recipe? Just wondering if it would work. I might try this weekend…
Oh my…my mouth is watering. I love peanut butter anything, and this seems to have it all. Wow. I am going to try this soon!!
Just found your blog via Picky Palate! I can’t wait to “explore” …
Oh for crying out loud! I’m getting gastrointestinal pangs just looking at those little bites of heaven–I’d eat a whole freakin’ pan!
This is a follow up to the comment I left earlier (see #2 above!). I had this post up on the computer because I thought the frosting would be great for my kids to make. Anyway, hubbyman came home unexpectedly at lunch time and saw this on the screen. He got all excited and asked if we were making this today. My daughter said just the frosting part, and hubbyman told her to “get busy” with it! I knew he’d love this! (We have to use gluten free products, so alas we won’t be making the cake portion of your recipe, but we’ll have a go at the frosting!)
I’m speechless. And drooling.
Looks amazing. I’m almost tempted to venture out in my pj’s in search of some sour cream….
Just put this in my Noble Pig recipe file. it’s true. I’m gonna publish your cookbook – don’t you know ?
just kidding… but I could….
I just came.
Just made the frosting to put on our favorite boxed brownies…HOLYCOWALMIGHTY!! It is lucious and smooth and peanut-buttery and perfect for anything chocolate. I’m taking it over for Jennyonthespot to try tonite as she is considered the Chocolate/PB Queen of the county!
This cake looks heavenly! It looks incredibly moist and chocolaty. I’ve seen that mix but have never picked it up. I’m going to have to get some!
Okay, I just commented on the Lemon Squares that I tried but on Friday I went out and got the cake flour, sour cream, and baking chocolate to make this. It was a lot more work than I’m used to when baking but it came out awesome. I still have almost a whole cake (it’s just two of us at home and I’m TRYING to be good). My boyfriend asked what the occasion was for baking a cake and I said there was none, I just wanted it. Couldn’t find those peanuts so we did without, but man. So rich and chocolately and delicious. You’re BRILLIANT!!! : )
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Um, I hardly dare ask, but what happens if I am too lazy to go out and get cake flour, and just attempt this with all-purpise flour?
Cake flour makes cakes “less dense” as it has the least amount protein. It’s up to you how you like your cake.
can I make this cake into cupcakes??
You can always try.