Covering a cake with ganache makes it irresistible. Ganache is poured over a baked and cooled cake to form a frosting that is not only beautiful to behold but also delicious. Treat the peanut butter enthusiasts in your life to a scrumptious dessert, topped with peanut butter morsels and chocolate curls, or go a different route and create peanut butter ganache cupcakes.
Peanut Butter Ganache Cake
Ingredients You Will Need:
�" cup peanut butter
�" cup butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 eggs, slightly beaten
1 boxed butter cake mix (white or plain yellow will work)
¾ cups water, room temperature
Ganache
Ingredients You Will Need:
1 cup heavy cream
¾ cup powdered sugar
1 ½ cups chocolate chip morsels
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
½ cup smooth peanut butter
Mix the peanut butter and butter together with an electric mixer. Add the vanilla extract and the eggs. Slowly add a little bit of the cake mix and a little bit of water until both ingredients have been mixed in. Bake the cake according to the box directions.
Use a small saucepan to create the ganache. Use low heat, and be attentive. The last thing you want is to have burnt chocolate in the saucepan. Carefully measure and combine the cream, powdered sugar, chocolate chip morsels and butter into the saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil. Immediately reduce the heat, and stir in the peanut butter. Continue stirring until smooth.
Place the ganache in the refrigerator for about five minutes to cool. Before you spoon or drizzle the ganache over the cake, make sure it has reached the desired consistency. This is the most difficult step of making ganache. Ganache that is too warm will be too thin, but ganache that has gotten too cold can harden.
Peanut Butter Ganache Cupcakes
Individual peanut butter ganache desserts served in teacups at a bridal shower create stunning centerpieces. For added flair, wrap a variety of small boxes in complementary wedding colors, and place them down the center of the table. Then set one teacup filled with a peanut butter ganache cupcake atop each box, creating height and beauty at the same time. Garnish each cup with mini peanut butter morsels, chocolate curls and a column of stiff whipped topping. Insert a chocolate wafer or mint leaf into the topping. Add a few teapots of flowers on each table, and you will also have a dazzling display that your guests will not soon forget.
 | Cake frosting, glazes and icings aren't only for eye appeal. They also add flavor and hold in the moisture. Some cakes need to be refrigerated and others need to be kept at room temperature. The type of frosting you choose should complement the cake in flavor and coloring and also is dependent on how the cake is best stored. |
 | Truffles, which have been dipped in ganache, filled with ganache or have been drizzled with ganache are a treat that is out of this world. It's not difficult to learn how to drip ganache over the side of a cake with a few simple techniques. |
 | This ganache recipe, which calls for peanut butter, can be used a glaze while still warm or allowed to cool and harden slightly to spread like frosting. |
 | Fondant is primarily used by professional bakers and is often found on wedding cakes or larger specialty cakes. By acting as a shell, fondant gives cakes a smooth appearance that is difficult to achieve with regular frosting. |
 | View our photo gallery of cake decorating, including fondant, candy, decorative flowers and fruit. |
