Mama's Chocolate and Peanut Butter Cake!

 If you are a lover of chocolate and peanut butter combinations, this cake is definitely for you!  It is amazing and I am not exaggerating!   This is one of my mother's creations and she did good on this one!   It's not that difficult to make either.   The frosting is just a simple chocolate, peanut butter cream cheese frosting...need I say more here?  I didn't think so!

 Here is what you will need for this cake:

2 cups all purpose flour

2 cups sugar

1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

1 cup buttermilk

1 cup Sprite (or any clear lemon lime soda)

3/4 cup vegetable or canola oil

3 eggs

6 oz. peanut butter chips, divided

6 oz. milk chocolate chips divided

Frosting

1 (8 oz. ) pkg. cream cheese

1/2 cup creamy peanut butter

1 tsp. vanilla

1/2 tsp. salt

1/3 of the peanut butter chips, melted

1/3 of the milk chocolate chips, melted

4 cup powdered sugar

2 oz. milk chocolate bar for chocolate curls to garnish

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large mixing bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, 1/3 cup cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt.

Add in buttermilk, Sprite, oil and eggs.  Mixing after each addition just until combined. 

Melt 2/3 of the peanut butter chips and the milk chocolate chips together and stir.  You can just put them in a bowl in the microwave for a minute or two to do this.  Set the remaining, solid chips aside.

Mix 1/2 of the melted chips into the cake batter.   Set the other 1/2 aside for the frosting. 

Line two 9" cake pans with parchment or wax paper rounds and spray them liberally with nonstick baking spray.   Do not skip this step, because this cake can stick.  

Divide the batter evenly between the two pans.  Sprinkle the remaining chips you did not melt evenly over each layer.    Place on the center rack in the oven and bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until a pick inserted in the center comes out clean.  

Remove and allow to stand for about 10 minutes before turning out of the pans.  Place on a wire rack and cool completely before frosting.

To make the frosting, beat the cream cheese, peanut butter, salt, vanilla and the remaining melted chocolate and peanut butter chips together.  You will probably have to place the chips mixture back in the microwave for a few seconds to melt it again before using.  Beat in the powdered sugar until it's smooth and fluffy. 

Stack on a cake plate and frost!  Make chocolate curls to garnish the top if desired!

Slice and eat, because this one won't last long!