Chocolate Peanut Butter Birthday

My husband's favorite flavor combination is chocolate and peanut butter so it was pretty easy to figure out what cake to make for his birthday.  He appeared to have enjoyed it as he helped himself to three slices that evening and ate it again for breakfast the next morning.  Just as well - it doesn't keep well past about three days.

This is a really easy cake to make, and it transports well, so you can take it to a party or into the office.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake

Cake

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp baking soda

2 cups sugar

1 cup butter or margarine

¼ cup cocoa

1 cup water

½ cup buttermilk

2 large eggs

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 ½ cups creamy peanut butter (I prefer natural)

Cocoa Frosting

½ cup butter or margarine

¼ cup cocoa

1/3 cup buttermilk

1 (16 oz) package powdered sugar, sifted

1 tsp vanilla extract

Combine first 3 ingredients; set aside.  Melt butter in a large heavy saucepan over medium heat; whisk in cocoa and next 3 ingredients.  Bring to boil over medium heat, stirring constantly.

Remove from heat; stir in vanilla.  Stir in flour mixture until smooth.  

Pour batter into a greased and floured 13x9-inch pan.  Bake at 350° for 20 to 25 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.  Cool 10 minutes on a wire rack.  

While the cake is cooling, start on the cocoa frosting.  Bring first 3 frosting ingredients to a boil in a large saucepan over medium heat, stirring constantly.  Stir in powdered sugar until smooth.  Remove from heat; stir in vanilla.  

Once the cake is cool, spread the top with peanut butter.  (I softened the peanut butter in the microwave so that spread more easily.)  Cool completely.  

Spread cocoa frosting over peanut butter.

Slice and enjoy.  You will feel like it is your birthday no matter when you eat it.