Old Fashioned Peanut Butter Cake

Recipe by The View From the Great Island

Old Fashioned Peanut Butter Cake is a good old Southern potluck staple that's reached cult status. The hot peanutty frosting gets poured right onto the warm cake, and the whole thing gets showered with roasted peanuts. Just divine.

Ingredients

• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 stick () unsalted butter
• 1 cup water
• ½ cup peanut butter (not natural)
• ½ cup vegetable oil
• 2 eggs (room temperature)
• ½ cup buttermilk (room temperature)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• frosting
• 1 stick () unsalted butter
• ½ cup creamy peanut butter
• 6 tbsp buttermilk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 3 cups confectioner's sugar,
• garnish
• roasted peanuts, about 1/2 cup

Method

1. Preheat oven to 350F
2. Spray a 9x13 pan.
3. Whisk together the flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt and set aside.
4. Heat the butter and water in a small saucepan until it comes to a boil. Take off the heat and whisk in the peanut butter and oil until smooth. Let cool for a few minutes, then whisk in the eggs, buttermilk, and vanilla until well blended.
5. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 40-45 minutes, until the top is golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Set the cake on a cooling rack while you make the frosting.
6. To make the frosting, put the butter, peanut butter, and buttermilk in a saucepan and bring to a full boil. Take off the heat and beat in the vanilla and powdered sugar, adding a cup at a time, until the frosting is smooth. I like to put it back on a gentle heat just to rewarm it, stirring constantly, before pouring over the cake.
7. Pour the hot frosting over the warm cake, working quickly because the frosting sets up immediately. Spread evenly over cake.
8. Garnish with peanuts.

View the recipe instructions at The View From the Great Island