Peanut Butter Chocolate Monkey Cake

Wouldn't this be a fun cake for a jungle themed birthday party? 

This Peanut Butter Chocolate Monkey Cake is super cute and delicious...

And you don't have to be a decorating genius to put it together!

This monkey is made with chocolate cake, peanut butter frosting,

whipped chocolate ganache and cocoa rice cereal.

You don't have to include the cereal, but it adds great texture and a tasty crunch!

Use white candy melts and brown M&M's for the eyes,
add peanut butter, oatmeal or molasses cookies for the ears,
and you have one super cute monkey cake!

Peanut Butter Chocolate Monkey Cake

by Bird On A Cake

6048968

Ingredients

Chocolate Cake

• 1 cup boiling water
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup cocoa powder
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup buttermilk (OR 1 c. milk mixed with 1 T. vinegar)
• 1/2 cup oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Peanut Butter Frosting

• 1/2 cup salted butter (softened)
• 1 cup creamy peanut butter
• 2 cups confectioners' sugar
• approx. 1/8 cup milk

Whipped Chocolate Ganache

• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1/3 cup whipping cream
• 2 Tablespoons butter (softened)

For Decorating

• 1 cup cocoa rice cereal
• 2 large peanut butter, oatmeal or molasses cookies
• 2 white candy melts
• 2 brown M&M's

Instructions

Chocolate Cake

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line the bottoms of two 9 inch round cake pans with wax paper; grease the sides of the pans. Bring a small pan of water to a boil and keep it simmering while you mix the other ingredients.

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the sugar, flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Add the eggs, buttermilk, oil and vanilla. Beat with mixer until combined.

Add 1 cup of the boiling water and carefully stir until it is mixed in. Beat for 1 1/2 minutes with mixer. Batter will be thin. Pour the batter into prepared pans and bake for 25-30 minutes (until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean).

Peanut Butter Frosting

In a medium bowl, beat the butter and peanut butter with an electric mixer until well combined. Gradually add the sugar. When it starts to get thick, add the milk a little at a time until frosting is spreadable. (The amount of milk you use depends on the thickness of your peanut butter.) Beat for 3 minutes or until fluffy.

Whipped Chocolate Ganache

Microwave chocolate chips and whipping cream in a microwave-safe bowl on medium power, 2 1/2 minutes or until chocolate begins to melt. Whisk until chocolate completely melts and mixture is smooth. Whisk in butter; let stand 20 minutes. Beat at medium speed with an electric mixer 4-5 minutes or until ganache thickens and forms soft peaks.

Assembling Your Cake

Level your cooled cake layers. Place one layer on a cake stand. Spread peanut butter frosting on it, then top with the second cake layer. Spread peanut butter frosting on top of the cake, in the shape of a monkey face. Carefully spread whipped ganache around the edges of the face and down the sides of the cake. Slide the cookies into the frosting between the cake layers, opposite from each other. Press cocoa rice cereal into the whipped ganache. Spoon some whipped ganache into a decorating bag or ziploc with the corner snipped off. Pipe dots on the back of the M&M's and attach them to the flat side of the candy melts. Pipe a dab of ganache on the backs of the candy melts and arrange on the cake. Pipe a nose and mouth.

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Design inspired by Better Homes & Gardens

Helpful Hints:

• Decorate and serve this cake on the same day. Otherwise, the cocoa rice cereal will get a bit soggy (at least it does in Florida humidity!). 
• You can insert toothpicks into the cake under the cookies to help support them.

 I love this combination of peanut butter, chocolate and crunchy cereal. :)
Enjoy!

 I share my recipes and tutorials at these fun link parties.

Another delicious recipe for you...
 Reese's Peanut Butter Chocolate Cake

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