For my birthday in July, Charlie baked me the best chocolate cake I've ever had, using this fantastic recipe - two rich chocolatey cake layers separated by an oozy, delicious raspberry puree filling and covered with a deep dark chocolate ganache. Raspberry and chocolate is one of my all time favorite flavor combinations. So, since Charlie's birthday was last Thursday, I had to repay the baking karma by making him a birthday cake that aspired to an equal level of decandance. Since, Charlie is a peanut butter fan, I used Smitten Kitchen's irresistible recipe for chocolate peanut butter cake. This creation consists of two layers of sour-cream chocolate cake (supposed to be three, but my third cake pan is trapped beneath my oven...) frosted with a peanut butter cream cheese frosting (yum, yum, yum) and topped with peanut butter chocolate ganache. That's right. I just said that. Chocolate ganache. With peanut butter. My favorite part is the the drippy effect from the ganache... Doesn't it make you want to stick your fingers in it?
We've been so busy with work and baby preparations and general nesting, that we didn't get a chance to do anything elaborate for Charlie's birthday this year. Dinner and cake. Nonetheless, happy twenty-ninth birthday, Charlie!!! I hope your wish comes true...