Decadent Chocolate Peanut Butter Layer Cake

Instructions
1. Preheat the Oven:
Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans to ensure your cakes come out easily once baked.
2. Mix the Dry Ingredients:
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. This will be the dry base for your rich chocolate cake layers.
3. Add Wet Ingredients:
To the dry ingredients, add the eggs, whole milk, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract. Use an electric mixer or a whisk to blend the ingredients together until smooth and fully combined.
4. Incorporate Boiling Water:
Slowly stir in the boiling water, a little at a time. The batter will be very thin, but don’t worry—this is exactly what you want to achieve a moist, tender cake.
5. Bake the Cake:
Divide the batter evenly between the prepared cake pans. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Be sure not to overbake to keep the cake moist and soft.
6. Cool the Cakes:
Once the cakes are baked, allow them to cool in the pans for about 10 minutes. Then, transfer the cakes to a wire rack to cool completely. Cooling the cakes completely is crucial for easy frosting and layering.
7. Make the Ganache:
In a saucepan, heat the heavy cream over medium heat until it just begins to boil. Remove the cream from the heat and pour it over the dark chocolate chips. Let it sit for about a minute, then stir until smooth and glossy. This will create the rich chocolate ganache that will cover your cake.
8. Assemble the Cake:
Place one of the cooled cake layers on a serving plate. Spread a generous layer of creamy peanut butter over the top of the cake. Peanut butter will provide a rich, nutty contrast to the chocolate layers.
Next, carefully place the second cake layer on top of the peanut butter layer.
9. Add the Ganache:
Pour the dark chocolate ganache over the top of the cake. Let it cascade down the sides to create a beautiful, drippy effect. The ganache should cover the cake completely and give it a glossy finish.
10. Decorate the Cake:
For an extra touch of texture and flavor, decorate the top of the cake with swirls of chocolate frosting (store-bought or homemade). Sprinkle crushed peanuts on top to add a bit of crunch and highlight the peanut butter theme.
11. Serve and Enjoy:
Allow the cake to set for about 30 minutes to an hour, letting the ganache firm up slightly. Slice and serve this indulgent chocolate peanut butter layer cake. With every bite, you’ll experience the perfect balance of rich chocolate, creamy peanut butter, and decadent ganache.