Chocolate-Sour Cream Cake & Chocolate Peanut Butter Frosting

This is the traditional birthday cake in my brother's house. I ALWAYS look forward to having it again. It is moist, rich and decadent! If you use chunky peanut butter in the Frosting, omit the chopped peanuts. PLEASE NOTE, this is a recipe that you really need to make BOTH the cake and the frosting to appreciate. It is the combination that makes it so good. If you are looking for JUST a chocolate cake recipe, you should try Dark Chocolate Cake, not this one. ;)

• Ready In: 1 hr
• Serves: 15-18

Ingredients

• 2  cups sugar
• 2  cups all-purpose flour
• 1  teaspoon baking soda
• 1  cup water
• 1  cup butter or 1  cup margarine
• 1⁄4 cup  cocoa
• 2  eggs, beaten
• 1⁄2 cup sour cream

• Chocolate Peanut Butter Frosting

• 1⁄2 cup butter (or margarine)
• 1⁄4 cup milk (plus 2 tablespoons)
• 1⁄4 cup  cocoa
• 4 1⁄4 cups powdered sugar (1 16-ounce bag)
• 1  teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1⁄2 cup peanuts, chopped (optional)
• 1⁄4 cup peanut butter

Directions

1. Combine first 3 ingredients in a large bowl; mix well, and set aside.
2. Combine water, butter and cocoa in a heavy saucepan; bring to a boil, stirring constantly.
3. Gradually stir hot mixture into flour mixture; stir well.
4. Stir in eggs and sour cream; mix well.
5. Pour into a greased and floured 13x9x2-inch baking pan.
6. Bake at 350 F for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool.
7. Combine butter, milk, and cocoa in a saucepan; bring to a boil, stirring constantly.
8. Remove from heat. Add remaining ingredients; beat at medium speed of an electric mixer until smooth.
9. Frost cake with Chocolate-Peanut Butter Frosting.