Ingredients:
For the Cake:
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup whole milk
- ½ cup sour cream
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup boiling water
For the Peanut Butter Filling:
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Bacon:
- 6-8 slices of bacon
- ¼ cup maple syrup
For the Frosting:
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 ½ cups dark chocolate chips
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For Decoration:
- Crumbled bacon bits
- Chopped peanuts
- Extra maple syrup for drizzling
Instructions:
1. Prepare the Cake:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line two 8-inch round cake pans with parchment paper.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
- In another bowl, mix granulated sugar, brown sugar, eggs, milk, sour cream, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract. Whisk until smooth.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
- Add the boiling water to the batter and mix until smooth (the batter will be thin, but that’s okay!).
- Pour the batter evenly into the prepared cake pans and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Let the cakes cool completely on a wire rack.
2. Cook the Bacon:
- While the cake is baking, cook the bacon in a skillet over medium heat until crispy.
- Drain on paper towels, then drizzle the bacon with maple syrup. Let cool before chopping into small bits.
3. Make the Peanut Butter Filling:
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together the peanut butter, powdered sugar, heavy cream, and vanilla extract until smooth. Set aside.
4. Make the Chocolate Frosting:
- Heat the heavy cream in a saucepan over medium heat until it begins to simmer.
- Remove from heat and stir in the dark chocolate chips and butter until smooth. Add the vanilla extract.
- Let the frosting cool and thicken for about 10-15 minutes.
5. Assemble the Cake:
- Once the cakes have cooled, slice each cake in half to create four layers.
- Spread a generous layer of peanut butter filling on the bottom layer of the first cake, then sprinkle with bacon bits.
- Place the second cake layer on top and repeat the process until all layers are stacked.
- Cover the entire cake with the chocolate frosting, smoothing it out with a spatula.
- Top with more crumbled bacon bits, chopped peanuts, and a drizzle of maple syrup.
6. Serve:
- Chill the cake for 30 minutes to help it set.
- Slice and serve! It’s a crazy, sweet, salty, and indulgent treat that’s sure to surprise and delight!