Best 20 Marshmallow Cake Recipes

PEANUT BUTTER MOON PIE: CHOCOLATE CAKE, GRAHAM CRACKER CRUST, PEANUT BUTTER CREAM CHEESE FILLING, MARSHMALLOW FROSTING

Steps:

• For the crust: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line muffin pans with 36 muffin liners. Combine the graham cracker crumbs, granulated sugar and butter in a bowl. Mix with your hands until well combined. Press 2 tablespoons of the mixture into the cupcake liners and bake for 7 minutes. Remove and let cool.
• For the chocolate cake: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. In the bowl of an electric mixer with the whisk attachment, whisk the flour, cocoa powder, granulated sugar, baking soda, baking powder and salt until well combined. Add the eggs, one at a time, scraping the bowl as needed. Add the buttermilk, vegetable oil, vanilla and coffee and mix for about a minute until well combined. Fill the 36 muffin pans with the pre-baked graham cracker crust three-quarters full with batter and bake until a toothpick inserted comes out clean, about 20 minutes.
• For the peanut butter cream cheese filling: Whip the cream cheese and butter in an electric mixer with the paddle attachment until fully incorporated. With the mixer on low, gradually add the powdered sugar until combined. Add the vanilla and mix until combined. Finally, add the peanut butter and mix until fully incorporated.
• For the marshmallow frosting: In small saucepan, combine the granulated sugar, 5 ounces water and the cream of tarter and boil until the sugar dissolves, stirring occasionally.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer with the whisk attachment, beat the egg whites and vanilla until firm peaks form. With mixer on high, slowly stream the hot sugar mixture into the egg whites and mix for about 3 minutes.
• To assemble: Use a knife to cut a hole out of the center of the cupcakes. Fill with peanut butter cream cheese filling with a spoon and frost with marshmallow frosting.

COCONUT SHEET CAKE WITH MARSHMALLOW-CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

Steps:

• For the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a 9-by-13-by-2-inch cake pan with baking spray with flour. Line the cake pan with parchment paper and coat the parchment with the baking spray.
• Whisk the coconut milk, eggs, oil and vanilla together in a large measuring cup until smooth. In
• the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the flour, sugar, chopped coconut, baking powder and salt. Mix on low for 30 seconds to combine.
• With the mixer still on low, begin adding the cubed butter and mix until no pieces of butter remain and the mixture looks like cornmeal, 2 to 3 minutes; it should hold together when squeezed.
• With the mixer still on low, add half of the liquid ingredients and mix to combine. Scrape the bowl and paddle with a rubber spatula. Increase the speed to medium and beat for 20 seconds. Reduce the speed to low and add the remaining liquids. Mix just until combined. Scrape the bowl and give the batter a few folds with your spatula.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with moist crumbs, 32 to 34 minutes. Cool the cake on a wire rack completely before frosting.
• For the marshmallow frosting: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter until smooth, about 1 minute. Scrape the bowl and then add the cream cheese and beat on medium speed until smooth, 1 to 2 minutes. Scrape the bowl again and add the salt, vanilla and confectioners' sugar and mix on low until combined. Scrape the bowl and paddle. Mix on medium speed until completely smooth, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the marshmallow creme and then mix on high speed for 1 minute.
• Spoon the frosting over the cooled cake and spread it evenly. Sprinkle with the flaked coconut and serve. Cover and refrigerate any leftovers for up to 2 days, making sure to bring the cake back to room temperature before enjoying.

CHOCOLATE MARSHMALLOW CAKE

Steps:

• In a microwave, melt butter and chocolate; stir until smooth. Cool for 10 minutes. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; set aside. In a large bowl, beat eggs, sugar, applesauce and vanilla. Stir in chocolate mixture. Gradually add dry ingredients; mix well. , Pour into a greased 13x9-in. baking pan. Bake at 350° until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 20-30 minutes., Set aside 1/2 cup marshmallows for glaze. Sprinkle remaining marshmallows over cake. Return to oven until marshmallows are softened, about 2 minutes. , In a small saucepan, combine sugar, milk and butter. Bring to a boil; boil 1-1/2 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in chocolate chips and reserved marshmallows until melted. Quickly drizzle over cake (glaze will harden as it cools).

CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH MALTED CHOCOLATE GANACHE AND TOASTED MARSHMALLOW FROSTING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Spray two 9-inch round cake pans with nonstick cooking spray. Line bottom of each pan with a parchment paper round and spray again; set aside.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with paddle attachment, cream together butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, 5 to 8 minutes. Add cocoa powder and beat until combined, 3 to 5 minutes more, scraping down the sides as necessary.
• In a small bowl, whisk together eggs and egg yolk. With the mixer on low, slowly add eggs, mixing until smooth and well combined, scraping down sides of the bowl as necessary.
• In a large bowl, sift together both flours, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Add to butter mixture and mix on low speed until combined.
• In a medium bowl, mix together boiling water and oil. With the mixer on low, slowly add water mixture and mix until combined. Divide mixture evenly between prepared cake pans. Transfer to oven and bake until a cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean, 35 to 40 minutes.
• Transfer cakes to wire racks; let cool completely, at least 2 hours. Unmold cakes and remove parchment paper. Using a serrated knife, trim tops of cakes to make level, then cut each cake in half horizontally. Place four strips of parchment paper around perimeter of a serving plate or lazy Susan. Place the bottom side of one bottom half on the cake plate. Evenly spread top with one-third of the ganache. Repeat process twice with top halves of each cake and top with the remaining bottom half of cake bottom-side up. You should have three layers of ganache and four layers of cake.
• Transfer marshmallow frosting to a pastry bag fitted with a plain 5/8-inch round tip (such as Ateco #808). Pipe frosting over cake to cover; evenly spread using an offset spatula. Using a kitchen torch, toast frosting until lightly browned.

COCONUT LAYER CAKE WITH LEMON FILLING AND MARSHMALLOW-LIKE FROST

Steps:

• To Make The Cake:.
• Preheat oven to 350°.
• If you have only one mixing bowl, start by stiffly beating the egg whites and set aside, (keeping in mind that they will not hold forever).
• Cream butter and sugar.
• Add egg tolks and beat until thick and lemon colored.
• With a fork, mix together dry ingredients.
• Add dry ingredients alternately with the milk.
• Stir in vanilla.
• Fold in stiffly beaten egg whites.
• Divide batter between 3 buttered 8" cake pans (or 2 pans and make another batch of the recipe while the first is baking).
• Bake at 350° for 20 minutes.
• Cool completely and remove from pans.
• Freeze if time permits.
• Before filling and frosting, cut off rough edges of cake with sharp scissors.
• To Make The Lemon Filling:.
• When grating rind take special care to not get the bitter white part.
• Put all ingredients in a double boiler.
• Stir over simmering water until thickened (approximately 15-20 minutes).
• Chill.
• To Make The Marshmallow-Like Frosting:.
• Stir the water, sugar, cream of tartar and salt together in a small heavy-bottomed pan.
• Hook a candy thermometer to the edge of the pan and boil without stirring until the mixture reaches 240°F.
• Meanwhile, beat egg whites until stiff.
• Pour the 240° syrup over the egg whites in a thin stream, beating constantly until thick and glossy.
• To Assemble: Remove cake layers from freezer.
• Spread the chilled filling between the layers, trying to not let much of it get out the sides.
• Frost the cake with the marshmallow-like frosting and sprinkle coconut on thickly, gently pressing it into the sides.
• If the cake slips around, gently slide it back straight.
• Decorate top with a flower or group of leaves. I use three strawberry leaves and a flower set in the center.
• Can be refrigerated.

BANANA, PEANUT BUTTER AND MARSHMALLOW POKE CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pan). Grease or spray bottom only of 13x9-inch pan.
• In large bowl, beat Cake ingredients with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds, then on medium speed 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Pour into pan. Bake 26 to 33 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
• Remove cake from oven to cooling rack; cool 5 minutes. With handle of wooden spoon (1/4 to 1/2 inch in diameter), poke holes almost to bottom of cake every 1/2 inch, wiping spoon handle occasionally to reduce sticking.
• In large bowl, beat Filling ingredients with whisk 1 minute (mixture will thicken). Pour over cake; spread evenly over surface, working back and forth to fill holes. (Some filling should remain on top of cake.) Refrigerate 1 hour.
• Spoon marshmallow creme into large microwavable bowl. Microwave uncovered on High 15 to 20 seconds to soften. Add softened butter; beat with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Beat in powdered sugar until smooth. Spread evenly over cake.
• Just before serving, in small microwavable bowl, microwave 1/3 cup peanut butter uncovered on High in 15-second intervals until thin enough to drizzle. Top cake with sliced bananas; drizzle with warm peanut butter. Cover and refrigerate any remaining cake.

CHOCOLATE ANGEL FOOD CAKE WITH MARSHMALLOW FROSTING

Steps:

• Make the angel food cake: Set the oven rack in bottom third of oven and preheat the oven to 350F.
• Sift 2/3 cup of the superfine sugar onto a piece of wax paper; set aside.
• Sift the remaining 1/3 cup superfine sugar with the cocoa powder, cake flour and salt; set aside.
• In the large bowl of a standing mixer, beat the egg whites at medium speed until foamy.
• Add the cream of tartar and beat until the foam is white and holds the lines of the beater.
• Increase the speed to medium-high and add the sifted, superfine sugar, 1 tblsp at a time, until completely incorporated.
• Beat for 30 seconds longer until soft peaks form.
• Remove the bowl from the mixer.
• Sift and fold the dry ingredients into the beaten whites, folding them in with a rubber spatula.
• Pour the batter into a 10-cup angel food cake pan or bundt pan and gently smooth the top without deflating the mixture.
• Bang the pan once (not too hard) on the counter to release any large air pockets.
• Bake for about 35 minutes, or until a tester comes out clean.
• Invert the cake pan over a narrow-necked bottle.
• Let the cake cool completely in the pan, about 1 hour.
• Run a thin knife between the cake and sides and center tube of the pan to loosen (you may need to jiggle the pan to completely release the cake).
• Invert the cake onto a serving platter.
• Make the marshmallow frosting: Put the egg whites in the large bowl of a standing mixer.
• In a small saucepan, stir together the granulated sugar and 1/3 cup of water.
• Bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
• When the sugar syrup comes to a boil, begin beating the egg whites (with clean beaters!) at medium-high speed.
• When they become foamy, add the cream of tartar and beat at medium speed until stiff peaks form.
• Insert a candy thermometer into the sugar syrup (be sure the bulb is completely submerged).
• Cook until the syrup reaches 242F.
• Remove from the heat.
• With the mixer still on, beat the sugar syrup into the egg whites in a slow stream until completely incorporated.
• Increase the speed to high and beat for 5 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl once with a rubber spatula.
• Add the vanilla and beat for 1 more minute.
• The frosting will still be a little warm.
• Frost the cake: Spread a thin layer of frosting all over the cake, including the inside of the center opening, to glue down the crumbs.
• Then coat the cake all over with the remaining frosting.
• Decorate the top of the cake with the chocolate shavings.
• To serve: Gently slice the cake with a serrated knife or an angel food comb.

MARSHMALLOW CAKE

Steps:

• In a saucepan on low heat, combine marshmallows and milk. Cook until marshmallows are melted, and mixture starts to boil. Remove from heat.
• In a large bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth. Stir in egg yolk. Fold in 1/3 of the melted marshmallow mixture, then quickly fold in remaining marshmallow until no streaks remain. Stir in lemon juice.
• In a large bowl, beat cream until soft peaks form. Fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture until no streaks remain. Spread into graham crust. Refrigerate for 3 hours.

CRANBERRY COCONUT CAKE WITH MARSHMALLOW CREAM FROSTING

Steps:

• Grease and flour two 9-in. round baking pans; set aside., In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg yolks, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the cream of coconut, lime juice and zest. Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; add to the creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk, beating well after each addition. Fold in coconut., In a small bowl, beat egg whites until stiff peaks form; fold into batter. Transfer to prepared pans. Bake at 350° for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean., Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely., For the filling, in a large saucepan, combine cranberries and cranberry juice. Cook over medium heat until berries pop, about 12 minutes. Press cranberries through a food mill into a small bowl; discard seeds and pulp., In a small heavy saucepan over medium heat, combine cranberry mixture and sugar. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 1 minute or until thickened. Remove from the heat., Stir a small amount of hot mixture into eggs and egg yolks; return all to the pan, stirring constantly. Bring to a gentle boil; cook and stir 2 minutes longer. Remove from the heat. Stir in butter. Gently stir in lime juice and zest. Cool to room temperature without stirring. Cover and refrigerate until chilled., In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, marshmallow creme and butter until light and fluffy. Add confectioners' sugar; beat until smooth., Cut each cake horizontally into two layers. Place bottom layer on a serving plate; top with a third of the filling. Repeat layers twice. Top with remaining cake layer. Frost cake. Press toasted coconut over top and sides of cake. Garnish with cranberries if desired.

DEVIL'S-FOOD CAKE WITH TOASTED-MARSHMALLOW FROSTING

Steps:

• Place oven rack in the middle position, and heat the oven to 350 degrees. Line 3 8-by-3-inch anodized-aluminum cake pans with parchment paper, and grease them.
• Combine butter and coffee in a 5-quart saucepan, and set over low heat to melt. Remove from heat, and whisk in the cocoa, chocolate, brown sugar, vanilla and salt, until there are no lumps of cocoa or unmelted chocolate. After mixing, add the eggs and yolks, and whisk well to combine. Sift flour and baking soda right into the pan, then whisk thoroughly to combine, making sure there are no pockets of flour. Divide batter among the three cake pans (about 23-24 ounces each).
• Bake for 30 minutes, or until the cakes are firm, but a light touch with a finger still leaves an impression, and a few crumbs cling to a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake.
• Set aside on a wire rack until the pans, and the cakes, are completely cool to the touch, about 90 minutes.
• Fill a 3-quart pot with 1 1/2 inches of water, and place over medium-low heat. In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the egg whites, sugar, salt, cream of tartar and vanilla. Place the bowl over the steaming water bath, and use a spatula to stir and scrape down the bowl, keeping the mass moving over the steam for about 10 minutes, or until a digital thermometer inserted into the mixture reads 175 degrees.
• Place the bowl in the stand mixer with the whisk attachment, and whip on high speed until it quadruples in volume and turns thick and glossy, about 5 minutes.
• Loosen the sides of the cakes with a knife and invert them onto a wire rack. Peel away the parchment paper, then flip cakes right-side up again. Use a long serrated knife to evenly trim the puffy tops off the cakes (set these aside for snacking).
• Place one cake, cut-side up, onto a serving plate. Top with a cup of frosting, and spread it into an even layer with a small palette knife or the back of a spoon. Repeat with the second and third layers, placing these cut-side down. Finish the sides of the cake with remaining frosting, then lightly torch with a blowtorch, so the frosting turns golden brown.

CHOCOLATE-MARSHMALLOW RIBBON CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F. Line 15x10x1-inch pan with foil; grease generously. In large bowl, mix flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt; set aside.
• In small bowl, beat eggs with electric mixer on high speed about 3 minutes or until very thick and lemon colored. In large bowl, gradually beat 1 cup granulated sugar into eggs. On low speed, beat in 1/3 cup water and the vanilla. On low speed, beat in flour mixture just until batter is smooth. Pour into pan, spreading batter to corners.
• Bake 12 to 15 minutes or until top springs back when touched lightly. Generously sprinkle clean towel with powdered sugar. Run knife around side of pan to loosen cake; turn upside down onto towel. Carefully remove foil. Cool cake completely, about 30 minutes.
• In 3-quart saucepan, mix egg whites, 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar, the cream of tartar, corn syrup and 1/3 cup water. Cook over low heat, beating with electric mixer on high speed until stiff peaks form and scraping bottom and side of saucepan occasionally. Remove from heat. Add marshmallows; beat until smooth.
• Cut cake crosswise into four 10x3 3/4-inch rectangles. Layer rectangles, spreading each with about 1 cup frosting. Spread top with remaining frosting.
• In 1-quart saucepan, heat chocolate and butter over low heat, stirring occasionally, until melted; remove from heat. Stir in powdered sugar and 5 teaspoons water until smooth. Stir in additional boiling water, 1/2 teaspoon at a time, until desired consistency. Pour glaze over cake, allowing some to drizzle down sides.

FROSTED CHOCOLATE MARSHMALLOW CAKE

Steps:

• In a small microwave-safe bowl, melt shortening and chocolate at 50% power; stir until smooth. Add water; cool slightly. Transfer to a large bowl. Add the sugar, eggs, milk and vanilla; beat well. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; add to batter and mix until smooth., Pour into a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking pan. Bake at 350° for 28-32 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean., Arrange marshmallows over the top; bake 5 minutes longer or until marshmallows are softened. Spread marshmallows evenly over top of cake. Cool on a wire rack., For icing, in a large microwave-safe bowl, melt chocolate and butter; stir until smooth. Cool slightly. Beat in the milk, vanilla and confectioners' sugar until smooth. Frost cake.

SOUTHERN LIVING COCONUT CAKE WITH MARSHMALLOW FROSTING

Steps:

• Remove liquid from coconut and reserve.
• Remove the"meat" of the coconut and shred.
• Beat butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy; gradually add 2 cups of sugar, beating well.
• Add eggs, one at a time, beating until blended after each addition.
• Combine flour, baking powder, and salt; add to butter mixture alternately with milk, beginning and ending with flour mixture.
• Beat at low speed until blended after each addition.
• Stir in flavorings and pour into 3 greased and floured 9" round cake pans.
• Bake at 350°F for 20-25 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.
• Cool in pans on wire racks.
• Make frosting: Combine sugar and water in a heavy saucepan.
• cook over medium heat stirring, constantly until mixture is clear.
• Cook without stirring until syrup reaches the soft-ball stage or a candy thermometer reaches 240°F.
• while syrup cooks beat egg whites at low speed with an electric mixer until foamy.
• Add cream of tartar and salt; beat at medium speed until soft peaks form.
• Increase to high speed and add hot syrup in a heavy stream.
• Add marshmallows, a few pieces at a time.
• Beat until stiff peaks form and frosting is thick enough to spread.
• Combine 2 tbsp sugar and coconut milk.
• Microwave on high for 30 seconds; stir until sugar dissolves.
• Brush one cake layer with half of the coconut milk"syrup" leaving 1/2" margin around the edges.
• Spread with 1/2 cup boiled frosting and sprinkle with1/2 cup of shredded coconut-- repeat with each layer.
• Top with remaining cake layer.
• Spread remaining frosting on top and sides of cake; sprinkle with remaining coconut.
• Cover and chill.

STRAWBERRY MARSHMALLOW CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350.
• Generously grease a 13x9 pan.
• Sprinkle marshmallows over bottom of pan.
• In a bowl, combine mashed stawberries and gelatin and set aside.
• Make cake batter according to package directions.
• Spread batter over marshmallows in pan.
• Spoon strawberry mixture evenly over batter.
• bake at 350 for 35 to 45 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. DO NOT OVER BAKE.
• Place cake on wire rack to cool.
• When cake is cool you can invert on platter and serve with whpped cream.

TOASTED MARSHMALLOW-CHOCOLATE PUDDING CAKE

Steps:

• Prepare cake batter and bake in 13x9-inch pan as directed on package. Cool cake in pan 15 min. Pierce cake at 3/4-inch intervals with handle of wooden spoon, using turning motion to make large holes.
• Beat pudding mixes and milk in large bowl with whisk 2 min. Immediately pour half the pudding evenly over warm cake. Let remaining pudding stand 5 min. or until slightly thickened; spread over cake. Top with marshmallows. Refrigerate 1 hour.
• Heat broiler when ready to serve cake. Broil cake, 6 inches from heat, 1 to 2 min. or until marshmallows are golden brown. Cool slightly.

CHERRY MARSHMALLOW MAGIC CAKE

Steps:

• Prepare cake mix. Beat cake mix, water, oil, and eggs in a large bowl on LOW speed for 30 seconds, then on MEDIUM speed for 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Set aside.
• Spray a 13x9x2-inch baking pan with vegetable spray. Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Sprinkle marshmallows evenly over the bottom of the pan. Pour batter over marshmallows.
• Spoon cherry filling evenly over cake batter.
• Bake in a preheated 350°F oven 30 to 40 minutes.
• Top of cake will be bubbly and marshmallows will be sticky.
• Let cool before serving.

EASY MARSHMALLOW FLUFF CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM CAKE

Steps:

• Crush Oreos in food processor or by hand until fine.
• Add melted butter to them and mix.
• Press into 13x9 pan to make crust.
• Soften the ice cream in a mixer until smooth, but not melted.
• Stir in (by hand) all of the fluff into the ice cream until nice and evenly distributed.
• Pour into pan and spread evenly.
• Let freeze for at least 2 hours or overnight.
• You may garnish with any kind of whipping cream or Cool Whip that you like!

TOASTED MARSHMALLOW-HOT COCOA BROWNIE CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Spray bottom of 9-inch round cake pan with cooking or baking spray. Line bottom of pan with cooking parchment paper, then spray parchment.
• In large bowl, beat brownie mix, oil, milk and eggs with whisk until well combined. Stir in 1/2 cup of the chocolate chips. Pour batter into pan.
• Bake 38 to 40 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely in pan on cooling rack, then run knife around edge of cake, and carefully remove from pan (discard parchment). Transfer cake to parchment paper-lined cookie sheet.
• Make Ganache: In 1-quart saucepan, heat cream just to boiling over medium-high heat. Remove from heat; add remaining 1/2 cup chocolate chips, but do not stir. Let stand 5 minutes, then stir until smooth. Refrigerate about 10 minutes or until slightly thickened. Carefully spread over top of cooled cake. Refrigerate another 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, make Frosting: Place egg whites, sugar and cream of tartar in heatproof bowl of a stand mixer, then set bowl over saucepan of simmering water. Beat constantly with whisk about 5 minutes or until sugar is dissolved and mixture is warm to the touch. Remove from heat; transfer bowl to stand mixer. Using whisk attachment, begin to beat mixture on low speed. Gradually increase to high speed. Beat 5 to 7 minutes or until stiff peaks form. Stir in vanilla.
• Spread frosting over top of cake, then refrigerate another 20 minutes. Set oven control to broil. Place cake on cookie sheet under broiler 4 to 6 inches from heat about 30 seconds or until top is lightly browned (alternatively, you can use a kitchen torch). Cool completely; sprinkle with cocoa just before serving.

SIMPLE BIRTHDAY CAKE WITH MARSHMALLOW FROSTING

Steps:

• Cake:
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Liberally butter the bottom and sides of 2 cake pans. Put a round of parchment paper into the bottom of each pan and coat them with butter. Put the pans on a baking sheet.
• Melt the 10 tablespoons of butter in a small pot over low heat. Remove the pot from the stove and allow it to cool slightly. Reserve.
• In a medium bowl, sift together the baking soda, salt, baking powder and flour.
• In a large bowl, beat the eggs, sugar, vanilla, and sour cream together until smooth. Add the flour mixture in small batches to the wet ingredients, whisking as you go to avoid the formation of lumps. Make a well in the center of the batter and pour in the melted butter. Whisk until smooth. Fold in the chopped chocolate
• Divide the batter between the cake pans and spread out to level the top. Gently tap the sides of the pan so the batter distributes evenly. Slide the baking sheet into the center of the oven and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 40 to 45 minutes. Remove the pans from the oven and allow the cakes to cool briefly. Invert the cakes from the pans onto a baking sheet fitted with a wire rack and peel off the parchment paper. Allow them to cool for at least 45 minutes before frosting.
• Frosting:
• Pour some water, about 2 inches deep, into a saucepan to create a makeshift double boiler. Put the pan on the stove and bring the water to a gentle simmer. Dip the instant-read thermometer into the simmering water to clean any impurities off the end and to test that the thermometer works.
• In a clean, large mixing bowl, combine the 5 tablespoons of cool water, cream of tartar, sugar, egg whites and corn syrup. Gently lower the bowl over the simmering water. Turn off the heat under the pot. Use an electric hand beater to whip the whites over the water. Do not leave the egg white mixture unattended or stop beating any time during this process.
• After about 3 minutes, remove the bowl from the heat, set the beater down and quickly take the temperature of the egg whites. You want them to reach 140 degrees F. If you measure the temperature before they reach that point, immediately put the bowl of whites back over the water and resume beating until they are finished, an additional 2 to 3 minutes.
• Remove the bowl from the water and fold in the vanilla extract. It should look like marshmallow fluffiness. Set the frosting aside to allow the mixture to cool. Frost the cake by, as my father used to say, "glopping" the frosting all over the top and the sides. Serve immediately.

PEANUT BUTTER CAKE WITH MARSHMALLOW FROSTING (OR CUPCAKES)

Steps:

• Cake:.
• Preheat oven to 350°F Butter and flour three 9-inch-diameter cake pans. Line the bottoms with parchment paper, then butter and flour the parchment paper. (Or, line cupcake pans with paper liners).
• In large bowl, cream together butter and sugar with electric mixer. Add peanut butter and vanilla and cream well. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each.
• In separate bowl, whisk together dry ingredients.
• Add dry ingredients to peanut butter mixture alternately with sour cream and milk. Mix on low speed just until blended.
• Pour cake batter into prepared pans (approximately 2 cups per pan), spreading evenly in pans. (Or, fill cupcake cups 2/3 full).
• Bake for 15-20 minutes or until tester inserted into center of cake comes out clean. Do not over bake. Remove from oven and cool cakes in pans on rack 10 minutes.
• Run small sharp knife around pan sides to loosen cakes. Turn cakes out onto racks and cool completely.
• Frosting:.
• In large mixing bowl, beat butter until creamy. Add marshmallow creme, milk and vanilla extract and mix well. Slowly add powdered sugar a little at a time, mixing well after each addition. Add additional powdered sugar, if needed, to reach desired consistency.
• Frost cake or cupcakes. Sprinkle with chopped peanuts.