The Boxed Secret

• Boxed cake mixes offer easy-to-follow directions, save you the trouble of extra measuring and eliminate that white-powder guessing game: did it say baking soda or baking powder? The directions are (literally) a piece of cake to follow.
  
  Carefully read the directions on the box of mix you are using, whatever brand it may be. Most cake mixes call for eggs, oil and water. You can follow the steps exactly as written, or you can add your own twists: Replacing the water with strong brewed coffee and adding a little extra cocoa powder will give your chocolate cake a richer flavor. Adding an extra egg will increase the cake's denseness.
  
  Bake the cake according to the box directions (two cake rounds work well for this recipe), and allow to cool completely.
  
  

Frosting

• The frosting is where you'll find the peanut butter in this cake. Avoid canned or jarred frosting products, as they often have an over-processed taste.
  
  While the frosting can be made from a butter cream base or a cream cheese base, a good peanut butter frosting ideally contains both cream cheese and unsalted butter, whipped with peanut butter and powdered sugar. By doing this, air is incorporated into the mixture, making it fluffier on the cake and more appetizing to the palate. Exact measurements for the ingredients can be found through the Resource link below.
  
  

Chocolate Ganache

• The final touch to your masterpiece is the ganache, which is guaranteed to fool even the greatest of food snobs about the homemade quality of your cake.
  
  Making ganache is as easy or perhaps even easier than making the cake and frosting. Ganache contains three ingredients: chocolate, cream and butter. You boil the cream, pour it over the chocolate and butter, and stir the mixture until melted and smooth. Done!
  
  Simply pour the ganache directly over the center top of the cooled, frosted cake and allow it to drip down the sides. Your finished product will be a stunning and decadent-looking cake. All that's needed now is a few crushed peanuts on top for garnish.
  
  When you are finished, none will be the wiser that the base of this cake came our of a box.