Pin ItI would count my 39th birthday as one of my all-time favourite birthdays. For one thing, I can still say I am in my thirties without lying through my teeth…yet. For another, I had a visit from my father over my birthday weekend, and spending time with family these days to me always counts as time to be treasured. And the birthday festivities themselves were some of the most fun, happy moments I’ve had of late. Much needed for this tired old mother of three. If you didn’t see me post about it on Twitter or Facebook, my husband sweetly surprised me a few weeks early with a night away from the kids. We didn’t go far afield, we actually just stayed the night in downtown Boston, but every second was amazing. Having the time away from the little ones to reconnect and actually talk to each other? Priceless!
On my actual birthday, we decided to take a little walk down memory lane, and we brought some of our closest friends along. We revisited our old neighbourhood in Boston and went to a beloved Italian restaurant tucked into a courtyard in the heart of Roslindale Square. I haven’t laughed so much nor dined so well in a long time. Should you ever chance to be in the area, I cannot recommend Sophia’s Grotto enough. And my own choice for dinner was without a doubt the hit of the night…mussels in a spicy chorizo tomato sauce. Everyone at the table kept dipping their spoons in and stealing my sauce. It was heaven.
And for the day after my birthday, to allow the kids to celebrate with us, I made this cake. I had envisioned this cake quite a while before and was tempted to make it earlier but I managed to hang on long enough to have it be my birthday present to myself. As you know, peanut butter and chocolate together is well loved by me. It rivals almost any other flavor combination as number one in my heart. I’ve done quite a bit with that particular combo on this blog, but it’s actually been quite a while. I think my last recipe was my Peanut Butter Caramel Shortbread Bars, and that was four months ago. So I have clearly been remiss in that regard and I knew this cake would rectify the situation.
The Results: Yes and rectify the lack of new peanut butter and chocolate recipes it did. I can honestly say that this cake met and exceeded my expectations. The batter was quite thick and didn’t seem to be rising for a while in the oven, so I was a tad worried. But it baked up beautifully in the end and it released nicely from the pan as well, always a dicey prospect with gluten free bundt cakes. Now, one error I did make was not flipping it out directly onto the serving platter. It was a tiny bit fragile, so moving it from the wire cooling rack to the serving plate meant I ended up with a couple of cracks. But that was easily masked by the chocolate glaze and it didn’t seem to cause any issues when serving. I will say this. Keep a big glass of water or milk nearby when eating. It’s rich, for one thing and as with many peanut butter based goodies, it is dense and thick. But it’s wonderful, no question.
I am Carolyn, a writer, runner, mother and diabetic. I am also the evil mastermind behind this blog. I live for food. Join me in my experiments in creating delicious low carb, gluten free recipes. 
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Happy birthday (belated) Carolyn! I'm glad you had such a great day and set of celebrations. This cake certainly looks like it would help make any birthday good – delicious!
DROOLING!
Happy belated Birthday! Glad you had a great time with your family!
As for your cake, it looks fabulous!
Oh, my, this looks so wonderful and delicious! I bow to you, my friend, for a perfect release from your Bundt pan! And belated happy birthday you youngster
Happy belated birthday!
A perfect cake to celebrate the occasion. I would love a big slice right about NOW!
Sounds like a perfect birthday and looks like a perfect cake! I see chocolate-peanut butter and my eyes bug out of my head a little. Such a good combination!
Happy belated bday !! looks awazing !!
I do remember your excitement when you shared on Facebook your hubs is going to steal you for the night. Glad to hear you had such a wonderful time.
Peanut butter and chocolate in indeed the way to go on special occasions. I'd have a hard time saying no to a slice
Happy belated birthday! And what a yummy treat!
happy belated birthday from me too. What an incredibly wonderful present. I'd take an evening away from Dudette to just spend reconnecting with my husband too. And we both love, love, love Boston. Your recommendation of Sophia's Grotto is duly noted (with that name, how can it not be perfect).
As per usual, your cake is phenomenal. You are beyond skilled and way into gifted.
Happy Birthday to you, Carolyn!! It sounds like you celebrated well!
What a wonderful birthday!! If I were a better cook, I would try this recipe with the ton of peanut butter flour I just purchased. The combo of peanut butter and chocolate is a classic I love!
Happy Birthday! It sounds like you had a great celebration. That cake looks amazing!
Happy belated birthday, Carolyn!!! What a dessert to celebrate with…. right up my alley! Sounds like you really did have a few wonderful celebrations. So glad you enjoyed it.
It sounds like you had a wonderful birthday. Happy Birthday, sweet friend. Gorgeous bundt cake and I wild love a taste for a snack right now;)
Oh that is just lovely Carolyn! You are amazing in the kitchen. Period. Happy, happy Birthday!
Looks wonderful, Carolyn. Happy Birthday!
Happy Belated birthday to you….
This cake is absolutely fabulous…..
Gorgeous!!!
Happy Birthday Carolyn!! What a wonderful way to celebrate. The cake looks fantastic!
Happy Birthday! Never would have guessed you were 39! Sounds like you had a great celebration! The cake looks like a delicious way to celebrate.
Happy Birthday Carolyn! Chocolate and peanut butter sounds like a perfect way to celebrate!
Happy Birthday Carolyn! So glad to hear you got away with your hubby for a bit and were able to celebrate with this lovely cake you baked!
This looks like a great way to celebrate your birthday. I love the celebrations that last many days over. Glad to hear you enjoyed yourself so much.
Happy belated birthday! Sounds like you had a fantastic time, and how could you not with this cake? It looks divine!
Sounds like you had a wonderful birthday! Happy belated Birthday! This cake look to-die-for! I'm might ask my husband if he'll make it for me for my birthday, yep, I KNOW I will!
A wonderful time!! And this is beautiful. I am really really missing peanut butter.
Happy Birthday and what a way to celebrate. Terrific cake. I'm going to have to pin it.
Happy belated birthday, Carolyn! This cake is just amazing – should be on the cover of Glamour magazine – that's how gorgeous it is. Plus, peanut butter? Sign me up!
Yum! This is my kind of cake!
Happy Birthday!! I would say the drippy chocolate glaze makes another year feel SO good
Hope you had a great birthday!!
Yay, What a perfect cake to make for your special day:-) It looks way too good! Hugs, Terra
Happy Happy Belated Birthday
You celebrated with awesome style – this cake is divine
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Mmmm, that looks delicious!
What a treat. Happy birthday!
Your birthday sounds lovely, Carolyn! So glad you had a wonderful time
God bless! And the cake looks super yummy!
This looks sooo delicious!
Glad you had a great birthday! This bundt cake looks sooo yummy!
Happy belated birthday! This bundt looks like the perfect thing to celebrate with =)
I have been looking for a reason to use my new bundt pan and I believe this will be it! Great flavors, can't wait to make it!
Wow! This looks like the PERFECT way to celebrate a birthday!
Beautiful cake and great photos. Will definitely be looking for a special occasion as an excuse to make it. I love your cake pedestal; is that modern or vintage?
Modern, bought at Marshall's.
Carolyn
Blog: All Day I Dream About Food
URL: http://alldayidreamaboutfood.com
Carolyn, do you know how many cups your bundt pan holds? I learned the hard way that not all bundt pans hold the same amount (haha). I have a heart-shaped one that I’d like to use, but it doesn’t hold quite as much as my regular one. Thanks!
How do I love thee? Thank you for this gorgeous recipe. I just made this cake into 17 regular-sized cupcakes. They were moist, flavourful (even without the glaze) pieces of heaven. I adapted the recipe a bit so make it more sturdier (so I can eat it like a muffin). I used almond meal instead of flour, 1/2 cup peanut butter flavoured protein powder and I didn’t have liquid stevia (It can’t be shipped to Indonesia because it is liquid.) so I used 1/2 tsp pure white stevia powder. I also used Lindt 85% chocolate for the chopped chocolate in the cake. I also let the glaze thicken a bit in the fridge, and spread it on top of the cupcakes. Yummy! Thank you again, Carolyn!