OK. Making a peanut butter cake for husband's birthday. Non-chocolate frosting suggestions?

[Flaxbee]

He's not a fan of chocolate. Or plain vanilla frosting.

Creative, yet delicious, ideas? Preferably containing large quantities of nuts (the man loses all reason when confronted with a bag of pecans, or walnuts, or .... )

Thanks.

[AnneD]

1. Things that go with peanut butter

Bananna creme, marshmallow, maple, molasses (that tastes like crackerjacks), salted carmel are just a few that come to mind. You could even ice it with his fav jelly or jam.

Edited to add...chopped nuts can be added to just about all those frostings. Have fun!

[Flaxbee]

11. I *love* maple flavoring. Hmm. Might go for that, with some chopped pecans.`

Thanks!

[lexx21]

2. I would make a german chocolate frosting.

The frosting doesn't contain chocolate, but coconut. That would be the bomb.


Now, do you want to go for something non-traditional? Try a banana and jelly frosting. PBJ with Banana? Think along those lines. Doe a theme cake.

If all else fails get him plastered and he won't even notice it doesn't have frosting.

[Flaxbee]

13. I was pondering coconut ...

he probably wouldn't go for PB&J... he's not really a fan ... but he does really like coconut.

Thanks! I might have to make several cakes just to try all these frostings

Or, I'm actually thinking of making cupcakes... so I can have a variety of toppings.

[Indpndnt]

3. How about marshmallow frosting? Like a fluffernutter. Remember those?

Check and see if this sounds like something he'd want:

http://www.kraftrecipes.com/recipes/marshmallow-creme-frosting-56943.aspx

or

http://www.food.com/recipe/marshmallow-creme-frosting-42154

[Flaxbee]

14. I like marshmallow cream, he doesn't. But if I make cupcakes, I can put a whole

bunch of toppings on them!

[crunch60]

4. This one sounds good.....

Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Frosting

Adapted from multiple sources

1 8-oz package cream cheese, at room temperature (I used reduced fat)
1/3 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup smooth peanut butter
Pinch of salt
1 cup icing sugar

Beat the cream cheese with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy, about one minute. Add the butter and beat for another minute until smooth, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Add the peanut butter and pinch of salt and beat until combined. Slowly add the icing sugar and mix on low until incorporated. Taste and add more icing sugar if it’s not sweet enough for your tastes. Store in the refrigerator until ready to use, but remove from fridge at least 10 minutes before frosting so it is easier to spread.

Add lots of chopped nuts and peanut butter chips to the frosting for decoration

[Flaxbee]

15. Sinful.

And a definite possibility.

Thanks for posting the recipe!

[Behind the Aegis]

5. Butter Pecan. Strawberry glaze. Coconut creme with walnuts.

[Flaxbee]

16. Butter pecan, or I think I've seen, now that I think about it, a coconut frosting

that I could add chopped pecans to.....

[IndyJones]

6. How about white chocolate with coconut and pecans? Mmmmm....

[Flaxbee]

17. Hm. That sounds good. For me

He's just not a chocolate fan. His tastes usually are much more 'savory' - vinegars, mustards, hot sauces ...

I made a complicated nut cake last year and while he was appreciative, he said he'd just prefer next time a simple peanut butter cake.

[IndyJones]

27. I think you should go to Baskin Robbins and have them do a peanut butter

cake and choose an ice cream to go with it with just a whipped cream frosting. Or you could do a white cake with peanut butter ice cream and whipped cream frosting.

[Donkees]

7. Almond Buttercream with Toasted Almond Crunch Topping

[Flaxbee]

18. That could do quite nicely

Thanks, Donkees!

[HopeHoops]

8. If he likes banana, get some pre-made french vanilla frosting and a few "very ripe" bananas.

Just mash them and stir them in. That same mixture is awesome with chopped strawberries tossed in. And yes, you can top it off with nuts, but put them on the top and side (for appearance as well as ease in spreading the frosting). I'd go with pecans for that one.

[Flaxbee]

20. You know, he's one of those guys who thinks he's easy to feed, but really, he's not.

Doesn't like bananas, either.

But I'll probably get a pre-made butter pecan frosting and add coconut and pecans to it...

[HopeHoops]

32. Okay. That's too rich and sweet for my tastes, but it does sound good.

[sharp_stick]

9. Just divorce him

anyone that is not a fan of chocolate is not to be trusted.

But if you're gonna keep him around I think a caramel buttercream would go pretty well with a peanut butter cake.

Nice recipe IMHO here:

http://www.freutcake.com/in-the-kitchen/easy-caramel-buttercream-frosting/

On edit: this would be really good with a bunch of chopped pecans or broken up praline candy.

[Flaxbee]

24. lol. I'm not a huge chocolate fan, either - I have come to enjoy dark chocolate with a little heat

(chili pepper, etc.) but I don't like candy bars or 'regular chocolate'. I do like good chocolate cake

Caramel buttercream sounds good, too, with some pecans on top, as you indicate...

[DearHeart]

10. How about a honey frosting

Honey and peanut butter sandwiches are the best!

[Flaxbee]

21. Honey and peanut butter on TOAST

Divine.

Will check into honey frosting possibilities.

[DearHeart]

33. Definitely my favorite combo! nt

[LuckyLib]

12. Cream cheese. The kind you put on a carrot cake.

[Flaxbee]

22. definitely a contender!

Thanks, LuckyLib

[pinboy3niner]

19. Bacon Frosting

Bacon Frosting

One Pound Bacon
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
6 tablespoons heavy cream
2 tablespoons Sour Cream
2 tablespoon vanilla extract
4 tablespoons maple syrup
1 teaspoon salt
3 cups confectioners sugar
Sea Salt or Kosher Salt, for garnish—Whatever you have on hand.

1. in a heavy skillet (I use cast-iron), cook bacon over low heat until fat is rendered and meat is crisp. When the bacon is really nice and crisp, take out and drain the bacon on a plate. Now Strain the bacon drippings into a bowl and take out 4 tablespoons bacon fat and place in bottom of mixer bowl. Put the other bacon fat into the fridge and use for future cooking.

2. Return skillet to heat and add butter. Cook the butter till a “brown butter” consistency. Keep an eye on it as you don’t want it to burn. I’d say cook it about 15 min, stirring quite often—you’ll be able to smell the nuttiness of the butter then you will know it is done. Pour the butter into the mixer bowl with the bacon fat and let cool in the fridge about ½ hour.

3 In separate bowl, combine the heavy cream, the sour cream, vanilla and maple syrup.

4. Take out the mixer bowl and cream bacon fat and brown butter with salt until smooth. This will take a few minutes. At first you will say ‘’WTF???—this looks like cornmeal” Keep going—it’ll cream nicely—have patience. Add confectioner sugar and mix at medium speed until fluffy, It’s gonna take a while till it gets fluffy..a few minutes!!!. With mixer running, pour in milk mixture and continue mixing until smooth. Refrigerate until cold.

5. Frost the cupcakes. With the bacon you cooked, chop it up into little bits and sprinkle the bacon and a little bit of the sea/kosher salt.

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/669283#5204624

Another recipe--for Peanut Butter Bacon Cupcakes--uses bacon for the cake and peanut butter for the frosting:
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/peanut-butter-bacon-cupcake/

[Flaxbee]

23. Thank you most genuinely for your suggestion. If we weren't vegetarian, I'd

consider it because in my former, meat-eating life I loved bacon.

But now meat just makes me cry. So, we skip that part of the program.

The cake will be vegan if I can't find eggs at my local co-op...

I do really appreciate the effort you put into your reply, though. Thanks for your consideration!

[pinboy3niner]

30. More for me :)

Other great suggestions posted here--good luck!

[LiberalAndProud]

25. If he's savory over sweet --

it's hard I know, but make the cupcakes and leave some with no frosting. Use a cream cheese frosting on the rest. Although I like chocolate, when it comes to cake, too much sweetness is too much.

[woodsprite]

26. Marshmallow - like a fluffernutter! n/t

[cbrer]

28. *BUTTERSCOTCH*

With crushed candies!

[The empressof all]

29. Caramel frosting

With Dulce De Leche Filling

I don't have any tried and true recipes for you but for the filling I'd just simmer a can of sweetened condensed milk for about three hours. I've heard tell that's not a safe thing to do but I've done it for years without mishap...

I'd also decorate it with Pretzels for that sweet salty peanutty thingie going on.

[whistler162]

31. Philly Cream Cheese frosting

http://www.kraftrecipes.com/recipes/philadelphia-cream-cheese-frosting-50972.aspx

Good with Tomato soup cake - http://allrecipes.com/recipe/tomato-soup-cake-i/

pour the nuts in shelled or unshelled.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

34. Frangipane cream topping, with almond syrup and sliced almonds