I did have some issues finding malted milk powder and the funny thing is I found it at my local grocery store. I was looking all over at specialty places. I did make some changes to this recipe:
-I made the malted milk chocolate ganache and filled the cake with it. I skipped the step about beating the ganache with butter since I wasn't frosting the cake with it. I just added a good thick layer of ganache between the two cakes.
-I used vanilla buttercream for the frosting. After tasting the ganache, I thought it would be tooooo much to cover the whole cake.
-I didn't use the coffee in the cake. I used hot water + unsweetened cocoa powder because I loathe coffee and didn't want to taste it in the cake. I know, I know...everyone says you can't taste coffee. But I wasn't about to chance it!
I am still in search of the perfect technique to achieve smoooooooth as silk sides to my cakes. I usually dip my spatula in hot water to try to smooth out the sides. Works pretty well, but it's not perfect.
All I have to say is WOW!! This recipe is definitely a keeper. The cake is amazingly chocolatey and moist. Thumbs up. The ganache filling is spot on with the malted flavor and was also amazing. Two thumbs up. And the vanilla buttercream is always yummy. If I had another thumb, it would be up. I took this to a birthday party and got rave reviews! Except from my husband, who announced halfway through my baking process that he hated whoppers and malted milk anything. Did it take us over 10 years of marriage for me to find this out???? So...he didn't even taste it. More for me...Ha ha!
Go check out all the other SMS Bakers this week to see what they did. Thanks for stopping by today!!
Oh. My. Gosh. That looks absolutely divine!!!!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful cake!!! I loved the flavor as well.
ReplyDeleteI am taking a cake decorating class and we're learning how to smooth the frosting using parchment paper, after the icing has dried slightly.
Your cake is beautiful! I loved the ganache and used it to cover my cake but it was almost too much. I loved your idea of using the thick ganache as a filling and then using a different frosting.
ReplyDeleteAdorable cake!!! I'm with you, don't like ANY coffee in my sweets!! Then again, I don't like coffee at all in any forms! Definitely gonna try this one. Wouldn't it look cute with one big cake like you made and a few little cakes on the side?? Mmmm....cake!!
ReplyDeleteOk so yours is the best cake I have seen all day! I love it and I think the sides look really smooth. I love it!
ReplyDeleteI did not get to bake this. We found out our 17 year old is insilin resistant. My heart was not into baking the cake. She really isn't a sweet lover but I just couldn't bring myslef to bake this week.
AWESOME! Mara your creations always look so yummy. I can't stand malted milk balls although I like malted milkshakes...go figure. And I HATE coffee, won't drink it, but LOVE the flavor in baked goods! LOL
ReplyDeleteI use a VIVA brand papertowel to smooth the sides of my cake. Works like a charm.
Wow Mara! I love your twist on this cake! It turned out beautiful. The malted milk balls look great on the buttercream frosting. I'm off to the kitchen to put mine together...although I have to opt for cupcakes so I can easily pawn them off at work.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! I love the way your cake was put together. I think that I always give up making a pretty cake halfway through and just opt for cupcakes because they are easier to decorate!
ReplyDeleteThat is THE most amazing cake. Seriously. It would take me nearly a full minute to attack it and eat it which is saying something for a cake that looks that yummy.
ReplyDeleteYour cake looks BEAUTIFUL! I love chocolate malts(the candy version too)so I know I would love this cake! Sounds delicious!
ReplyDeleteYour cake is absolutely gorgeous!! I use Viva paper towels after the icing has crusted up some. That and a fondant smoother. But, the icing has to be the crusting type to use the paper towels on it.
ReplyDeleteYour presentation came out fabulous!
ReplyDeleteCarmen
MMMmmm, I'll take your DH's portion lol! I LOOOOVE whoppers and malted milk. Have you ever seen the site I Heart Faces? They are having a desert photo challenge this week. When I saw that I thought of you :)
ReplyDeletehttp://iheartfaces.blogspot.com/
I don't agree with your hubby, I love whoopers and malted milk! Just the title, Chocolate Malted Layer Cake, makes my mouth water.
ReplyDeleteIt looks yummy too!
Oh wow! Your cake looks amazing!!! You're a very talented decorator - I do attempt it from time to time but never to such stunning results!
ReplyDeleteTotally agree - made this chocolate cake recipe a couple of times now and people are just amazed at how yummy it is! xx
Looks beautiful, like straight from a bakery! My daughter would have issues with this because she hates "whoopers" as she calls them :)
ReplyDeleteGreat job! Your cake looks beautiful. I got a kick out of your husband not liking Whoppers. I skipped the frosting recipe from the book and created a quick alternative for it instead. I have the recipe on my blog. I made cupcakes and they were a huge hit. We ate one each and the rest I froze for a bake sale next week.
ReplyDeleteWow, gorgeous job on the cake! Thanks for the tip about dipping the spatula in frosting, my cakes are always so messy. Glad it was a hit at the party.
ReplyDeleteYour cake looks amazing. I love how you used the vanilla buttercream frosting- it sets off the malted balls much better than the dark one.
ReplyDeleteWOW Mara, this cake looks totally professional! Outstanding! My hubby loves malted milk balls so he would be in HOG HEAVEN lol. ;)
ReplyDeleteWow! That's all I can say for your cake, it looks amazing. As for the sides, I have found that heating the spatula on a stove helps a lot.
ReplyDeleteIt melts the frosting so the edges look smooth. Though it can be tiring to clean the spatula every time you want to heat it, it really works.
Ok I am on my way over RIGHT NOW.. that looks sooo DELISH!! Nicely done Mara!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely cake! So pretty!
ReplyDeleteKatie xox
What a gorgeous cake Mara! Sorry I'm so late getting over here to visit. I tend to choose cupcakes over a layer cake because they're easier to decorate. I'll have to try your tip about dipping the knife in hot water :)
ReplyDeletePlease post the recipe!! Thank you. Tricia
ReplyDelete