Deep Chocolate Cake With Double-malt Topping

Total Time: 1 hr 20 mins Preparation Time: 1 hr Cook Time: 20 mins

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 2/3 cup butter, softened
• 1 3/4 cups sugar
• 3 eggs
• 4 ounces unsweetened chocolate, melted and cooled
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1 1/2 cups milk
• 2 cups whipping cream
• 1/3 cup malt drink powder
• 2 (11 1/2 ounce) packages milk chocolate pieces
• 2 cups malted milk balls

Recipe

• 1 preheat oven to 350*.
• 2 grease 3 8x8x2 inch baking pans; lightly dust each pan with 1 tsp of the cocoa powder.
• 3 in medium bowl stir together flour, remaining cocoa powder, baking powder and baking soda; set aside.
• 4 in large bowl beat the butter with an electric mixer on medium-high speed for 30 sec.
• 5 add sugar; beat until combined.
• 6 add eggs, one at a time, beating for 20 sec after each.
• 7 beat in chocolate and vanilla.
• 8 alternately add flour mixture and milk, beating on low speed until thoroughly combined.
• 9 divide batter into prepared pans; spread evenly.
• 10 bake for 17-20 min or until toothpick comes out clean.
• 11 cool in pans on wire rack for 20 minute remove cakes from pans. transfer cakes to wire racks; cool completely.
• 12 frosting:.
• 13 in saucepan over med-high heat bring cream just to boiling.
• 14 stir malt powder.
• 15 add milk chocolate pieces (do not stir). cover; set aside 5 minutes.
• 16 stir until smooth. transfer to large mixing bowl. mixture will be thin.
• 17 cover and refrigerate 3 hours or until frosting is thoroughly chilled.
• 18 set bowl of frosting in a larger bowl of ice water. beat with mixer on medium speed for 3 minutes or until fluffy and of spreading consistency. (the frosting will turn light brown with beating.).
• 19 assembly:.
• 20 spread cup of frosting on two of the layers and stack. add top layer; frost the top and sides reserving some frosting for the piping. use this to decorate cake. decorate the cake with whole, halved, or coarsely chopped malted milk balls.