I’m pretty excited because I finally baked the Triple Malt Chocolate Cake from Chowhound. It was so easy it almost made itself, but what was difficult was finding the right kind of malt powder.
Malted Milk Powder for Cake
In this recipe, the type of malt powder that works best is the unsweetened type made by Carnation or Horlick’s. I believe Ovaltine makes it too, but if you buy Ovaltine, check to make sure it’s actual malted milk powder and not drink mix. Ovaltine makes all kinds of products and I know one of the malted products contains a lot of extra ingredients plus sugar. That’s the one you don’t want. To be safe, look for Carnation.
The Triple Malt Chocolate Cake from Chowhound was a big success and I’d definitely recommend it for malt lovers. It was very malty. I've included the original frosting in the recipe. It's a vanilla frosting with malt flavor, as pictured above. If you want a chocolate flavored malt frosting, the one below (from Dorie Greenspan) is very good.
Malted Chocolate Frosting for Malt Chocolate Cake
6 ounces bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
⅓ cup (packed) light brown sugar
¼ cup malted milk powder (such as Carnation, Ovaltine or Horlick’s)
1 tablespoon unsweetened natural cocoa powder
¼ cup boiling water
2 sticks (8 ounces) unsalted, butter, at room temperature
Pinch of salt
¾ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 ¼ cups confectioners’ sugar
Melt chocolate and half of the brown sugar together in a heat-proof bowl set over a pan of barely simmering water or in top of a double boiler. Let cool slightly.
Stir remaining brown sugar, malted milk powder, cocoa powder and boiling water together in a small bowl or glass measuring cup.
Beat butter in bowl of a standing mixer. When creamy, beat in melted chocolate, followed by malted milk powder mixture. Beat in vanilla. Stir in the powdered sugar; beat until it is well mixed.
Chill mixture for 30 minutes to hour or until it is good and cold. Return bowl to stand mixer and beat chilled icing until it becomes light and fluffy.
Recipe
Malted Chocolate Frosting for Malt Chocolate Cake
Ingredients
- 2 cups malted milk powder
- 1 ⅔ cups all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ¾ teaspoons baking soda
- 3 large eggs
- 1 ⅓ cups granulated sugar
- ⅔ cup vegetable oil
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 ⅓ cups whole milk
Vanilla Malted Frosting
- 12 ounces unsalted butter at room temperature
- 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
- ¾ cup instant malted milk powder
- ½ cup whole milk at room temperature
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 cup malted milk balls coarsely chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Grease and flour two 8-inch round cake pans.
- Combine malted milk powder, flour, cocoa powder, salt, and baking soda in a large bowl and mix until evenly blended.
- Combine eggs, sugar, oil, and vanilla in a separate large bowl, and whisk until combined and smooth.
- Add the flour mixture and milk alternately to the sugar mixture in thirds, stirring until blended.
- Divide between the pans and bake for about 45 to 50 minutes (check at 40).
- Let cool in pans for 15 minutes, then remove and let cool completely.
- Frost with Vanilla Malted Frosting.
- Cover and store in fridge until ready to use. Take out 30 minutes before anticipated need to let soften up a bit.
Vanilla Malted Frosting
- Beat the softened butter and sugar together in the bowl of a stand mixer. Start on low speed.
- Increase speed gradually and beat for 3 minutes, scraping the side of the bowl until smooth.
- Return to low speed and add remaining ingredients, then increase speed again and beat on high until smooth.
HoneyB says
This looks like something up my alley. I love chocolate malt!
Carrie says
I made this last week using the Dorie frosting. I brought it into the lounge at work at 8am and it was gone by 11! Delicious.
Anna says
Thanks Cathleen!
cathleen says
thank you so much for sharing this! I just made it for my boyfriend's birthday...he absolutely loves malt. I made them into cupcakes, and they're adorable. just wanted to say thanks, and i love your blog!
Carrie says
I halved the recipe and made this as cupcakes. Very tasty and a fun twist on a traditional chocolate cupcake with vanilla frosting. The cake is better than the frosting. I kept adding powedered sugar to the frosting to tone down the sheer butter texture. Chopped up malted milk balls on top of the cupcakes would have been a great compliment to the frosting, I think. Thanks for sharing!
Natalie says
That looks SO amazing...Chocolate & Malt is my absolut fav!
Anna says
I didn't dislike it, it just wasn't my favorite cake. I wasn't that hungry when I tried it, so I might like it better today. Plus, I think it is supposed to taste even better on Day 2.
Kevin says
That cake looks good! It has been too long since I last had malt.
Katrina says
It looks great. Sorry you didn't love the maltiness or buttercream. Glad you had some takers for the cake!
VeggieGirl says
Oh my, that cake looks phenomenal - no doubt it would be well-received!!
Happy Labor Day!! 🙂
clumbsycookie says
Glad your friends liked it Anna, it doesn look like a great cake!