Malted chocolate cake

INTRODUCTION

THIS CAKE IS THE PERFECT FAMILY  TREAT, and a real crowd-pleaser. The malt extract gives a lovely creaminess to the sponge, while the malted chocolate flavour is echoed in the cake’s topping.

SERVES 8–10

PREPARE AHEAD
The filling will remain soft and ready to use in a bowl covered with cling film for 2–3 days. The finished cake can be kept in an airtight container for up to a day.

FREEZE
Freeze the cake and icing separately, then defrost at room temperature and assemble when  ready to serve.

INSTRUCTIONS

1. You will need two 20cm (8in)  round sandwich tins. Preheat the oven to 180°C/160°C fan/Gas 4 and grease the tins with butter and line the bases with baking paper.
   
   
2. Measure the malted chocolate drink  powder and cocoa powder into a large bowl, pour over 2 tablespoons of water and mix to a paste. Add the remaining cake ingredients and beat until smooth.
   
   
3. Divide evenly between the prepared tins and bake in the oven for
   20–25 minutes. Set aside in the tins to cool for 5 minutes, then turn out on to a wire rack to cool completely.
   
   
4. To make the icing, measure the malted chocolate drink powder into
   a bowl,  add the hot milk and mix until smooth. Add the butter, icing sugar and melted chocolate and mix again until smooth, then add
   the boiling water to give a gloss to the icing.
   
   
5. Place one cake on a plate and spread over half the icing. Sandwich with the other cake and spread (or pipe) the remaining icing on top, using the tip of a rounded palette knife to create a swirled effect from the centre to the edge of the cake. Arrange the Maltesers over the top and dust with icing sugar before serving.
   
   

This recipe is taken from: Mary Berry's Absolute Favourites