Malteser Cupcakes!
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Chocolate malt cupcakes with malt buttercream frosting… The perfect Malteser cupcakes for any occasion!
Malteser cupcakes
Chocolate malt cupcakes with malt buttercream frosting… honestly, the perfect Malteser cupcakes for any occasion. They’re that ideal mix of nostalgic hot-chocolate-malt flavour and rich chocolate cupcake, and the combo just works. I’ve made more batches of these than I care to admit, and somehow they always disappear ridiculously fast.
Some of my favourite bakes (or rather… non-bakes) has been my No-Bake Chocolate Malteser Cheesecake and Malteser Tiffin. I’d been craving a malt-style cupcake or cake for SO LONG and finally gave in. Also, full confession… I randomly fancied Horlicks one evening, bought a tub, had one drink and then went “nope”, so it simply had to go into a bake instead.
I always say this, but if there’s ever leftover ingredients in my cupboard, I bake with them. It’s like an unwritten rule in my kitchen at this point. More than once I’ve justified buying chocolate “for a recipe” when really it just fell into my basket by accident.
The chocolate malt sponge
For the sponge, I decided to make these more chocolatey with a hint of malt, rather than full-on malt. I wasn’t too keen on the idea of malt sponge AND malt buttercream, so this way you get the best of both worlds. It feels a lot more Malteser-like, which I am always here for.
I used my standard style chocolatey cupcake that I use on many bakes such as my Honeycomb Crunchie Cupcakes and my Rolo Cupcakes as it’s just so delicious. The addition of the malt powder worked better than expected – I used less cocoa powder, so that I had 40g total of cocoa powder + malt powder as I thought this would be best… and it so worked. The Cupcakes stayed nice and light, and weren’t heavy at all.
When all of the ingredients are mixed together, it looked slightly lighter than a normal chocolate cupcake mixture, but don’t panic, that’s the malt working its magic. The cupcakes bake up beautifully domed and fluffy. I usually “eyeball” around two-thirds full when filling the cases, but a level ice-cream scoop works wonders if you like things neat.
Buttercream
The malt buttercream is honestly the star of the show. I start with a standard buttercream… butter and icing sugar and then mix in about 25g of malt powder. Any more than that and it can go a bit grainy, so this amount keeps the texture silky while still packing flavour.
It brings that classic Malteser taste through without overpowering the sweetness of the frosting. It’s creamy, nostalgic and dangerously moreish. I’ve definitely “taste-tested” this buttercream more times than I should have… and once ate a spoonful straight from the bowl. Oops.
If you want the buttercream slightly softer, you can add a splash of whole milk. I tend to eyeball it and add about a tablespoon at a time until it’s pipeable. I always use real block unsalted butter, spreads and margarines can make buttercream too soft, especially if your kitchen is warm and lack the signature buttercream flavour that real butter brings to the table.
Decoration
You can easily use any sort of malt sweet/biscuit/anything to top the cupcakes with, such as malted milk biscuits, but I just love Maltesers. I’m slightly shocked at myself that I didn’t drizzle these in chocolate, but I had actually run out… but I like them either way!
I honestly think that if you love Maltesers then you will also love these because they’re damn delicious. You can easily not have malt buttercream frosting, or not have malt flavoured Cupcakes, but thats up to you. I love them as they are but feel free to experiment, drizzle chocolate, cover in chocolate shavings… go crazy!
Tips & tricks
- You can buy the utterly gorgeous cupcake cases from here.
- I used Horlicks powder as thats what I had in my cupboard – most malt powders (which need milk added to them) will work fine such as Ovaltine.
- If you want an extra chocolatey fix, you can add in 100g of chocolate chips to the cupcake mix.
- If you are loosening the cupcake mixture or the buttercream with milk, it’s important to use whole milk because of the fat content, using semi-skimmed might make it split.
- These cupcakes will last in an airtight container for 3 days at room temperature.
- These can be frozen for up to 3 months.
Malteser Cupcakes!
Ingredients
Cupcakes
- 150 g unsalted butter (you can use baking spread)
- 150 g light brown sugar
- 3 Medium eggs
- 140 g self raising flour
- 15 g cocoa powder
- 25 g malt powder (I use Horlicks or Ovaltine)
- 1-3 tbsp whole milk
Malt Buttercream
- 150 g unsalted butter (not baking spread)
- 375 g icing sugar
- 25 g malt powder (I use Horlicks or Ovaltine)
- 1-3 tbsp whole milk
Decoration
- Maltesers
- crushed Maltesers
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 180ºc/160ºc fan, and prep your 12 cupcake cases. I used baking cups so just put them on a flat tray.
- Beat together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, and then add in the self raising flour, cocoa powder, malt powder and eggs.
- Beat again until smooth, if needed, add the milk to smooth the mixture.
- Split the mix evenly between the cases. I use an ice cream/cookie scoop to get them all equal.
- Bake in the oven for 18-22 minutes, or until baked. Cool Completely.
- Beat the unsalted butter (best at room temp), for a couple of minutes until smooth.
- Add in half of the icing sugar and beat, and then the other half and beat.
- Add in the malt powder again, and beat!
- If its too thick, add in 1tbsp of whole milk at a time till it becomes pipeable.
- Pipe on the buttercream – Add some maltesers, and then sprinkle on some crushed maltesers as well! Enjoy!
Notes
- You can buy the utterly gorgeous cupcake cases from here!
- I used Horlicks powder as thats what I had in my cupboard – most malt powders (which need milk added to them) will work fine such as Ovaltine!
- If you want an extra chocolatey fix, you can add in 100g of chocolate chips to the cupcake mix!
- If you are loosening the cupcake mixture or the buttercream with milk, it's important to use whole milk because of the fat content, using semi-skimmed might make it split.
- These cupcakes will last in an airtight container for 3 days at room temperature!
- These can be frozen for up to 3 months
Hi! I was just wandering could i make the buttercream ahead of time? And if so, how long?
Thnx!
Buttercream can last two weeks in the fridge, you just need to bring it back to room temp and re-mix to then use. x
Hiya
Is it ok to know we’re you get your malt powder from? I’ve looked everywhere and can’t find any xx
Supermarkets – we have Ovaltine, or others like horlicks!
Can I add small chunks of of Malteaser to the icing mix?
You can do! They will just go soggy though.
Hello! LOVING the recipes on here. Your rolo tart goes down a treat with guests every time I cook it!
Just wondered-I assume the malt powder/Horlicks you used is the plain malt flavour rather than the chocolate malt variety?
Yes I just use the original plain flavour so it’s stronger ☺️
I have just finished making these to sell tomorrow in a hope to raise money for the families of the Manchester attack this week.
I hope they go down well. ? Thanks for sharing.
Hi there..Have been looking for a malteasers cupcake recipe for so long and this one sounds delish! Im a newbie to instagram and stumbled across your account, your page is what dreams are made of!! Absolutely fabulous cakes/cupcakes that I can’t wait to try out sometime! Keep up the good work ?
Paula x
Hiya Paula! Oh thats amazing! I am so happy you found your way to my page, and I hope you like anything you try!! xx
I tried your recipe for my son’s cake sale tomorrow.I made some extra for my family to try,its so delicious.Thank you for sharing your recipe xxx
Awh yay! I am so happy!! xx
hi jane, this recipe looks delicious. i would like to try it out as a cake, can you pls. tell me what tin size and how long should i bake it?
You would need to double the recipe, and split between two 8″ tins. Baking times can vary, but I would start off at about 20 minutes of baking time at 160C Fan.
ok thank you for your quick reply. will try it out and let you know. ?
Could you add crushed malteasers to the cake mix you mentioned you could add chocolate chips for extra chocolate fix.
Going to try these for a works birthday.
Thanks very much
Because of the way Maltesers are, they’d probably dissolve or burn? I wouldn’t put them in the mixture myself personally as I know some people have failed with it, but you could try?!
Look delicious – going to make some for Comic Relief! What size are the baking cups from Iced Gems – mini or regular?
They’re regular ?
Thank you
Wow, just recently discovered you! I love all your recipes and creations. Can you make a rainbow cake next time? X
Hi
What cocoa powder would you recommend?Green and blacks or bourneville?
Thanks.
Either will work fine – I use a 100% cocoa powder from a chocolate company so I don’t use either that you suggested, but both would work the same!
How much ingredients would I use for a two layer cake using this recipe? X
Double it and split between two tins 🙂 x
They are beautiful ! I love it !
Thank you!! ☺️
Love the cupcakes and the polka dot liners. So pretty and the malted candies are delicious.
Thank you so much, Suzanne!
Have just discovered you and really looking forward to trying out the Malteser cupcakes, they sound absolutely delicious ….in fact all the recipes I have looked at makes me want to try them NOW!!!!!
Hahaha oh thank you, Doreen! That’s so kind of you! x