Malteser Drip Cake!
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A three layer malt chocolate cake with malt buttercream frosting, a chocolate drip and lots of Maltesers!
Malteser drip cake
So Malteser Buttons are now a thing, and I finally managed to find them in the shops after way too much time… and now they’re everywhere. I honestly couldn’t find them for so much time, and now they’re in every local supermarket. Including giant sharing bags in Sainsburys! But anyway… I wanted to include them in a bake. I was also craving a massive slice of cake, so a Malteser cake seemed appropriate.
Ages ago I posted my Malteser cake, and its definitely one of my favourites. The sponges that I use in the Malteser cake are different to this one for a reason. I like posting recipes and such, but I wanted to show a way to make the actual cake part of a Malteser related cake easier for some, as not everyone wants to go through the effort of my other Malteser cake. I still adore both types of sponges, but this one is definitely an easier one, and probably more stable for a drip cake!
Malt buttercream frosting
One thing I definitely couldn’t change between this recipe, my Malteser cake, and my Malteser cupcakes is the malt buttercream frosting. This part does confuse people slightly sometimes, but its a lot easier to make and source than people might think. All it is is a regular buttercream frosting, but with a Horlicks/Ovaltine type drinking powder mixed in. When you’re in the hot chocolate section of the supermarket, you’ll see them.
They do quite a few different ones, and sometimes they even sell Malteser hot chocolate or similar, but the most Malteser biscuit type flavour comes from the Horlicks/Ovaltine type powders. This bit is completely optional, you can just use a regular buttercream frosting it you want, but I like to stick with a theme in a bake. For example, in my honeycomb crunchie cake recipes, I use a honey buttercream frosting.
Semi naked cake
For this particular one, I thought I would go for a bit more of semi-naked style cake. Partly because I couldn’t be bothered to do the buttercream in the fully covered way, and partly because I really actually like the look of it! It’s not to everyones taste, but I love it. My Easter piñata cake is basically the same, but with the different buttercream flavour.
You can easily make this cake into a Malteser version of the Easter piñata cake, by following the same methods in the Easter piñata cake post, but filling with Maltesers. I didn’t actually have enough Maltesers on the day of baking this as I might have munched on a few too many, but you get the idea. Whichever way you decide to do this cake, it will be delicious.
Sponge
You can see from the slices of the cake that its super chocolatey, and I love that. I use the malt powder in the cake as well to get a hint of the flavour, but you can easily leave it out if you want. I know that Victoria sponge style cakes have 400g of dry ingredients (flour and/or cocoa powder), and technically this one does… apart from the Malt Powder. Adding this in after this makes the cake mix denser, but it makes it more madeira like.
If you bake the cakes the day before you decorate, its best to store them at room temperature (definitely not the fridge) and they will be super moist and fudgey the next day. Or, even if you decorate on the day of baking, it’ll be lovely. I love any type of chocolate cake to be honest, but when the sponge is deliciously chocolatey, then slathered with buttercream frosting, Malteser spread and then even more delicious you can’t beat it. HEAVENLY.
Tips & tricks
- You obviously don’t have to make straight edged buttercream if you don’t want to, but I just like the look of it! You can slather it on, and it’ll still taste damn delicious.
- However, if you do want to make it like this, I seriously recommend using a metal scraper for the decoration of the buttercream, and the disposable piping bags.. I wouldn’t be anywhere without them!
- All of the decorations are completely optional – but I love this style of cake! To make a smaller version of the cake, use:
- Two 8″cake tins
- 300g butter
- 300g sugar
- 255g flour
- 35g cocoa powder
- 75g malt powder
- 6 medium eggs
- And it might take an extra 5-10 minutes to bake and use 2/3 of the decoration recipes!
- This cake will last in an airtight container/cake box for 3 days!
Malteser Drip Cake!
Ingredients
Cake Ingredients
- 400 g unsalted butter
- 400 g light brown sugar
- 8 medium eggs
- 350 g self raising flour
- 50 g cocoa powder
- 100 g malt powder (Horlicks/Ovaltine)
Buttercream Ingredients
- 350 g unsalted butter (room temp)
- 650 g icing sugar
- 100 g malt powder
- 2-4 tbsp boiling water
Decoration
- 100 g dark chocolate
- 2 tsp sunflower oil
- leftover buttercream frosting
- Maltesers
- Malteser Buttons
Instructions
For the Cake
- Heat the oven to 180ºc/160ºc fan and line three 20cm/8inch cake tins with baking parchment – leave to the side.
- In a stand mixer, beat together the butter and light brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add in the flour, cocoa powder, malt powder and eggs and beat again briefly until combined – try not to over beat the mixture!
- Divide the mixture between the three tins and smooth it over – bake for 25-30 minutes until a skewer comes out clean when poked, and when the cake springs back.
- Once baked, leave the cake to cool in the tin for 10 minutes, and then remove and leave to cool fully on a wire rack. If the cake has domed slightly, leave the cake to cool upside down to flatten it slightly.
For the Buttercream
- In a stand mixer, beat the room temperature butter with an electric mixer until it is smooth and loose and then beat in the icing sugar 1/3 at a time until its fully combined.
- Keep beating the buttercream for a few minutes so it starts to get fluffier and lighter.
- Add in the malt powder and beat again, adding 1tbsp of boiling water at a time until you get the buttercream you want. When its hot summer weather, I usually only add 1 tbsp.
For the Decoration
- Once the cakes are cooled, put the first layer on the serving plate - spread one or tablespoons of the buttercream onto the top of the first layer
- Add the second cake on top, and then top again with some of buttercream, and then add the final sponge layer.
- Spread a thin layer or the buttercream around the edges of the cake to fill in any gaps and form a 'Crumb Coat'. Leave this to set in the fridge for 10 minutes, or on the side for 30 minutes until the Buttercream crusts over.
- I then spread another layer round, but kept it quite thin as I wanted a naked cake style. However, if you want to fully cover the cake, add more on, and scrape it round until its smooth.
- I use a large metal scraper to do the smoothing. It's easier to roughly spread some around all the edges of the cake, and then smooth it all.
- Once finished, melt the dark chocolate in a heat proof bowl. Add in 2tsp of oil and beat until smooth. Using disposable piping bags, pipe it round the edge of the cake, edging over slight bits to create the drip.
- Leave it to set for about 10 minutes, and then add some more malteser spread on top. Alternatively, add the malteser spread on the top first, and then drip around the edges.
- Leave the chocolate/spread to set for about 10 minutes or so, and then pipe the rest of the buttercream on top, and add on some Maltesers, crushed Maltesers, and Malteser Buttons.
Notes
- You obviously don’t have to make straight edged buttercream if you don’t want to, but I just like the look of it! You can slather it on, and it’ll still taste damn delicious.
- However, if you do want to make it like this, I seriously recommend using a metal scraper for the decoration of the buttercream, and the disposable piping bags.. I wouldn’t be anywhere without them!
- All of the decorations are completely optional – but I love this style of cake! To make a smaller version of the cake, use:
- Two 8″cake tins
- 300g butter
- 300g sugar
- 255g flour
- 35g cocoa powder
- 75g malt powder
- 6 medium eggs
- And it might take an extra 5-10 minutes to bake and use 2/3 of the decoration recipes!
- This cake will last in an airtight container/cake box for 3 days
- You can freeze this cake for 3+ months
- If you can find and buy malteser spread, this is great to add between the layers of cake and buttercream
My first drip cake, it was such an easy to follow recipe and came out looking stunning, with all three layers the same depth, looking amazing when cut, a real showstopper. I will definitely use more of your recipes, I have your new book on my birthday list!
Heyy! Ahh, thank you so much! I’m so glad you love it, sounds like you did an amazing job! Thank you Lynn! x
Hi Lynn
Did you melt the Malteser spread before spreading or not?
Thank you
Pauline
hiya I’m looking at making this for my partners 40th birthday if I were to make it in 12 inch tins how much more of each ingredient would I need? Thanks in advance x
Hiya, for conversions use this website http://www.cakebaker1.co.uk/apps-for-bakers/baking-tin-size-conversion-calculator/ xx
Hi!! I was wondering how much more of each ingredient I would add if I were to do 4 layers in 2 8 inch cake tins? Thank you xx
Hi Jane I am wanting to make this in 2 deep 8” tins as opposed to 3 layers I want to do 4 layers. How do I adjust the recipe please? I was looking at your 28th birthday cake recipe which is 4 layers should I use similar measurements to that? Going to make it early next week hopefully with your advice. Thanks.
Hello Jane,
Could I use two 6’’ tins and cut them in half to make 4 layers for a taller cake?
Thankyou !
Hiya, its worth a go but I am unsure on the baking times for this x
Hi Jane! I want to make this cake Thursday but was wondering if I can make the buttercream in advanced and how long it will last in the fridge? Also I can’t seem to get malteser spread anywhere so will it be ok to just leave this out? Thankyou :)))
Hey! You can do but you will have to bring it back to room temperature and re-mix for a quiet a few minutes anyway – so you don’t really save much time doing so. Yeah you can leave it out xx
Hi,
Thank you for all these amazing recipes this one is my first make of many I am planning to make. I have tagged you on Instagram really lovely cake and the icing is amazing it tastes just like Maltese’s x
Hey!! You are very welcome I am so glad you enjoyed the recipe! I will try and find your post if I can but I am sure it looks amazing!xx
Hi Jane,
I reallt want to make this, it looks amazing! But I can’t get malteser spread ANYWHERE. Is there an alternative you can suggest? Maybe food process some maltesers and add it to the buttercream between the layers or something?
Please help x
Have you checked ASDA? That was the only shop I found that is still stocking Malteser spread
Hey Jane, I’m going to bake this cake for my son’s birthday, I only have large eggs how many do I use and can I use a hand mixture?
You need to weigh the eggs in shells, and get the weight as close to the other ingredients as possible so 400g x
Hi Jane!
Always follow your recipes! So good!
For this one, I only have 2 tins which are larger than yours, can I just use the same amount of ingredients as your 3 one?? 🙂 thanks!
What size are the tins you would be using? x
They are 12 inches!
Hi Jane, I am going to try baking this cake, I was just wondering if it would work using 3 6″ cake tins and what measurements you would use for the ingredients and what the cooking time might be?
I rarely rarely make 6″ cakes so timings aren’t my strongest point I’m afraid, but 2/3 of the recipe works measurements wise!
Made this for my partners 40th Birthday! It went down a treat! Thank you Jane.
This cake is not only fool proof but absolutely delicious! and it looks totally impressive!
Hi Jane,
I was going to make this cake for New year. When I have made your 3 tier cakes in the past I have found that there has been quite alot of ingredients to mix in the one bowl. Would I be able to half the ingredients for the cake and mix them in two separate bowls but still split them between three cake tins?
Hey! Yes so I use a 4.8L stand mixer when making my cake mixes which is why I don’t find it a problem, but with smaller bowls it can be hard! You can split it as long as everything is split equally of course x
Hi!
Does the malteser spread go in ey week each layer or is it just the top??
Which cake is less sickly, this one or the other malteser cake?
Thanks
This is a regular sponge, whereas the Malteser Cake is more of a fudge sponge so is denser/heavier. You can put the Malteser spread on every layer or just the top, whichever you prefer.
Hi Jane, I’m struggling to find the Malteser spread, I’m not sure they make it anymore? I could only find it on Amazon and Asda and it’s sold out on both. Do you have an alternative option please? X