Whopper Cake

Back in May, my oldest turned 16!! He is my sweet-tooth demon and he LOVES Whoppers. He also loves chocolate malt Ovaltine and other malted products. I usually ask the kids what kind of cake they want me to make for their birthdays but this year I had an idea based on a recipe I had seen and I wanted it to be a surprise. I saw the recipe posted on Facebook but it comes from the Add A Pinch website.

THE INGREDIENTS FOR THE CAKE

1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
1/4 cup malted milk powder
2 cups sugar
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 tsp espresso powder
1 cup milk
1/2 cup canola oil
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup boiling water

Add dry ingredients to the bowl of your mixer (or a large bowl if hand mixing). Whisk them together until combined.

In a separate bowl, combine eggs, oil, milk and vanilla.

 Pour the mixture in to the flour blend and combine on medium speed until smooth.

Reduce speed and carefully add the boiling water. Beat on high for about one minute. The batter will be VERY THIN!

Pour into two prepared pans.

Place pans in preheated 350 degree oven and bake for 30-45 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Let the cakes cool in the pan for about 10 minutes, then remove to cool completely. Look at that loveliness!!

PERFECTION!

THE INGREDIENTS FOR THE ICING

You didn't think you were going to slap store bought icing on this beauty, did you? Have no fear, it's easy!!

3 sticks butter, softened
1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 cup malted milk powder
4 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup milk
2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp espresso powder

Put cocoa and malted milk powders in the bowl of your mixer and whisk to combine. Add the butter and cream together until well combined. Add sugar and milk alternately. Add one cup of sugar then one tablespoon of milk and mix at high speed for about a minute between each round.

When all the sugar and milk have been added, mix in the vanilla and espresso powder. If the icing is too dry add a bit more milk, a tablespoon at a time. If it seems too wet, add more powdered sugar, a tablespoon at a time until it reaches the desired consistency.

Slather it on your cake layers and be ready for rave reviews! I had a little fun with Raley's cake and used some Whoppers to decorate.

This cake was so lovely and moist and RICH!

** A word about espresso powder: My husband HATES coffee so I was worried about this addition. I was careful not to mention it and hid the bottle while I made the cake. After he ate it and raved about it I asked him if he tasted any coffee flavor and he was SHOCKED that it had coffee in it. So, fear not!