MALTED-MILK CHOCOLATE CAKE

Malted-Milk Chocolate Cake image

From Cooking Light! In this recipe, the frosting is made first, then part is reserved to ice the cake and the rest is used in the batter. To melt chocolate, place it in a small bowl or custard cup; microwave at HIGH 1 1/2 minutes or until soft, stirring until melted. The original recipe uses 2 (9-inch) round cake pans but I used 1 (9 X 13 inch)pan.

Provided by Sooz Cooks

Categories Dessert

Time 3h20m

Yield 18 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 16

Ingredients

cooking spray
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons butter or 1/2 cup margarine, softened
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 (8 ounce) package reduced-fat cream cheese, chilled
5 cups powdered sugar (about 1 1/4 pounds)
3 tablespoons hot water
3 ounces unsweetened chocolate, melted
1/3 cup vegetable shortening
3 large eggs
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup instant malted milk powder (use 2 tablespoons extra for more malt taste)
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup nonfat milk
1/3 cup malted milk balls, coarsely chopped (can use more if desired)

Steps:

Preheat oven to 350°.
Coat bottoms of 2 (9-inch) round cake pans with cooking spray (do not coat sides of pan); line bottoms with wax paper. Coat wax paper with cooking spray; dust with 1 tablespoon flour. Or use 1 (9 x 13) pan - spray bottom and sides with cooking spray and dust with 1 tablespoon flour.
Combine butter, vanilla, and cream cheese in a large bowl; beat at medium-high speed of a mixer 2 minutes. Gradually add sugar, beating at low speed just until smooth. Add hot water; beat just until smooth. Add chocolate; beat just until smooth. Reserve 1-3/4 cups chocolate mixture for frosting; cover and chill 2 hours.
Add shortening to remaining chocolate mixture in bowl. Beat at medium speed of a mixer until well-blended (about 1 minute). Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition.
In a separate bowl, combine 1 3/4 cups flour (lightly spoon 1 3/4 cups flour into dry measuring cups, level with a knife, then add to bowl), malted-milk powder, baking powder, and salt, stirring well with a whisk. Add the flour mixture to the egg mixture alternately with milk, beginning and ending with the flour mixture.
Pour batter into prepared pan(s). Sharply tap pan(s) once on counter to remove air bubbles. Bake at 350° for 25 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans 10 minutes on a wire rack; remove from pans. Remove wax paper. Cool completely on wire rack.
Place 1 cake layer on a plate; spread with 1/2 cup frosting, and top with remaining cake layer. Spread remaining frosting over top and sides of cake (for 9 X 13 pan spread frosting on top of cake) sprinkle top of cake with chopped malted-milk balls. Chill 1 hour. Store cake loosely covered in refrigerator.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 316.9, Fat 10.9, SaturatedFat 5.1, Cholesterol 45.9, Sodium 198, Carbohydrate 51.8, Fiber 1.1, Sugar 38, Protein 5.3