Chocolate Chunk Snack Cake with Chocolate Malt Frosting

  • Level: Easy
  • Yield: 16 servings
  • Total: 2 hr 20 min
  • Active: 35 min
I've enhanced the classic snack cake to make it homey enough for an after-school treat but also special enough for festive occasions. I started with a simple yellow cake made with buttermilk for tang and tenderness. I added chopped bittersweet chocolate (I prefer a cocoa percentage around 65 percent or 70 percent) and iced the cake with frosting that features cocoa powder, melted chocolate and malted milk powder for loads of luscious flavor.
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Ingredients

Cake: 

8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature, plus more for the pan

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 3/4 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1 cup sugar

2 large eggs

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

1 cup buttermilk, at room temperature

1 1/2 cups (6 ounces) chopped bittersweet chocolate

Frosting:

3/4 cup malted milk powder

2 tablespoons Dutch-process cocoa powder

1/4 cup boiling water

1/2 cup (2 ounces) chopped bittersweet chocolate, melted

Pinch of kosher salt

8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature

Directions

  1. For the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and line an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper, leaving a 2-inch overhang on two sides.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt. In another large bowl, using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat the butter and sugar until fluffy, about 2 minutes. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, and then beat in the vanilla. In three additions, beat in the flour mixture, alternating with additions of the buttermilk, starting and ending with flour. Fold in the chocolate. Transfer the batter to the prepared pan and smooth the top. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with moist crumbs attached, 30 to 35 minutes. Transfer the pan to a rack to cool completely, and then remove the cake from the pan using the parchment overhangs to lift it out. 
  3. For the frosting: In a large bowl, whisk together the malt powder, cocoa powder and boiling water until smooth. Let cool. Whisk in the melted chocolate and salt.
  4. Add the butter and beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth and fluffy. Spread the frosting onto the cooled cake.

Let's Get Cooking!

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Anonymous

I just made this it was absolutely delicious! Thanks for sharing this recipe. 

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