Monday 19 December 2011

Chocolate Christmas cake



Last weekend we went to a Christmas-do with friends and I wanted to create a fun chocolate cake that also looks festive so it was time to get the gold dust out. Just brush it on the before you place the Maltesers on the cake as you will need to apply some pressure and they would otherwise move around in the soft butter cream. Maltesers are great for this as they look like little Christmas baubles and their malty taste goes nicely with the spices and the rum but even chocolate covered hazelnuts or such could work well.

SPICED CHOCOLATE CAKE

4 eggs
200g sugar
200g butter (room temperature)
pinch of salt
200g self-raising flour
100g cocoa powder
3 tbsp baking powder
1/2 tbsp all spice
pinch of cinnamon
4 tbsp rum
4 tbsp milk
4 packs of Maltesers
edible gold powder

For the butter cream:
200g butter
100g icing sugar
300g chocolate custard/pudding (follow packet instructions)
pinch of cinnamon

Preheat the oven to 200°C and butter your baking tin. Separate the eggs and whisk the whites with a pinch of salt until it forms stiff peaks. In another bowl mix the egg yolks and sugar until pale and fluffy (with a hand-held mixer for about 5 min) and add the butter. Sift the flour, cocoa and baking powder and add to the mixture. When the dough gets too thick add the rum and milk. Now gently fold in the stiff egg whites. Bake for around 30-40 minutes in a 20cm/8 inch baking tin. Rotate the tin after half the baking time so it will bake evenly. If it gets too dark on the top cover it up with baking paper for the last 15 minutes. Let cool and cut into 3 layers. Place the sponge layers in the fridge for about 10-15 minutes before you assemble the cake. Cook the custard/pudding according to packet instructions and leave to cool. Cream the butter until pale and fluffy, add the sifted icing sugar, mix some more, then add the cold custard/pudding and cinnamon powder. Spread an even amount of the icing between the layers, stack the cake and apply a thin layer on the the outside. Place in the fridge to chill before you apply the rest of the icing layer. Brush the malt balls with the gold dust and place on the the top and sides of the cake.


36 comments:

Baking is my Zen...sweet nibbles for the soul said...

Very creative use of malt balls.
Seen in Tastespotting.com.

~Carmen

Kavey said...

Love love love your malteser decoration, much classier than a ring or two, looks almost like modern architecture!!! Fab!

Paula/Tim said...

Very lovely blog. Beautiful pictures and recipes.

Kristin said...

Love the way it looks covered in malt balls! Very nice.

Jolene - EverydayFoodie said...

Where would one get chocolate custard? I have never heard of this. Is it in a package?

Amrita said...

gorgeous!

Peony and Thistle said...

This looks fabulous! Well done!

Diane | An Extraordinary Day said...

Your cake is simply delightful!!! I shared the link on my Facebook page: LongabergerLifestyle. Thank you for the inspiration. Now, off to find a conversion chart!

Anne Ahiers said...

i also have never heard of chocolate custard and would like to know where to get it (since 1/27 is Chocolate Cake Day :-)

Wendys Hat said...

Amazing!

Anonymous said...

Oh my goodness!!! That looks Delish!!

Anonymous said...

That looks Delish!!!

La Petite Gallery said...

I can't believe this it's awesome. I am a new visitor.
drop over and join the followers.
yvonne

Tina @ MOMS CRAZY COOKING said...

I LOVE LOVE LOVE your cake! I recently make this design for a Chocolate Cake Challenge on my blog. Here is the post:

http://momscrazycooking.blogspot.com/2012/02/whopper-chocolate-cake-crazy-cooking.html

And NOW I am happy to report... that the cake I made (your cake) was the WINNER of the Challenge! You can read about that here.


http://momscrazycooking.blogspot.com/2012/02/ultimate-crazy-cooking-challenge-recipe.html

Thanks so much for the awesome inspiration and the awesome cake you created and posted! :-)

elena nuez said...

Oula lalala se magnifique!

PattiH05k said...

I'm guessing that in the U.S., a package of chocolate pudding would substitute nicely for the custard.

urbane fruits said...

Chocolate pudding is absolutely fine for this, either from a packet (so you make it by mixing with milk and bring to the boil) or just add ready-made. Much easier and quicker option than making a ganache but even that would work. HAPPY BAKING! xx

Anonymous said...

Chocolate pudding in the US

Unknown said...

Best looking cake I've seen in a long time! I'm sure it tastes even better!

Anonymous said...

I'm sorry...back to the chocolate pudding. Is it 300g of powder mix and then make the pudding as directed or is it 300g chocolate pudding already made?

LorynLoves said...

Love this cake - so pretty!!

Learn2Serve said...

It must be really yummy! This is definitely a must do cake recipe my granny will definitely love this.

Kraftreiniger said...

Wow, this cake looks stunning!

Anonymous said...

Mother-in-law just sent me this link. I think I will have to make it.

gluten free said...

When a cake recipe doesn't turn out as planned and it is undercooked....don't despair....just take the cake and layer with fresh fruit and whipped cream.

Anonymous said...

can anyone convert this recipe into cups or ounces

Bex said...

What is the size of the cake tin?

urbane fruits said...

The cake tin is 8 inch or about 21cm wide.
x

Anonymous said...

I might make this for my sisters birthday :-) She LOVES chocolate AND malt balls :-)

Teevi said...

I like your idea of decorating! Just great :)

Anonymous said...

What an amazing recipe you have! Really artistic and very creative
! I would like to make some! Surely my kids will be amazed on this!

AT HOME BLOG said...

Wow it's amazing... I think the magazine "Australian good taste" took a lot of inspiration in your cake from the last cover!

Ailing Tsuka said...

Whooah it looks awesome! I definitely have to give this one a try

Anonymous said...

Just found this awesome cake on Pinterest! THANKS!!!

BeBetsy
http://bebetsy.com

Unknown said...

What kind of rum?

Amanda said...

I had no idea this was your cake. Thank goodness some smart readers found you! It is simply brilliant and magical and original. Well done!!
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=615505885166101&set=a.415727888477236.106941.161470543902973&type=1