🍫 Rich, moist, bakery-style chocolate cake layered with creamy chocolate cream cheese frosting and finished with chocolate curls, cocoa dusting, and crunchy malted chocolate balls. Perfect for birthdays, celebrations, or whenever you’re craving an unforgettable chocolate dessert.

📌 Recipe Overview

🛒 Ingredients

Chocolate Malt Cake

• 2¾ cups (345g) all-purpose flour
• 1 cup (90g) unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 cup (100g) malted milk powder
• 2½ cups (500g) granulated sugar
• 2½ tsp baking powder
• 2 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp salt
• 3 large eggs (room temperature)
• 1 cup (240ml) whole milk
• ½ cup (120ml) vegetable oil
• ½ cup (120g) sour cream
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup (240ml) hot brewed coffee (or hot water)

Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting

• 16 oz (450g) full-fat cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup (225g) unsalted butter, softened
• 5 cups (600g) powdered sugar
• ¾ cup (65g) cocoa powder
• 6 oz (170g) dark chocolate, melted and cooled slightly
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• ¼ tsp salt
• 2–4 tbsp heavy cream (if needed)

Decoration

• Chocolate curls
• Cocoa powder
• Malted chocolate balls
• Chocolate shavings (optional)

👩‍🍳 Instructions

1. Prepare the Oven

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease two 8-inch round cake pans and line the bottoms with parchment paper.

2. Mix the Dry Ingredients

In a large mixing bowl whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, malted milk powder, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt until evenly combined.

3. Mix the Wet Ingredients

In another bowl whisk together the eggs, milk, vegetable oil, sour cream and vanilla extract until smooth.

4. Make the Batter

Pour the wet ingredients into the dry mixture and stir until just combined. Slowly add the hot coffee while mixing until the batter becomes smooth. The batter will be quite thin, which helps create an incredibly moist cake.

5. Bake

Divide the batter evenly between the prepared cake pans.

Bake for 35–40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with only a few moist crumbs attached.

Allow the cakes to cool for 10 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack. Cool completely.

6. Prepare the Frosting

Beat the butter until creamy.

Add the softened cream cheese and continue beating until smooth.

Mix in the cocoa powder, vanilla extract and salt.

Gradually add the powdered sugar, then pour in the melted dark chocolate.

Beat for another 2–3 minutes until the frosting becomes light, fluffy and smooth. If necessary, add a little heavy cream for a softer consistency.

7. Assemble the Cake

Level the tops of both cakes if necessary.

Slice each cake horizontally to create four even layers.

Place the first layer onto a cake stand and spread a generous layer of frosting.

Repeat with the remaining cake layers.

Apply a thin crumb coat over the entire cake and refrigerate for 20 minutes.

Finish with a final thick layer of chocolate cream cheese frosting.

8. Decorate

Top the cake with chocolate curls, dust lightly with cocoa powder and arrange malted chocolate balls in the center. Add chocolate shavings around the edges for an elegant bakery finish.

💡 Baker’s Tips

• Hot coffee enhances the chocolate flavor without making the cake taste like coffee.
• Use room-temperature ingredients for a smoother batter.
• Chill the cake before slicing for cleaner layers.
• Weigh ingredients with a kitchen scale for the best results.
• Full-fat cream cheese creates the richest frosting.

🥄 Serving Suggestions

Serve slightly chilled or at room temperature with:

• Freshly brewed coffee
• Cold milk
• Vanilla ice cream
• Fresh strawberries or raspberries

🧊 Storage

• Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
• Freeze individual slices for up to 3 months.
• Bring refrigerated cake to room temperature for about 20 minutes before serving.

📊 Nutrition (Approx. Per Slice)

• Calories: 720
• Carbohydrates: 84g
• Protein: 8g
• Fat: 40g
• Saturated Fat: 22g
• Sugar: 58g
• Fiber: 5g
• Sodium: 390mg

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make this cake ahead of time?

Yes. Bake the cake layers a day in advance and store them tightly wrapped. Frost the cake before serving.

Can I skip the coffee?

Absolutely. Replace it with hot water if you prefer.

What malted milk powder should I use?

Any classic malted milk powder works well and gives the cake its signature flavor.

Can I use three cake pans instead of two?

Yes. Divide the batter evenly and reduce the baking time by about 5–8 minutes.

How do I get perfectly even cake layers?

Use a serrated knife or cake leveler after the cakes have cooled completely.

❤️ Final Thoughts

This Rich Four-Layer Chocolate Malt Cake is everything a chocolate lover could want—deep cocoa flavor, soft and tender cake layers, creamy chocolate cream cheese frosting, and a beautiful bakery-style finish. Whether you’re celebrating a birthday, holiday, or simply treating yourself, this impressive homemade cake is guaranteed to be the centerpiece of your dessert table.