Party All the Time

Birthdays last for weeks around here. First you have the actual birthday DAY. Then you have the Family Party. If you are under 11, you have a friend party. Wait - no more of those! :::giggle::: Shucks. Then there is the Family Birthday Dinner at the Birthday Person's Restaurant of Choice. So far, for Steve and Joshua, we have had the Day. And today we had the Family Party.



The Family Party is always held at my MIL's. Tonight we celebrated Joshua and Steve together (sharing is always encouraged at The Family Party). Steve's mom barbequed chicken and sausage and made her macaroni and cheese that we all love. Salad and other assorted vegetables. And, of course, dessert. MIL made cherry cheesecake. *I* made a Whopper cake! This cake was found in my MIL's Paula Deen Holiday Baking magazine. My MIL loves "Pauler."

Chocolate Malt Cake



2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/4 cups sugar

3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 1/2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1 cup milk

1 cup malted milk powder

1 cup vegetable oil

3 large eggs

1 cup sour cream

1 tsp vanilla extract

Chocolate Malt Icing

Malted Milk Balls (or Whoppers) for garnish



Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour three 9-inch cake pans.



In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.



In a small bowl, combine milk and malted milk powder, stirring to dissolve. Add milk mixture, oil, and eggs to flour mixture, beating at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth. Add sour cream and vanilla, beating just until combined.



Pour batter evenly into prepared pans and bake for 20 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.



Let cool in the pans for 10 minutes. Remove from pans and let cool completely on wire racks. Spread Chocolate Malt Icing between layers and on top and sides of cake. Garnish with malted milk balls, if desired. (Why would you NOT desire?)





Chocolate Malt Icing



1 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

3/4 cup heavy cream

1/2 cup malted milk powder

5 cups confectioners' sugar



In a large bowl, beat butter and cocoa powder at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy.



In a small bowl, combine cream and malted milk powder, stirring to dissolve. Add cream mixture to butter mixture, beating at low speed to combine. Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar until smooth.



This cake was SO good! Everyone loved it!