I was so excited when I opened the March 2007 issue of Food and Wine magazine. The first reason I was excited is because a letter I wrote to the editor about undertaking the Food and Wine 100 Tastes to Try in 2007 was published. The second, even more exciting reason, is that right after my published letter to the editor, there was a letter from Neil Penick in San Francisco. The letter expressed disappointment in the fact that Food and Wine magazine listed one of their must try tastes as a Malt Ball cake, but didn’t provide a recipe for the cake. Well, the editor came through and published the recipe, straight from the staff at Brooklyn’s Baked.
Anxious with anticipation of trying this cake out, I decided to make it today. It was cold and rainy outside and I needed some chocolate. I had all the ingredients on hand and decided to go for it. The recipe calls for 3 8 inch cake pans, but I decided to use 2 10 inch pans instead. Other than that, I followed the recipe exactly. The result? A very, very moist and tender cake with a frosting so rich that licking the spatula after making the cake will give you a bit of a tummy ache. (Yes… I admit it… I’m a spatula licker!) I really enjoyed this cake, but I know that I wouldn’t be able to eat an entire slice without feeling ill from the richness. (The frosting has cream, 1 pound of butter, Chocolate, and corn syrup…get the drift on how rich it is?) This is definitely the kind of cake you want from a restaurant. Rich, satisfying, chocolatey and there’s only one piece. One slice is definitely more than enough.
For the recipe, check out the March 2007 issue of Food and Wine magazine, page 24. Until then, anyone want some cake??
Yes , please!!
I love the frosting!!It looks almost touchable!:)) Yummy!! Enjoy the cake and the V’day!:))
Yummy…I love malt balls.
I notice the cake stand was one Grandpa gave you. How neat that you made the malt ball cake and put it on that stand since malt balls were one of his favorites and I bet he would have loved that cake.
WOW!! What a cake!!
That is SOOO cool that F&W published your letter. YAY!!!
That looks so yummy!
One look at that cake, and I feel like a kid again!
Since malt balls are one of my favorite chocolates, I would have a hard time saying "NO"! This would definitely be one I would order in a restaurant…"portion control" is my mantra!!! I wonder how difficult it would be to halve the recipe? Then, once it’s gone, it’s gone!
My dear, you work fast!
It was cool to open to the letters page in F&W and say "I know her!!"
That cake…..sinful!
thank you for your visit on my blog. I raced right over to see you. The malt ball cake looks so yummy. I just finished putting my own chocolate cake in the oven in preparation for Valentines Day. Hmm, maybe I’ll run and get some Malt Balls for the frosting part of the cake. I also looked at your family blog and I chuckled when you said that you have a hard time getting everyone to cooperate for a picture, Good Luck with that, I’m still waiting for them to cooperate and they are all grown up.
What a beautiful cake! That frosting does look very rich. I bet it’s perfect with that moist cake and the malted milk balls for crunch.
How cool is it that you got them to publish your letter and the recipe!
Cold and rainy — perfect day for a cake like that. Very cool, Kristen, the whole thing.
hmmn…never had malt ball cake. It looks very tempting!
when I read this post I thought immediately ofmy dad.He would love this cake.And it just so happens his birthday is next week! Thanks Kristen!
Yippy that they posted your note in Food and Wine! I just read it last night and zoomed over to say congrats this morning! So cool to recognize you in the mag!!!!!
I would definitely like to take a slice of that cake off of your hands!
Oh how yummy! I agree with Brilynn, if you can’t eat it all we can help out in Texas.
That looks absolutely decadent! 🙂 MMMMMMM! Congratulations on having your letter printed! And I am also a major spatula licker (and wooden spoon licker, and bowl licker). In fact, I find that one of my favorite things about being a grown-up is that I can lick all my batter-coated baking equipment and no one can stop me!
wow. a pound of butter and corn syrup. wow. i’m going into sugar-overload just looking at that picture!
Oh my gosh… I LOVE malt balls! I’m sure this cake is delightful. It is PRETTY too! 🙂
Congrats on being published. Wahoo!
HOLY MOLY!!! Now THIS is what I call a cake!!! If there weren’t people around me, I’d lick the computer screen… scary, no?!
Congratulation on the letter and the cake. It’s a beauty! Hope you had help eating it!!
Asha – I wish I could send you some! My neighbors helped me out with getting rid of the cake.
Peabody – I do too…I was glad that this cake actually tasted like malt balls.
Mom – Yep. I’m using the antique, $400 plate stand. It’s been hidden way too long. Time for it to have a life! 🙂
Kirsten – I was kind of excited about it the letter. I knew about it last month and was excited to actually see it published.
Hilary – Thanks! It was really, really good!
TW – It has such grown up flavor though… that’s what is great about it!
Cyn – Trust me… one piece is plenty. I can’t imagine how much weight I gained just with one piece. It isn’t a light and healthy dessert!
Kate – I really wish that I could mail some to you. You’ll love it when you try it!
Lovella – Thanks for visiting!
Natalia – It was a great cake. Rich is an understatement!
Rachel – I was pretty excited about it!
Mimi – Thank you!
Veron – Tempting it is!
Elizabeth – I hope you make it… I bet he’d love it!
Janelle – Thank you! I’m glad you stopped by after reading it. It was exciting.
Brilynn & Jenifer – Come on over 🙂 There is still some left.
Joey – Being a grown up is a wonderful thing, isn’t it? I had cake for lunch yesterday while I made my kids eat something healthy. Oh the joys!
Suzy – I know…I know. The recipe made me gain 10 pounds just reading through it!
Karen Beth – Thank you. I am not the best cake decorator in the world, but it did taste good.
VC – Oh…go ahead…have a lick!
Tanna – I had lots of help. I had one piece and was able to give the rest to my neighbors and family. I have one piece left today and I’m saving it for hubby!
Oh,what a happy day you had! And what a happy cake! It makes me smile just looking at it.
omg kristen look at that cake! how cool. looks so neat, did the recipe have malt in it? i love that flavor soso much 🙂 cant wait to get my march food and wine to read your letter, (smiles)
First of all, I saw the picture and I was wondering where the hell you found a recipe for the Malt Ball Cake because I have been searching all over online.
Then I read you post. Congrats on your letter!!!! How fun!
And 3rd, I’m so glad they published the recipe. Thanks for pointing it out.
oh malt balls are my weakness.. and that cake just looks kinda silly… like something stuck with pompoms
The cake looks so delicious! I could only manage to make mini ones 😉
That’s a dream cake. I also saw the recipe and want to make it for a family gathering. I’m so glad you made it and shared that with us! Brava!
Wow, I adore malted milk balls. I have to try this cake. I have malted milk powder in the pantry right now for the Grape-Nuts ice cream I’m addicted to (good call on getting the ice cream machine).
Thanks for visiting my blog!