Maltesers Loaf Cake: Easy and Detailed Preparation Steps

For the Cake:

1. Preheat the Oven:
   • Start by setting your oven to 160°C Fan/350°F/Gas Mark 4. This ensures your cake cooks evenly.
2. Prepare the Loaf Tin:
   • Grease a 2lb loaf tin with butter or baking spray. Then, line it with parchment paper. This helps the cake to come out easily after baking.
3. Cream Butter and Sugar:
   • In a large mixing bowl, use an electric mixer to cream together the baking spread (or butter) and light brown soft sugar until it’s fluffy. This should take about 2-3 minutes.
4. Add Eggs, Milk, and Vanilla:
   • To the creamed butter and sugar, add the eggs one at a time, followed by the milk and vanilla extract. Mix after each addition until everything is well incorporated.
5. Fold in Dry Ingredients:
   • Sift the self-raising flour, cocoa powder, malt powder, and baking powder into the wet mixture. Gently fold or whisk them in until just combined. Avoid overmixing to keep the cake light.
6. Bake the Cake:
   • Pour the batter into your prepared loaf tin. Bake for about an hour or until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the cake cool fully in the tin before turning it out onto a wire rack.

For the Buttercream:

1. Cream the Butter:
   • In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the softened butter until it’s creamy. This forms the base of your buttercream.
2. Add Flavor and Sweetness:
   • Gradually add the icing sugar, malt powder, vanilla extract, and a tablespoon of milk. Continue mixing until the buttercream is smooth and spreadable. Adjust the consistency with more milk if necessary.

Assemble the Cake:

1. Frost the Cake:
   • Once the cake is completely cooled, spread or pipe the buttercream evenly over the top. Make sure the cake is cool to prevent the buttercream from melting.
2. Add Maltesers Spread (Optional):
   • If using Maltesers spread, warm it in the microwave for 15-20 seconds until runny. Drizzle it over the buttercream for an extra layer of flavor.