Milk-shake, rattle 'n' roll Cake

Marble Malt Kit Kat Cake 

 Cast your mind back to a simpler time. 

 
Think: black and white checker board diner floors.

Think: duke boxes pumping out sounds of the 50s.
Think: waiters on roller-skates gracefully balancing an order while zooming around a parking lot.
Think: greasy food devoured without the burden of "low-carb-gluten free-fructose-friendly-seriously can you order anything" restrictions and woes.
Think: the majestic froth topped, whipped cream bound, ice-cream lathered and lactose lavished milkshake.

  

Ah, the milkshake.

An irreverent nod to a time without fad diets, food intolerances and strict health regulations that made companies declare the possibility that; "...at some point during the manufacturing process the gluten free, fructose friendly, low lactose and nut-free product, might have in fact been invaded by a horde of Allergen Aliens who could, and probably did, slip any number of these ingredients into the product". Often, this declaration is followed by a complaints hot line number: Just call 1800-PleaseDon'tSue.

  

Alas, I digress, back to the 1950s and the iconic milkshake. 

Brace yourself: a Fistory (that's Food History...obviously) lesson is coming your way. Please keep your arms and legs inside the time travel vehicle at all times and if you feel your eyes becoming heavy and the urge to sleep overwhelming, break emergency glass and inhale copious amounts of sugar and caffeine. 

The milkshake originated in the 1800s and unlike the family friendly favorite of the 50s, it was originally an alcoholic whiskey drink, consumed  as a naughty nightcap by adults once the children had retired to la-la land. I'm guessing that it gained the nickname "milkshake" when said adults were sprung by sleeping walking children...really brings a whole new meaning to a warming glass of "milk" before bed. Come the 1900s the drink became un-whiskified and re-branded, thus becoming synonymous with the G-rated, frosty, frothy version that became so popular in the 50s. Bless.   

Fistory lesson complete. 

You may now wake up, rub your eyes and behold the milkshake cake. My nostalgic nod to a simpler time and the divine flavors of malt infused, creamy goodness. With a dense malt-choc marble cake, covered in malt flavored buttercream, surrounded by a hug of Kit Kats and topped with a halo of milkshake M&Ms, this decadent cake is gluten loaded, fructose heavy, lactose laden and simply...glorious. An ode to a time that just screams "Milk-shake, rattle 'n' roll".

Consumer Warning: while the good times do roll with this celebration cake, it is not recommended that you dust off the ole' rollerskates, grease up the creaky bones and zoom this dessert out to your guests.

Little known Fistory Fact: many a milkshake died in the 1950s due to this practice which discriminated heavily against those possessing two left feet and a severe lack of balance.

Malt-marble Cake:

2 cups sifted flour
2 1/2 tsp baking powder
150g butter
30g dark chocolate melted
3/4 cup milk
1/2 cup malt powder
1 1/4 cup caster sugar
3 eggs
1/2 tsp vanilla essence  

Preheat oven to 180 degrees. Grease and line a 20cm large deep tin.

To make the Malt infused milk: 
In a small pot over a low flame, combine 3/4 cup of milk with 1/2 cup malt powder. Gently heat the mixture, stirring with a whisk until the powder has dissolved and infused the milk. Then remeasure the malt milk to fill 3/4 cup measurement (discard any leftovers). Set aside to cool.

Cream the butter and sugar together. Add the eggs one at a time beating well after each addition. Add sifted flour ingredients in two batches, alternating with malt infused milk, beating only well enough to blend. Finally, add the baking powder with the last spoonful of flour (this will ensure that the baking powder is not overworked in the mixer). Divide the batter into two bowls. Fold the melted chocolate and vanilla essence into one bowl of batter and leave the other batter plain. Dollop the two batters into the lined tin in alternating spoonfuls, then use a cake skewer to gently swirl the two batters together forming a marbled effect.

Bake for one hour or until when tested the skewer comes out clean. Leave in the tin for 5 minutes before turning out onto a cooling rack.

Malt Icing:

160g butter
1/4 cup, plus 1 tbsp milk
1/2 tsp vanilla essence
1 3/4 cups sifted icing sugar
1/2 cup malt powder

In a small pot over a low flame, combine 1/4 cup and 1 tbsp of milk with 1/2 cup malt powder. Gently heat the mixture, stirring with a whisk until the powder has dissolved and infused the milk. Remove from the heat and allow to cool. In a mixer beat the butter until smooth and then add the sifted icing sugar and vanilla essence. Continue to beat until smooth (about 45 seconds). Add the cooled malt infused milk and continue to beat until the buttercream is light and fluffy (about 3 minutes).

To Decorate:

1 batch of Malt Icing
2 packets of Milkshake flavoured M&Ms
21 Funsize Kit Kats (my suggestion is to buy 2 Funsize multipacks, in which the Kit Kats come individually wrapped in pairs. Do NOT break the Kit Kats apart, leave them joined).

Generously ice the cake with the Malt icing, ensuring that you adequately cover the top and sides of the cake. Unwrap the Kit Kats and surround the sides, gently pressing in the Kit Kats as you go in order to make certain that they are stuck to the icing. Once the entire cake is surrounded, use some ribbon to gently wrap around the cake, not only does it look lovely, but it also helps the Kit Kats to set to the icing, reducing the amount of mess when you come to cut to the cake. Finally, open up two packets of Milkshake flavoured M&Ms and haphazardly dump them on top of the cake! There is no room for perfectionist based obsession with this stage of the decoration. The M&Ms will fall at will and it magically creates a "oh, why yes, I did just roll out of bed looking this awesome" effect, that will dazzle onlookers.

Enjoy a generous slice of this cake with a glass of cold milk. Or, better yet, why not pair it with its 1950s soul-mate; a handsomely tall, dark and creamy milkshake!