You Say Whoppers I Say Maltesers!

Where I live these delightful confections of malted milk balls are called Maltesers but perhaps in your part of the world you would know them as Whoppers? However, wherever you live they still remain the same temptations of light and crunchy, in a sphere-shaped with malted centres and dressed in a layer of creamy chocolate - *slurp*. Now if you’ve not tried these little beauties you really are missing out, but if you are like my Mr R. (hubby) you’re already totally hooked on them!

These bars are simplicity itself to make by melting and mixing a few ingredients; baking the chocolate base and spreading over the malted topping with a sprinkling of chopped Maltesers. All that remains to do is cut into bars and sit back and enjoy!

*My apologies for my absent lately once again in the blogosphere! I evidently spoke too soon when I mentioned my back felt on the mends because I've spent since my last post here resting up in bed. Oh well on the upside of things, it has given me chance to bookmark bakes that took my fancy in magazines and books. I’m looking forward to getting back into the swing of things once again*.

Malteser Bars or Whopper Bars

Ingredients

Chocolate Base:
175g (6 oz) unsalted butter, cut into cubes
175g (6 oz) good quality milk chocolate, broken up into squares
350g (12 oz) granulated sugar
2 tsp vanilla extract
4 large eggs, lightly beaten
225g (8 oz) plain flour
½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
Malted Milk Topping:
100g (4 oz) malted milk powder, (Horlicks)
3 tbsp milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
40g (1½ oz) butter
150g (5 oz) icing sugar
150g (5 oz) maltesers /whoppers, roughly chopped

You will need a metal baking tin measuring 33cm by 23cm (13 inch by 9 inch) lined with foil (over lapping at each long side with foil) grease foil.

Method

Preheat oven to 180°C/fan 160°C/350°F/Gas mark 4.

For the chocolate base: In a small bowl combine the flour, salt and baking powder set aside for later.

In a large saucepan melt the butter and chocolate stirring frequently. Remove from the heat and stir in the sugar and vanilla extract. Beat in the eggs until blended in and then lastly the flour mixture until it’s fully combined. Spread the mixture over the prepared baking tin levering the top with a spatula. Place into the preheated oven and bake for 25 – 30 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Cool in the tin on a wire rack.

For the malted milk topping: In a small bowl stir together the malted milk powder, milk and vanilla extract until combined into a smooth mixture. In another bowl, add the butter and icing sugar and beat together until blended, add to the malted mixture and beat together.

When the chocolate base is nearly cold spread all the malted topping over with a spatula until fully covered and then top with the chopped maltesers. When the topping is firm, transfer with the foil to a chopping board. Cut into bars to the size you wish each bar to be.

Lastly, sit back and relax arming yourself with one of these gorgeous bars and relish in its wonderful delights......