Butter In Malteser Cake

Our answer

Nigella's Chocolate Malteser Cake (from FEAST) does contain only 15g (1 tablespoon) of butter in the sponge part of the cake and this is correct. The cake is similar to a fatless whisked sponge, so the eggs and sugar are whisked together until mousse-like, then other ingredients are whisked or folded in. When you add the other ingredients be careful not to knock too much air out of the egg mixture, so that the sponge part of the cake remains light.

As the cake contains only a small amount of fat it will not keep as well as a Victoria-style sponge cake or a madeira or pound cake. The cake can dry out fairly quickly once it has been cut into. So if possible eat the cake within 2-3 days and keep it tightly covered once it has been cut.