These malted milk powder recipes take your usual scones, waffles, cakes and cookies to a whole new level of flavor complexity.

If you normally reserve that container of malted milk powder for super-thick milkshakes, you’re missing out on all the desserts that can be made better by this old-fashioned ingredient. Malted milk powder is made from malted barley extract, wheat flour, evaporated milk and salt, and just a few tablespoons can unlock a world of toasty, milky, caramelly flavors and uniform browning (a huge plus for extra-crispy homemade waffles!).

There’s a whole world of malted milk powder recipes to try. We love scooping some into our scone or cookie dough, or our cake or waffle batter. It can make frosting extra thick, rich and almost salty. If you particularly love crunching down on malted milk balls at the movie theater, begin with our salty malty scones or chocolate malt crispy bars. We have all that and so much more here.

Malted milk powder is usually stocked in the baking or coffee aisle of the grocery store. It’s not the same as malt, milk powder or malt syrup, so read the labels and don’t use them interchangeably. Buy regular malted milk powder for all of its rich, umami flavors, or choose a chocolate version to lean into the malted milk ball nostalgia.

1/8

Salty Malty Scones

1 Reviews
Total Time:35 min
Servings:1 dozen
Test Kitchen Approved
From the Recipe Creator: These scones taste just like a chocolate malt, thanks to malted milk powder, cocoa powder, chocolate chips and crushed malted milk balls for a garnish. If you've ever wanted ice cream for breakfast, this might be the way to do it! —Margaret Knoebel, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Nutrition Facts: 1 scone: 462 calories, 25g fat (16g saturated fat), 40mg cholesterol, 419mg sodium, 58g carbohydrate (29g sugars, 3g fiber), 6g protein.
2/8

Banana Bread Sheet Cake with Chocolate Malt Frosting

Total Time:1 hour
Servings:20
Test Kitchen Approved
From the Recipe Creator: This banana bread sheet cake is complemented perfectly by a cream cheese chocolate malt frosting. The malt powder is a clever way to elevate the frosting and, in turn, the entire dessert! —Margaret Knoebel, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Nutrition Facts: 1 piece: 419 calories, 14g fat (8g saturated fat), 53mg cholesterol, 298mg sodium, 72g carbohydrate (46g sugars, 3g fiber), 5g protein.
3/8

Malted Butter Pecan Waffles

Total Time:25 min
Servings:16 waffles (4 inch)
Test Kitchen Approved
From the Recipe Creator: My husband loves pecans and malted flavoring, so I combined the two in a waffle batter, and the result was amazing! I like to serve with warm maple syrup, a pat of butter and some toasted pecans. —Angela Lively, Conroe, Texas
Nutrition Facts: 2 waffles: 325 calories, 10g fat (3g saturated fat), 79mg cholesterol, 382mg sodium, 48g carbohydrate (10g sugars, 2g fiber), 11g protein.
4/8

Malted Chocolate & Stout Layer Cake

8 Reviews
Total Time:1 hour 20 min
Servings:16
Test Kitchen Approved
From the Recipe Creator: If you want a dessert that will take the cake at a St. Patrick's Day celebration, look no further! The rich chocolate cake is incredibly moist and has a nice malt flavor that's perfectly complemented by the Irish cream frosting. —Jennifer Wayland, Morris Plains, New Jersey
Nutrition Facts: 1 piece: 821 calories, 48g fat (29g saturated fat), 220mg cholesterol, 760mg sodium, 90g carbohydrate (64g sugars, 2g fiber), 7g protein.
5/8

Chocolate Malt Crispy Bars

5 Reviews
Total Time:25 min
Servings:2 dozen
Test Kitchen Approved
From the Recipe Creator: These chunky, chewy squares are a feast for the eyes. Malted milk flavor coats this treat from top to bottom. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Nutrition Facts: 1 bar: 256 calories, 10g fat (6g saturated fat), 7mg cholesterol, 118mg sodium, 42g carbohydrate (29g sugars, 1g fiber), 3g protein.
6/8

Strawberry Malts

2 Reviews
Total Time:10 min
Servings:4
Test Kitchen Approved
From the Recipe Creator: Don't limit yourself to having a malt only when you go out. This refreshing beverage makes mealtime fun for the whole family.
Nutrition Facts: 1 each: 415 calories, 16g fat (10g saturated fat), 66mg cholesterol, 228mg sodium, 62g carbohydrate (42g sugars, 1g fiber), 8g protein.
7/8

Malted Chocolate Chip Cookies

48 Reviews
Contest Winner
Total Time:30 min
Servings:about 1-1/2 dozen
Test Kitchen Approved
From the Recipe Creator: These cookies are the next best thing to a good old-fashioned malted milk. With malted milk powder, chocolate syrup, and chocolate chips and chunks, these are the best cookies I've ever tasted—and with six kids, I've made a lot of cookies over the years! —Teri Schloessmann, Tulsa, Oklahoma
Nutrition Facts: 1 cookie: 363 calories, 18g fat (7g saturated fat), 14mg cholesterol, 172mg sodium, 47g carbohydrate (33g sugars, 2g fiber), 4g protein.
8/8

Makeover Nutty Monkey Malts

4 Reviews
Total Time:5 min
Servings:5
Test Kitchen Approved
From the Recipe Creator: Get all the flavor of a classic diner milkshake with only a fraction of the calories and fat. Flavored with peanut butter and bananas, this is one drink the kids will go crazy for! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Nutrition Facts: 1/2 cup: 203 calories, 3g fat (1g saturated fat), 1mg cholesterol, 190mg sodium, 39g carbohydrate (29g sugars, 3g fiber), 8g protein.

Malted Milk Powder Recipe FAQs

Does malted milk powder go bad?

Yes, malted milk powder will eventually go bad. Keep it in a sealed container in a cool, dry and dark place (like your pantry) for up to 12 months. Malted milk powder should be a light tan color with a toasty aroma, so if yours looks darkened or clumpy and has no aroma, toss it.

What is malted milk powder used for?

Malted milk powder is used to add a toasty flavor with a distinct cooked-milk note (similar to butterscotch, caramel or toffee) to drinks and baked goods. The extra lactose from the evaporated milk also creates even browning during baking. I like to think about this ingredient the same way as vanilla extract or salt, where a little bit of it remarkably enhances the overall flavor. Use malted milk powder in hot chocolate, lattes, milkshakes, scones, waffles, pancakes, cookies, bars, frosting, cakes and ice cream.

What is malted milk powder made of?

Malted milk powder is made of malted barley extracts, wheat flour, evaporated milk and salt. Each brand (Carnation being the most popular) has its own specific blend, so not every malted milk powder will taste the same, but the differences are minor enough that you can use them interchangeably. Since this ingredient contains barley, wheat and milk, it’s not suitable for anyone who sticks to a gluten-free, dairy-free or vegan diet.