Old-Fashioned Chocolate Malt

Like an extra flavorful chocolate shake, a chocolate malt gives a nod to tradition and a big boost to flavor for this beverage or dessert.

Like an extra flavorful chocolate shake, a chocolate malt gives a nod to tradition and a big boost to flavor for this beverage or dessert.Today when people think of a frozen ice cream beverage, it’s usually a chocolate shake. But back in the day, a chocolate malt would have held the honor.

Sometimes known as a malted milk or malted, this frosty drink has a more complex flavor than a shake. This is due to the addition of malt powder, which gives it richer, caramelly, slightly nutty overtones. 

historic malt shopThe heyday of the chocolate malted is long gone, though malts are still available at many ice cream parlors or restaurants with a historic focus.  I always think of 50s teens going to the malt shop or the dining car scene in the movie White Christmas where the (slender) female lead dancer orders “a malted.” Like an extra flavorful chocolate shake, a chocolate malt gives a nod to tradition and a big boost to flavor for this beverage or dessert.

What is “malt powder”?

If you are looking for a short answer, malt powder is sweet, tasty powder that can put your milk shake over the top, flavor-wise.

But for more detail, Bon Appetit tells us  “ The term “malt” refers to a grain (usually barley) that has been sprouted and quickly dried…Once the grain is ground up, it becomes the base of malted milk powder, which also contains wheat flour and powdered milk. Different brands often add other ingredients, including sugar…”

chocolate malt ingredients

First produced in my home state of Wisconsin in the late 1800s, malt powder was originally created as a nutritional supplement for infants. It then became popular with explorers as a compact nutrition source and ultimately grew to be loved as a beverage flavoring. (source: Wikipedia

Despite a decline in popularity, malted milk powder is still available online as well as in many grocery stores (at least in Wisconsin).

Step by Step Directions

Making a chocolate malt couldn’t be much easier. You mix the ingredients in a blender.  add chocolate syrup

Then check the thickness and add a little extra milk or ice cream if needed. 

Enjoy! drink malt

Does the ice cream brand I use matter?

The best malts are made so thick that a spoon will stand up in them! But all ice cream is not created equal which is a challenge if you are trying to create a universal malt recipe.

This is because different ice creams incorporate different amounts of air in the churning process. It’s fine for eating by the spoonful but when all of the malt ingredients are blended together, a lot of the extra air is eliminated. As a result, a malt made with a pint of dense premium ice cream will be thicker than a malt made from a very air-filled ice cream.

ice cream scooped

To illustrate the differences in ice creams, the Sweets Reporter did a comparison of weight versus volume. Here’s what they found for a 1/2 cup scoop:

   • Talenti: 100 grams
   • Haagen Dazs: 100 grams
   • So Delicious Coconut Milk: 85 grams
   • Bryers: 66 grams

So as you see, brand makes a difference.

In the end, however, you can still use your normal ice cream.  Just pack the ice cream tiightly when you measure it and add a little extra milk or ice cream at the end if needed.Like an extra flavorful chocolate shake, a chocolate malt gives a nod to tradition and a big boost to flavor for this beverage or dessert.

When to serve a malt

A malt is delicious served as a beverage with a meal—or as a dessert or a snack.

And if you need an excuse to try this, consider a themed party, like a 50s party or Scooby-Doo kids party. Yes, Scooby and the gang were always heading to the malt shop! Like an extra flavorful chocolate shake, a chocolate malt gives a nod to tradition and a big boost to flavor for this beverage or dessert.

Vanilla Malts, Banana Malts and More Variations

Malts can be made in just about any (sweet) flavor you can imagine. Vanilla is probably the most popular after chocolate and can be made by replacing the chocolate syrup with ½ teaspoon of vanilla and adding an extra Tablespoon of malt powder (or to taste).

Banana Malts are a favorite in our household. Just eliminate the chocolate, reduce the ice cream a little and add a very ripe banana. 

But if you like Whoppers malted milk candy, you’re destined to be a chocolate malt lover! 

Like an extra flavorful chocolate shake, a chocolate malt gives a nod to tradition and a big boost to flavor for this beverage or dessert.

And if this isn’t enough, here are some more “shake” ideas!

Get More Monster Milkshake Recipes:

Old-Fashioned Chocolate Malt

Like an extra flavorful chocolate shake, a chocolate malt gives a nod to malt shop tradition and a big boost to flavor!
Author: Inger
4.54 from 26 votes
Prep Time 10 mins
Total Time 10 mins
Course Desserts & Snacks
Cuisine American
Servings 2
Calories 609 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 pint vanilla ice cream (2 cups) tightly packed
  • 1/2 milk adjust as needed
  • 3 T chocolate syrup
  • 3 T malt powder

Instructions
 

  • Mix all the ingredients in a blender
  • If needed, add a little extra milk or ice cream to adjust thickness
  • Enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories: 609kcalCarbohydrates: 81gProtein: 10gFat: 27gSaturated Fat: 17gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 106mgSodium: 244mgPotassium: 601mgFiber: 2gSugar: 69gVitamin A: 1015IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 332mgIron: 1mg
I am not a health professional and nutrition data is calculated programatically. Accuracy may vary with product selection, calculator accuracy, etc. Consult a professional for the best information.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

17 thoughts on “Old-Fashioned Chocolate Malt

  1. Kelly

    As a Wisconsin-raised cheesehead who hasn’t lived there for almost 20 years, it made my day to find out malted milk powder was first developed in WI and to see a big gallon of Kemps vanilla!

  2. Dianne

    The popsicles back in the days of the 60s popsicles had a great taste and the blue, lime green, root beer were the very best. The popsicles now days don’t taste like anything what happened?

    1. Inger Post author

      Trying for a higher profit margin?? Gee, I used to love the blue raspberry! I am planning to work on some homemade popsicle recipes over the summer so pop back if you are interested!

      1. JIM1959

        Back in the day we used to only get treats on occasions and not everyday and anytime. So our taste has changed from when we were young maybe. Kids nowadays seem impervious to great flavor because they have it all too much. Just like when you cut back on sugar or salt in your diet in a week or two a little salt or sugar goes a looking way. Also I agree with the price vs content , more money for less flavor or product.

        1. Inger Post author

          You know, in college, I spent a college semester in Ireland where they use less sugar when they sweeten. And when I returned, I noticed everything tasted more like sugar rather than the fruit or other base flavor. Thanks for commenting.

  3. David Scott Allen

    Mark adores a chocolate malt – it is one of the very few ice cream-based desserts he will eat (and that includes plain ice cream!). When it warms up again, he might just want a malt! (Yes, it is only in the 70s in ARIZONA!!!)

  4. Denny King

    I live in Charlottesville, Virginia and cannot find my old favorite
    Carnation Malt power anywhere.
    Can anyone help in my mission to find?

    1. Inger Post author

      Hi Denny, Amazon has it (affiliate link) at: https://amzn.to/3hUqzpG They have a larger package too, if you prefer, but it will stay fresher in 3 normal containers. I got mine at a Kroger if you have those, but I know it might be a regional thing. We used to eat this with a spoon as kids!

  5. Radha

    Malt is my favorite and this milkshake is on my list now to try. This looks heavenly and perfect for the scorching heat.

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