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.
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.
The 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.” 
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…”
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. 
Then check the thickness and add a little extra milk or ice cream if needed.
Enjoy! 
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.
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.
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! 
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).
The Banana Malt is another favorite in our household and I have a recipe for that too!
But if you like Whoppers malted milk candy, you’re destined to be a chocolate malt lover!
And if this isn’t enough, here are some more “shake” ideas!
Get More Monster Milkshake Recipes:
-
- Mango Falooda Monster Milkshake from Magical Ingredients
- Old Fashioned Chocolate Malt from Art of Natural Living
- Peachy Keen Monster Milkshake from Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
- Peanut Butter Cheesecake Mile High Milkshake from A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
We share Recipes From Our Dinner Table! Join our group and share your recipes, too! While you’re at it, follow our Pinterest board, too!
Old-Fashioned Chocolate Malt
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!
Super simple, super yummy. We will be making this again at our house!
A favorite for us too! So glad yoou enjoyed!
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!
Happy to make your day Kelly! Thanks for sharing!
You betcha. It’s been about 20 years for me too. Arkansas now days
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?
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!
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.
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.
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!!!)
We’d consider 70s warm here David!
I live in Charlottesville, Virginia and cannot find my old favorite
Carnation Malt power anywhere.
Can anyone help in my mission to find?
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!
Classic drinks like this bring the child in me! Love it
So true Raymund!
Malt is my favorite and this milkshake is on my list now to try. This looks heavenly and perfect for the scorching heat.
Doesn’t malt put things over the top!
Malt milkshakes are the only thing I want after surgery. I’ve never tried it with chocolate though. Come summer I will remedy that.
I remember blue popsicles after my oldest was born!