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Malted Chocolate Frosting

Malted Chocolate Frosting is super easy to make. This rich buttercream is made with whole milk and malted milk powder for a deeply satisfying, old-fashioned flavor.

a spatula scooping out malted chocolate frosting from a bowl

It’s official! I am obsessed with “malting” all the recipes. This old-fashioned product has the most amazing ability to enhance almost any dessert or baked good.

I bought a container of malted milk powder a few months ago and haven’t stopped finding new ways to use it. Today I’m “maltifying” an oldie but goodie.

Malted Milk Frosting is a version of traditional Ermine Frosting. It’s one of my favorite frostings because it’s really easy to make and it is not too sweet.

How to make the best Malted Chocolate Frosting

  • Of course we want to start with a milk based frosting to enhance the milky flavor of the powder. That’s why I choose Ermine frosting as the starting point.
  • Make sure to cook the milk and flour until it’s thickened to the consistency of a pudding. Let it cool completely before adding it to the whipped butter.
  • Sift and whisk the cocoa and milk powder into the pudding to avoid lumps.
  • I like to use dutch-processed cocoa powder for a deep chocolate flavor.
  • After mixing the pudding into the butter with the beater, switch to the whisk to aerate the frosting.
  • This recipe makes enough frosting to fill and ice a 9″ round cake. Use 1/2 of this recipe to ice a 13″x 9″ pan of brownies.

Scroll through the step-by-step process photos to see how to make Malted Chocolate Frosting:

milk and flour being whisked together in a small pot
Combine the flour, sugar, salt and milk in a small saucepan.
a small pot filled with milk pudding
Cook until the the mixture becomes thick like a pudding.
cocoa powder and malted milk powder being sifted into a milk base
Sift the cocoa and malted milk powder into the pudding.
a bowl of chocolate malt pudding
Allow the pudding to cool completely before adding to the butter.
malted chocolate frosting in a mixing bowl before it is whipped
The frosting will be dense after the pudding is added. Switch to the whisk to fluff up the frosting.
a whisk showing whipped malted chocolate frosting
Whip the frosting until it is light and airy.
a pile of malted chocolate frosting on a brownie

Try these other recipes made with malted milk powder:

This recipe is a version of one of my favorite frosting recipes, old fashioned Ermine Frosting.

If you love this recipe as much as I do, I’d really appreciate a 5-star review.

a spatula piling malted chocolate frosting onto a brownie

Malted Chocolate Frosting

Yield: 4 cups
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes

Rich chocolate frosting flavored with malted milk powder for a deeply satisfying, old-fashioned icing.

Ingredients

  • 6 tablespoons (2 oz, 56 g) all purpose flour
  • 1 cup (8oz, 224g) granulated sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup (8 oz, 240ml) whole milk
  • 1/4 cup (1 1/2 oz, 42g) malted milk powder
  • 1/4 cup (1 oz, 28g) cocoa powder
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 sticks (8 oz, 224g) unsalted butter, room temperature

Instructions

  1. Combine the flour, sugar and salt in a saucepan, whisk to combine. Slowly whisk in the milk until smooth. Heat the mixture over medium low, whisking constantly, until it begins to boil.
  2. Continue to cook and stir for 2-3 minutes until it thickens to a pudding-like texture. Immediately remove from the heat. Sift the malted milk powder and cocoa over the pudding and whisk until smooth. Transfer to a bowl. Add the vanilla and cool to room temperature.
  3. Cream the butter until light and fluffy. Add the pudding, a little at a time, until completely incorporated. Switch to the whisk attachment and whip the buttercream until it’s light and fluffy.
  1. Use immediately to fill and frost your favorite cake.

Notes

One batch of frosting is enough to fill and frost a 9" round cake.

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram

Fiona

Sunday 22nd of May 2022

Hello!! How much would I need to fill and frost a four layer 8 inch cake please? Thank you!

Eileen Gray

Sunday 22nd of May 2022

The recipe should be enough to fill and frost an 8" cake. If you like thicker layers of frosting (I don't like loads of frosting) you could make a 1.5x batch.

Anita

Saturday 5th of March 2022

Could I use espresso in place of the malted milk powder to bring out the chocolate flavor more? I don’t have malted milk powder but want to make a chocolate version.

Eileen Gray

Sunday 6th of March 2022

Yes, I think that would work just fine.

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