If you’re a fan of nostalgic treats or just love a good, crunchy-smooth snack, then you’re in for a real treat with this Homemade Malted Milk Balls Recipe. Trust me, once you try making these yourself, you’ll never want to buy the store-bought ones again. They’re perfectly malted, subtly sweet, and have just the right chocolatey coating to satisfy your cravings. Let me walk you through the whole process — you’ll see how easy and rewarding it is!

💙

Why This Recipe Works

Simple Ingredients: It’s made with pantry staples and malted milk powder, which brings that classic malt flavor you crave.
Perfect Texture: A quick chill sets the mixture so rolling into balls is a breeze, giving you that crunchy center after the chocolate coating.
Customizable Coating: Melted chocolate on the outside seals in the flavor, but you can also switch up coatings to keep things fresh.
Quick to Make: From start to finish, it takes under an hour, so you get homemade goodness without the wait.

Homemade Malted Milk Balls, Malted Milk Balls Recipe, How to Make Malted Milk Balls at Home, Easy Malted Milk Confections, DIY Malted Milk Sweets - The image shows a group of round chocolate truffles with shiny, slightly rough textured chocolate coating. Each truffle is unevenly covered, with small peaks and swirls in the chocolate, giving a homemade look. They rest scattered on a white marbled surface, and the lighting highlights the rich, dark brown color of the chocolate with some reflections on the smooth parts. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

The magic of this Homemade Malted Milk Balls Recipe lies in the balance of flavors and textures. Malted milk powder adds that signature malt taste, cocoa powder delivers rich chocolate depth, and powdered sugar sweetens everything just right. Milk and vanilla bring moisture and aroma, helping it all come together in a smooth, scoopable mix.

Homemade Malted Milk Balls, Malted Milk Balls Recipe, How to Make Malted Milk Balls at Home, Easy Malted Milk Confections, DIY Malted Milk Sweets - Flat lay of a small white ceramic bowl of smooth malted milk powder, a small white ceramic bowl of fine powdered sugar, a small white ceramic bowl of rich cocoa powder, a small white ceramic bowl of fine salt, a small white ceramic bowl of fresh cold milk, a small white ceramic bowl containing golden vanilla extract, placed on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Malted Milk Powder: The star ingredient, gives that authentic malt flavor that makes these balls special.
Powdered Sugar: Dissolves easily and sweetens without graininess.
Cocoa Powder: Adds chocolate richness — I use unsweetened for a balanced taste.
Salt: Just a pinch to round out the flavors and prevent sweetness overload.
Milk: Adds moisture so the mixture binds well without being sticky.
Vanilla Extract: A little vanilla boosts the flavor and makes the malt pop.
Chocolate for Coating: Use a good-quality melting chocolate to get that smooth, shiny finish.

📝

Note: You’ll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Tweak to Your Taste

One of the best things about making these malted milk balls at home is how easy it is to tweak them. Whether you want to dial up the chocolate, add a hint of espresso, or swap in a dairy-free milk, you can make this recipe truly your own.

Chocolate Variation: I like adding a teaspoon of instant espresso powder to the dry mix sometimes — it intensifies the chocolate flavor without turning it into coffee balls.
Dairy-Free Version: Use almond or oat milk instead, and melt dairy-free chocolate for the coating — works great!
Nutty Coating: Rolling the balls in crushed toasted almonds or hazelnuts before chilling adds a lovely crunch.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Homemade Malted Milk Balls Recipe

Step 1: Mix the Dry Ingredients

I start by whisking together malted milk powder, powdered sugar, cocoa powder, and salt in a large bowl. This makes sure everything is nicely combined and there are no lumps, which helps give a smooth, even flavor throughout the malted milk balls.

Step 2: Add Wet Ingredients

In a separate bowl, I combine the milk with vanilla extract. Pour that into the dry ingredients and stir until the mixture comes together. It looks a bit crumbly at first but keep stirring – it will bind nicely without getting sticky. If it feels too dry, a splash more milk helps.

Step 3: Chill and Shape

Pop the bowl in the fridge for 30 minutes — this firms up the mixture so it’s easy to roll into small balls. I use either a spoon or my hands to shape the dough into bite-sized spheres, about 1 inch in diameter. Place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet and freeze for another 30 minutes to really set them before coating.

Step 4: Coat with Chocolate

While the balls are chilling, I gently melt my chocolate in a double boiler. Dipping the frozen malt balls into warm chocolate means the chocolate cools and firms up quickly on the outside, giving that classic snap when you bite in. After coating, place them back on the parchment and freeze for another 30 minutes.

Step 5: Store and Enjoy

Once the chocolate coating is firm, you can transfer your homemade malted milk balls to an airtight container and keep them in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. I usually eat mine straight from the fridge — cold chocolate, crunchy malt center, pure bliss.

💡

Pro Tips for Making Homemade Malted Milk Balls Recipe

Firm Chilling: Don’t skip the chilling steps — they make the rolling and dipping so much easier and mess-free.
Use Parchment Paper: Lining your trays means the malted milk balls won’t stick and come off perfectly after freezing.
Temperature Matters: Make sure your chocolate isn’t too hot, or it’ll melt the malt balls; warm but smooth is just right.
Don’t Overdo the Milk: Add just enough milk to bind; too much makes it sticky and hard to roll.

How to Serve Homemade Malted Milk Balls Recipe

Homemade Malted Milk Balls, Malted Milk Balls Recipe, How to Make Malted Milk Balls at Home, Easy Malted Milk Confections, DIY Malted Milk Sweets - A white bowl filled with a pile of shiny, smooth milk chocolate balls, stacked in several layers with some balls resting on top and others tightly packed around the sides, all showing reflections of light on their glossy surfaces. The bowl sits on a white marbled surface with a blurry wooden background. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Garnishes

I usually keep it simple with a shiny chocolate coating, but I’ve also dusted some with cocoa powder or rolled others in crushed nuts or toasted coconut flakes. These add texture and a little extra flavor kick that’s lovely, especially when sharing with friends.

Side Dishes

These malted milk balls are a fantastic sweet snack alongside a cup of coffee or hot cocoa. I’ve also served them after dinner with a cheese platter as a surprise little bite of sweet malted charm!

Creative Ways to Present

For parties, I like arranging the malt balls in mini cupcake liners or on a beautiful serving platter with edible flowers or fresh mint sprigs layered in-between. They also make a delightful homemade gift when placed in cellophane bags tied with a ribbon.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I store leftover malted milk balls in an airtight container in the fridge to keep the chocolate firm and prevent the malt center from drying out. They stay fresh for about two weeks, but honestly, they rarely last that long at my house!

Freezing

If I want to keep them longer, freezing works well. I freeze them in a single layer on parchment paper, then transfer to a container or zipper bag. When you want to enjoy one, just thaw in the fridge for 30 minutes before eating.

Reheating

Since these are bite-sized treats, reheating usually isn’t necessary. But if you want softer chocolate, leave them at room temperature for 15-20 minutes to take the chill off without melting the chocolate exterior.

FAQs

Can I use regular milk powder instead of malted milk powder?

You can, but malted milk powder provides a distinct nutty, slightly sweet malt flavor that regular milk powder doesn’t offer. Using malted milk powder is key to capturing the classic taste of malted milk balls.
How can I make these keto or low-sugar?

Since malted milk powder and powdered sugar contain carbs, this recipe isn’t naturally keto-friendly. You might experiment with sugar substitutes, but it can affect texture and flavor. I’d recommend enjoying this as a treat rather than a daily snack.
Do I have to freeze the balls before dipping in chocolate?

Chilling or freezing the malt balls is important to keep them firm for easy dipping. If you skip this, the balls might be too soft and could break apart when coated. I recommend at least refrigerating for 2 hours if freezing isn’t possible.
Can I use different coatings besides chocolate?

Absolutely! You can roll the malt balls in crushed nuts, toasted coconut, sprinkles, or even dust them gently with cocoa or powdered sugar for variety. It’s a fun way to personalize your snack.
How long do homemade malted milk balls last?

When stored properly in an airtight container in the fridge, they last up to two weeks. Freezing can extend their shelf life to a couple of months.

Final Thoughts

Honestly, making this Homemade Malted Milk Balls Recipe was such a fun little project that reminded me of childhood sweets but with a grown-up twist. I love how easy it is to customize, and the satisfaction of biting into a crisp chocolate shell with that perfectly malted crunch inside is unbeatable. If you’re looking for a homemade treat that’s quick, nostalgic, and just downright delicious, give this a try — you’ll thank me later!

Homemade Malted Milk Balls Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 4.6 from 32 reviews

Author: Taylor
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Yield: 24 balls
Category: Snack
Method: No-Cook
Cuisine: American

Print Recipe

Description

Delicious homemade malted milk balls made with malted milk powder, cocoa, and a smooth chocolate coating. Perfect as a crunchy, sweet snack or dessert treat.

Ingredients

Dry Ingredients

1 cup malted milk powder
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon salt

Wet Ingredients

1/2 cup milk
1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Coating

Chocolate for melting (quantity as needed, approx. 1 cup)

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Mix Dry Ingredients: In a bowl, whisk together the malted milk powder, powdered sugar, cocoa powder, and salt until fully combined.
Mix Wet Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the milk and vanilla extract until smooth.
Combine Mixtures: Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir thoroughly until a uniform dough forms.
Chill Mixture: Place the combined mixture in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to firm up and make it easier to shape.
Form Balls: Once firm, use a spoon or your hands to roll the mixture into bite-sized balls, approximately 24 in total.
Freeze Balls: Arrange the balls on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet and freeze for 30 minutes to set.
Melt Chocolate: Melt the chocolate in a double boiler or microwave-safe bowl until smooth and glossy.
Coat Balls: Dip each frozen ball into the melted chocolate, ensuring it is fully coated, then place back on the parchment paper.
Final Freeze: Freeze the chocolate-coated balls for another 30 minutes or until the chocolate hardens completely.
Store: Store the malted milk balls in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Notes

This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled to make larger batches.
Try coating the balls in different toppings like sprinkles, chopped nuts, or shredded coconut for variety.
If short on time, refrigerate the balls for 2 hours instead of freezing before dipping in chocolate.