Malted milk ball ice cream recipe with creamy chocolate malt flavor and crunchy candy pieces. Made with high-quality, sustainable ingredients using the Master Pantry ice cream method.
This malted milk ball ice cream recipe combines the nostalgic flavor of chocolate malt with the irresistible crunch of malted milk ball candy. The creamy ice cream base has a deep, toasty malt flavor that pairs perfectly with pieces of chocolate-coated malt candies, creating a dessert that is both rich and playful. Each bite offers a contrast of smooth ice cream and crisp chocolate crunch that makes this flavor especially satisfying.
Like many recipes on this site, this one reflects The Master Pantry philosophy—begin with a reliable master technique and elevate it with thoughtful ingredients. By using the Master Ice Cream Method as the foundation, it becomes easy to create variations that highlight distinctive flavors while maintaining the smooth, creamy texture that makes homemade ice cream so special.
Ingredient quality also matters. Choosing high-quality, responsibly produced dairy and chocolate ensures that the flavors remain clean and balanced while supporting more sustainable food systems. When these ingredients are combined with the nostalgic flavor of malted milk and crunchy chocolate malt candies, the result is an ice cream that feels both comforting and thoughtfully crafted.
Updated:
Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
Table of contents
What it is
This recipe for malted milk ball ice cream uses has a malted milk flavored base with crunchy malted balls and high quality chocolate shavings to give it an upscale taste of malted milk balls.
What are Malted Milk Balls?
Malted milk balls are crunchy candy centers made from malted milk powder and milk solids, coated in chocolate. The malt gives them their distinctive toasted, slightly caramelized flavor that pairs beautifully with ice cream. When mixed into a creamy ice cream base, the candies add both a nostalgic malt flavor and a satisfying chocolate crunch.
What Does Malted Milk Taste Like?
Malted milk has a rich, toasted flavor that combines notes of caramel, biscuit, and warm milk. It is made by drying a mixture of malted barley, wheat flour, and milk, creating the distinctive flavor used in classic malted milkshakes and candies like malted milk balls. In ice cream, malt adds depth and warmth that makes the flavor especially comforting.
Ingredients for making Malted Milk Ball Ice Cream
We made the ice cream using our master ice cream recipe, and added the malted milk balls and chocolate to it. The secret to keeping the ice cream smooth and creamy is detailed in this master recipe. Check out our post for the Master Ice Cream Method for details about how we did this.
This recipe for malted milk ball ice cream was inspired by the chocolate covered milk ball candy. But instead of just putting the candy in, we used the best ingredients we could find. We used Valrhona chocolate and put shavings in and then added malted milk balls separately. The malted milk balls stayed crunchy in the ice cream, as we hoped they would. And we put malted milk in the ice cream base as well.
Chocolate
Valrhona Chocolate produces some of the world’s finest chocolate; unique, artisan quality chocolate with complex, balanced and consistent flavors. Additionally, they are a certified B corporation and are working to limit the environmental impact of chocolate production by becoming carbon neutral by 2025. Their chocolate is responsibly sourced from growers with whom they have long term partnerships and they have committed to assisting producers, protecting the environment and promoting innovation. Chocolate production is one of the major causes of destruction of the rain forest, and long term partnerships with stable growers is good way of preventing this destruction.
Malted Milk Powder
Malted Milk powder added a definite malt taste to the ice cream itself. We had no trouble getting it from King Arthur Baking Company.
Malted Milk Balls with no Chocolate
In order to use malted milk balls without the chocolate, we needed to get them from an online supplier, but had no trouble ordering them from Nuts.com.
Cream
Horizon Organics Cream is a high quality product – Organic and produced sustainably from pasture raised cows. It has a rich, sweet, and fresh dairy flavor.
Sugar
Wholesome Regenerative Organic Certified Cane Sugar – produced from organic sugar cane fields that are green cut and are not burned or treated with herbicides or synthetic fertilizers.
Vanilla
Heilala Vanilla – Ethically sourced and harvested, produced using environmentally sustainably methods.
Crème Fraîche
We use crème fraîche in the recipe to keep the ice cream from freezing solid. And to make sure it’s the best, we made it ourselves from Horizon cream and a real crème fraîche starter. It’s actually very easy. See the link to our recipe below.
No Affiliates Statement
We call this our “no affiliates” statement because we accept no advertising, have no affiliates and accept no payment. We are not paid to mention brands – we just love buying the best, sharing that information and saving the planet at the same time. The effort put into writing and photographing the blog is solely based on our dedication to the cause.
Sustainability
One of the guiding principles behind this recipe is sustainability—choosing ingredients that support responsible farming practices, and long-term food systems.
Through my work in agriculture, including organic farming and integrated pest management, I’ve developed a deep appreciation for how ingredient choices impact both flavor and the environment.
Above, I describe each key ingredient in this recipe and explain what makes it a more sustainable choice—and how small decisions in the kitchen can make a meaningful difference. These ingredients are also the highest quality and have incredible flavor.
Method for making the Homemade Ice Cream
This recipe uses an easy, foolproof method that requires only a few minutes of active time. Check out our Master Ice Cream Method for a more detailed explanation on how this works.
- Measure the ingredients by weight
- Simmer the syrup mixture while whipping the sugar and egg mixture
- Slowly add the syrup mixture to the egg mixture, then add the rest of the ingredients
- Chill the mixture
- Freeze in an Ice Cream Maker
- Chill in the Freezer
This recipe uses our Master Ice Cream Method. An easy, foolproof, updated way of making ice cream.
Why this Works
The cream and syrup are heated while the egg and sugar are whipped. Then the cream mixture is added to the egg mixture, which brings the egg to a high enough temperature that they are safe to use in ice cream without having to temper the mixture, which can be more difficult to do. The flavors are added afterward so they are not cooked, which might reduce the flavor.
The highest quality ingredients are used, and flavor is added at every opportunity – Horizon cream, Wholesome sugar, and Valrhona chocolate, Heilala vanilla paste.
This recipe is made with ingredients that help keep the ice crystals small while the ice cream is churning and afterwards while it is hardening. This keeps it smooth and creamy. The ingredients that are key to keeping the ice crystals small are:
- Cultured cream – the beneficial bacterial culture in Crème fraîche
- egg – the fat and protein in the egg, and cooking the egg denatures the protein
- invert sugar – the concentration of sugar in relation to water lowers the freezing point
- alcohol – the alcohol lowers the freezing point
RECIPE
Equipment
CHOOSING BRANDS:
For certain products, the choice of brand will make a big difference in the outcome of the recipe and in your carbon footprint. So, for those products, we have listed the brand. We are not paid to mention a brand and have no affiliates.
Ingredients
- 450 grams Horizon cream
- 85 grams corn syrup
- 1 large egg
- 80 grams Wholesome regenerative organic sugar
- ¼ teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt
- 50 grams Crème fraîche homemade from Horizon cream
- 1 Tablespoon Heilala pure vanilla paste
- 1 Tablespoon Vodka
- 1 Tablespoon malt
- 30 grams Valrhona Manjari 64% cacao chocolate shaved
- 40 grams Malted milk balls
Instructions
MEASURE THE INGREDIENTS – Use a scale to measure the ingredients, zeroing the scale between measurements.
- Into a small saucepan, measure the cream and corn syrup.
- Into the mixing bowl of the stand mixer, measure the egg, sugar and salt.
- Into a small bowl, measure the crème fraîche, vanilla paste, vodka and malt powder.
MIX THE INGREDIENTS
- In the stand mixer with the whisk attachment, whisk together the egg, sugar and salt for at least 2 minutes on medium speed.
- While the stand mixer is whisking the egg and sugar, put the saucepan on the stove and bring the cream corn syrup to a simmer and simmer for 2 minutes, stirring to combine.
- Switch the mixer to low speed and very slowly add the cream mixture.
- Continue whisking on low and add the crème fraîche mixture. Whisk just until combined. The mixture should be 160°F or more at this point.
- Refrigerate overnight, or you can use an ice bath to bring it down to 45° F, if you are in a hurry. Refrigerating overnight will improve the flavors.
FREEZE THE MIXTURE
- Put a glass storage container, the milk balls and the shaved chocolate into the freezer to chill.
- Pre-chill the ice cream maker by letting it run for 5 minutes before adding the mixture.
- Pour the mixture into the ice cream maker and freeze it according to the directions.
- When the ice cream maker is finished, quickly transfer the ice cream into the glass container that has been in the freezer, cover, and put it back in the freezer for a few minutes. Then remove and add the shaved chocolate and milk balls, carefully folding some of the ice cream over them to make the distribution more even, and quickly return the ice cream to the freezer. Allow the ice cream to harden overnight.
- Store in the freezer for up to a week.
Nutrition
WHY THIS RECIPE IS A GAME CHANGER:
This recipe is a total game-changer — crafted with the finest [brand name] ingredients, simplified using a master recipe with pro-tested techniques from top chefs and bakers, and designed for deliciously sustainable cooking made easy.”
More Flavors from our Master Ice Cream Method
These recipes use our Master Ice Cream Method. An easy, foolproof, updated way of making ice cream.
True to The Master Pantry philosophy, this recipe combines the best seasonal ingredients and quality brands with homemade methods to maximize both flavor and sustainability. It was inspired by our travels and works well as a holiday recipe.
Photos by Tony Fitzgerald Photography
Recipes created by Lisa LeCoump — Food Photographer, Agricultural Expert, and Home Baker. Sharing master recipes, chef secrets, and sustainable baking for every kitchen. Featured on various publications.