Malt milkshake was my go-to childhood drink. Being a Malt lover, I still cherish the delicious thick drink. I love it to the extent that I wanted to recreate the good old recipes using malt. Like many people, I didn’t know that Malt Powder and malt milk powder are different *dumb as a doorknob*. But they are and are used interchangeably sometimes, So, chill!

Most among us have completely sidelined this age-old variety of barley. Now, it has surged with supreme power (the homecoming). People have recognized the nutritional value and amazing taste it offers. You can make a lot of drinks and desserts with malt powder. 

Even then, when in trouble, we need to know what can be done without it, right? Also, what if you can’t find malt powder or have run out of it? This article is dedicated to malt lovers and others who need a good encounter with this amazing ingredient. We’ll learn about the ingredient and how you can substitute them in recipes.

What Is Malt Powder?

Malt powder or malt flour is obtained after grinding processed sprouted barley to a fine mixture. Sometimes, wheat flour is also added to it. It has a unique, caramel-like sweet flavor and is thus used as a natural sweetener in baked foods. There are two types of malt powder.
Diastatic malt powder contains active enzymes which break down starches into sugars when added to the dough. Non-diastatic malt powder is devoid of enzymes and is used mostly as a sweetener to baked food products.

So, how do malt powder and malted milk powder differ? It’s simple. Malt powder is essentially the mixture of ground barley, while malted milk powder is a blend of malt and milk solids. 

Uses Of Malt Powder

Malt powder adds color and flavor and gives a browny, velvety appearance to bread, sauces, and cereals. No wonder it goes by the name ‘sweet meal.’ It also ensures a smooth texture due to the presence of wheat flour.

Consequently, malt powder has numerous cooking, baking, and seasoning applications. The fact that it renders a distinctive taste, say, to your beer, milkshake, or desserts, makes it important to find the best substitutes to replace them when you are out of malt powder.

7 Best Substitutes For Malt Powder

Here is a list of some of the best substitutes for malt powder.

1. Malted Milk Powder

Wouldn’t it be best to replace it with a malt ingredient when replacing malt powder? With only milk solids, malted milk powder essentially performs the same as malt powder. It gives a lovely hazel-colored appearance to bread and cereals and ensures the malty taste for sure!

2. Malted Syrup

The malted syrup is another natural sweetener that is a worthy substitute for malt powder. It comprises malt, barley, maltose, and chemical substances. The palatableness it offers is much higher than malt powder. Therefore, the amount must be reduced and used for replacing malt powder.

3. Ovaltine

Ovaltine is a chocolate-flavored malt powder made using malt extract, sugar, and whey. It has a strong flavor and presence and can be undoubtedly added to replace malt powder. It gives a great taste and texture to your baked goods!

4. Maca Powder

Talk about a healthy alternative to malt powder? Behold maca powder. Maca powder made from maca root has an inherent malty flavor and moderate sugar level. It is also very similar in texture to malt powder and can easily absorb liquids.

5. Milk Powders

Another suitable substitute would be milk powders, especially coconut and soy. Coconut milk powder made using coconut cream and water is perfect for rendering that fine, rich sweet taste and texture. 

Soy milk powder with a high protein content is also a sure shot at getting that fluffy texture. But be mindful of its sugar content – it is less when compared to either coconut milk powder or malt powder. You might want to add a few spoons of sugar.

6. Molasses

A co-product of refining sugar, Molasses are a natural sweetener with a syrupy, candied taste. They ensure a very thick consistency in your recipes. But it is not a good substitute since the flavor of molasses might overpower your recipe. 

7. Cornstarch

This easily available pantry item can be used to swap malt powder. Cornstarch effortlessly gives you that feathery, crusty look to your bread or desserts. But it doesn’t emulate the flavor of malt powder, and thus you will have to add sugar, for sure. 

Conclusion

Malt powder has innumerable health benefits and applications when it comes to cooking. But in a scenario when you don’t have your hands on malt powder, try out these best alternatives and enrich your recipes. All you have to take care of is the amount of sugar necessary to balance sugar content. Rest assured, you are in for a treat! Tell me in the comments what substitute for malt powder you deem best. I’ll see you next time!