Where can I find malt powder and what is it?

Nancy Luckhurst
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  • 10 Comments

10 Comments

creamtea December 13, 2011
My mother used to make us that Carnation malted milk growing up. Haven't seen that product in years.
 
Emily H. December 13, 2011
I've actually found, and bought Carnation malt powder at Target in Brooklyn. I've seen plain and chocolate malt ovaltine powder around too.

I adore malt in blondies and paired with chocolate in baked goods. So yummy.
 
Mickey T. April 21, 2019
I think you meant to say, Carnation Malted Milk Powder. Which has become difficult to find in 2019. Malted milk is a powdered food product made from a mixture of malted barley, wheat flour, and whole milk, which is evaporated until it forms a powder. This is what's in Ovaltine and in Whoppers. Actual Malt powder comes in two forms: diastatic and non-diastatic. Diastatic malt contains enzymes that break down starch into sugar; this is the form bakers add to bread dough to help the dough rise and create a good crust. It is food for the yeast. These are only available online and can be found by most search engines. There are just not enough folks cooking at home to keep the stuff fresh in local stores.
 
susan G. December 13, 2011
...and you can make your own by sprouting grain (must be whole, esp. barley), drying it, grinding it. I did it once, following an article in Prevention magazine, in the 70's,
Carnation used to sell malt powder that was intended for sodas. I don't think it's available now.
 
duclosbe1 December 13, 2011
I use diastatic malt powder when baking bread--it helps bread rise better. I order it from King Arthur Flour. They also sell non-diastatic malt powder, and that's most often used for making bagels. The difference between the two has something to do with enzymes--diastatic has them, and non-diastatic doesn't.
 
georgeatplay December 13, 2011
Malted barley is used to make beer, malt vinegar and other things. In my opinion, its highest and best use is achieved when it's added to a vanilla milkshake to make a vanilla malt -- YUM -- though I'm sure your cookies will be delicious too. For baking, I'm pretty sure you want diastatic malt powder or malt flour. I know they sell it at Whole Foods, and probably at other grocery stores as well.
 
Nancy L. December 13, 2011
Thank you so much! I'm headed to Whole Foods!
 
georgeatplay December 13, 2011
Be sure to buy enough to make some vanilla malts. Seriously!
 
Nancy L. December 13, 2011
I can't wait to try a vanilla malt!
 
Mickey T. April 21, 2019
As of 2019, Whole Foods does NOT sell malt powder or flour. Only malt vinegar and malt syrup. Amazon is where you can find it and many other items that Whole Foods, Trader Joe and all the other shops don't carry.
 
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