Every day feels a little more festive when you start it with a stack of these Malted Milk Pancakes. They're light, fluffy, and packed with old-fashioned pancake house flavor thanks to one of my favorite ingredients: Carnation malted milk powder.
I've been adding malted milk powder to pancakes and waffles for years because it adds a hint of malty flavor, a touch of sweetness, and that diner-style taste that makes homemade pancakes seem a little more special. After testing plenty of buttermilk pancake recipes with different flours and leavening agents, I still come back to this recipe.
The Secret Ingredients
The malted milk powder does most of the work here, but I like to give these pancakes an extra boost with a couple of flavorings. A little butter flavoring adds richness and a warm golden color, while a small amount of Orville Redenbacher Buttery Flavor Oil gives them an even more buttery aroma and deeper color. These secret ingredients are completely optional, but they do make the pancakes a little more fun. A new one I've discovered -- and stay with me here -- is Watkins clear vanilla flavor. It's imitation, but just a tiny hint of it makes the pancakes taste like a birthday. It's also great in white icing and worth buying. I'm a weirdo and sometimes mix it with Nielsen Massey vanilla bean.
Now about those birthday pancakes. If you want to make the kids or someone's inner child happy, add a small amount of rainbow sprinkles to the batter and serve with whipped cream. That's exactly what I did one year for my daughter, and they were a big hit. You can also use different colored sprinkles for holidays, but you knew that.
Tips for the Best Pancakes
- Don't overmix the batter. A few lumps are perfectly fine.
- Let the batter rest for 5 minutes before cooking.
- Cook the pancakes over moderate heat so they brown evenly. Malted milk powder enhances browning, so keep an eye on them.
- Flip only once, when bubbles begin to form on the surface and the edges look set.
Freezing Malted Milk Pancakes
These pancakes freeze beautifully, which is one reason I often make a full batch even when I don't need that many.
To freeze, let the pancakes cool completely. Stack them with small squares of parchment paper between each pancake, then transfer them to a freezer bag or airtight container. Reheat in the microwave, toaster oven, or a low oven for a quick and less messy breakfast any day of the week.
Malted Milk Chocolate Cake
Milk Chocolate Sandwich Cookies
Malted Chocolate Chip Cookies
Big Wheels
Malted Milk Blondies
Marbled Malted Milk Pound Cake
Strawberry Malted Milk Puff Pastry Dessert
Dorie Greenspan's Chocolate Whopper Cookies
Recipe
Malted Milk Powder Pancakes
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour (190 grams)
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt plus a pinch
- ¼ cup malted milk powder
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 ⅛ cup milk (9 oz)
- 3 tablespoons buttery flavored oil or any oil
- ¼ teaspoon cake batter flavor OR vanilla extract
Instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, malted milk powder and sugar.
- In a mixing bowl, using a handheld electric mixer (or a whisk) beat the eggs until very light. Drizzle in the milk, followed by the oil or melted butter and extract.
- Add the flour mixture to the egg mixture ands stir with a heavy duty scraper until barely mixed. You want everything blended, but keep the batter light.
- Lightly grease a nonstick skillet (use non-stick even with the grease) with clarified butter or oil and heat. If you have an electric griddle, set it to 375°F.
- Drop batter by quarter cups and heat for about 2 minutes or until you see bubbles start to form. Turn and cook for another 1 ½ to 2 minutes. Transfer to a plate and continue until all the pancakes are done.
- For waffles, make the same batter but add 2 more tablespoons of butter or oil and omit 2 tablespoons of the milk.
Gloria Walker says
Came out so good!
carolyn says
Thanks for sharing this! It looks great and I will be trying it soon!!
Maggie says
My dad LOVES malt. And Cooks Illustrated just recently printed a recipe for the best cupcakes and they have a version with malted chocolate icing. I can't wait to try these.
Anna says
Hi Linda,
I had to show off my pancakes before I could link you to King Arthur! I used the recipe from their site without making any modifications, so rather than post the recipe I've posted a link to theirs: ).
The link is right under the pancake photo, but I'll email it to you.
Linda says
Am I missing seeing something? I clicked on the "Get the Recipe" button and was immediately whisked to a description of your wonderful looking pancakes as well as the titles of other goodies utilizing the malted milk powder, but no pancake recipe! Is that the trick instead of a treat?
Jennifer JW says
Oh, but after my local Walmart remodeled they stopped carrying malted milk powder! I had to go to Kroger's to get it.
Jennifer JW says
I'll have to try this I would never have thought to add it to pancakes, either.
But I usually keep malted milk powder on hand for a malted milk chocolate cookie recipe (from cooking light) that my kids really like.
Denis says
Okay, the gauntlet has been thrown. I would not refer to myself as "The pancake man" but I am getting a bit bored with just doing Mark Bittman every time - we'll give this whirl - m&m's on some, sprinkles on others...I mean, one has to COMPARE, right? Jamie has JUST developed a taste for malt, so this shouldn't be an issue. We'll let you know how it turns out. En garde! BTW, Melissa has just asked if you can substitute ovaltine for the malted milk powder. Sounds fishy to me...
melissa says
I'll have to tell Denis. He's the pancake man on the weekends. I just bought a new container of Malted Ovaltine too. One of the things he does that is uber decadent is to put some m and ms in the pancakes. It really is like a dessert! Jamie calls them "Buried Treasure Pancakes". I think his dad has a sweeter tooth than him though!
Anna says
Stores usually sell it in the hot chocolate/cocoa/coffee aisle. Some stores keep it with the ice cream toppings.
LimeCake says
pancakes are my favourite things in the whole world! homemade only! i'm heading out now to look for malted milk powder!
rachel says
Those look delicious! Problem is I have never seen malted milk powder for sale before... where do you buy it?
Katrina says
I know four little boys who just might like these--especially the added sprinkles!
Betty @ scrambled hen fruit says
Sprinkles definitely do make everything taste better. 🙂 I love the sound of these. I have malted milk powder and will try these soon. Thanks!
Krista says
I love that you add sprinkles! If you ask my kids sprinkles make EVERYTHING better. I will have to try adding some to my next batch of pancakes!
Fallon says
Wow those look amazing! If you think they are the best pancakes ever then I can't argue with you. I can't wait to try these out. Just need to go buy some malted milk powder now. 😉
Sue says
Some days I'd like to give you a hug. This is one of them. The pancake recipe is a real find, but putting all of those other malted milk recipes in one place was an inspired idea!
We have a pancake recipe that we love and that my kids grew up with. My family might wonder about me if I spring a new pancake recipe on them, but they might be pleasantly surprised!
the blissful baker says
light and fluffy pancakes are the best! that is definitely good enough incentive to go get some malted milk powder 🙂
LisAway says
SO funny you should post this! I was just barely showing the kids our stash of malted milk powder from my last visit to the states and told them they could use it in their milk (it was purchased for use in baking and the occasional chocolate shake). The only recipe that I love and make with it is the chocolate malted sandwich cookies you have posted before (from Martha Stewart). I haven't loved most other recipes that call for it, but I'm excited to try some of these, but especially the pancakes!
So I think I know what we'll be having for breakfast tomorrow!! And I love refrigerating or freezing pancakes and popping them in the toaster in the morning for a fast home-made breakfast! (we don't have a microwave and I love having he outside getting a little crispy with toasting).
Thanks! I'll come back and say what we thought about them after we try them out.
Anna says
Hi Judy,
Thanks for finding me :). If you have any questions or special recipe requests, feel free to email me.
Judy B. - Texas says
Newbie to your blog and I'm lovin' it! Never thought to add malted milk to pancakes - will purchase some today.
I'm downloading your recipes like crazy!! Thanks.