Thick creamy malted cheesecake jam-packed with malted milk ball bits is baked over a malted shortbread crust and blanketed with dark chocolate ganache then topped with a sprinkling of crushed malted milk balls. This cheesecake is a unique spin on the classic milkshake and candy.
When I think of malted desserts I think of malt shakes, which I have never tasted and have only have ever existed to me in 1950’s based books and movies from back when drive-in movies were still popular and boys and girls “went steady” (I watched a lot of “Happy Days” as a child). I think of girls in skirts embroidered with poodles and silky ponytails tied up high on their heads with ribbon leaning over formica diner tabletops and sipping thick, chocolate-hued milkshakes through striped straws.
The only malted dessert I’ve really ever actually tasted comes in the form of malted milk balls, which I love with their soft, milk chocolate shells and their crunchy malted interiors. The flavor pairings and textural differences between exterior and interior are so simple, but so perfectly complementary and, though I’m certainly not a child of the 1950’s, there is still something so nostalgic about them.
This spin on a classic cheesecake recipe takes simple malted milk balls and malted milk power and transforms them into something far less 1950’s and much more modish. The crust is made of shortbread and heavily malted to provide a subtle crunch that you might expect when biting into a Whopper (The candy that is, not the Burger King special. I think my brother was a little disappointed [or relieved] when I clarified exactly what kind of Whopper-infused cheesecake I was bringing over).
What I really love about this cheesecake is that despite the fact that it is clearly malted themed, the malted flavor is not overpowering. It is just enough; the flavor is clear in the crisp shortbread crust, softly expressed among the tang of the cheesecake filling yet attention-grabbing with surprise pops of malted milk balls. If you wish to stay true to the malted milk ball theme throughout, you can certainly use a milk chocolate ganache instead, but I felt this made the cheesecake too sweet and the rich, dark chocolate ganache added yet another layer of complexity to this ridiculously delicious cheesecake. All in all the flavors balance extraordinarily well.
I’ve found that a significant number of people hesitate to make cheesecake because they worry it is too difficult, and I think this is a shame. Let me leave you with some tips on how to make sure any cheesecake is a success:
- Allow your cream cheese to soften to room temperature before beginning (otherwise you’ll have lumps).
- Make sure ingredients are well-combined, but don’t over-beat the eggs, otherwise you’ll have cracks. This cheesecake is very forgiving because any cracks will be covered by the thick ganache, but this is still a good rule to follow.
- Don’t open the oven while your cheesecake is cooking, this will allow heat to escape and will cause your cheesecake to sink. Wait until you think the cheesecake is done, though it is OK to err on the side of checking slightly sooner to make sure your cheesecake is not overdone.
- I personally feel that the trickiest part is knowing when your cheesecake is finished baking. For this, look for edges that are set but a center that is still slightly jiggly, though it should be firm enough that it bounces back when lightly touched. The edges should ideally not be more than lightly golden brown.
Voila: perfect malted cheesecake.
Happy Friday!
More Cheesecake Recipes to Try:
Malted Cheesecake
Ingredients
Malted Shortbread Crust
- 8 Tbsp butter softened
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- 3 Tbsp malted milk powder
- 1 ⅓ cup all-purpose flour
Malted Cheesecake
- 24 oz packages cream cheese softened
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup malted milk powder
- 3 eggs
- ⅓ cup sour cream
- 2 cups semi-crushed malted milk balls (I place the milk balls in a large resealable plastic bag and then smash repeatedly with rolling pin until they are crushed into pieces but not finely crushed--you want to have some larger pieces of the milk balls in your cheesecake).
Dark Chocolate Ganache
- 1 ⅓ cup dark chocolate chips (if you prefer to have a milk chocolate topping simply substitute the dark chocolate chips for milk chocolate ones), 8 oz
- ½ cup heavy cream
- ½ cup Additional semi-crushed milk balls to sprinkle on top
Instructions
Malted Shortbread Crust
- Preheat oven to 400F
- In stand mixer (or with electric hand mixer) cream together butter and sugar.8 Tbsp butter, ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- Add malt powder and stir until combined3 Tbsp malted milk powder
- Gradually stir in flour until all ingredients are combined.1 ⅓ cup all-purpose flour
- Line bottom of 10" springform pan with parchment paper (remove the bottom, line with paper so that paper hangs over edges of pan, then replace sides of springform pan and snap on)
- Press shortbread crust into bottom of springform pan.
- Poke crust all over with tines of fork.
- Bake at 400F for 15 minutes then remove from oven and set aside while you finish preparing the cheesecake.
- Reduce oven to 350F
Malted Cheesecake
- In KitchenAid mixer (or with electric hand-mixer) cream together cream cheese, sugar and malted milk powder on medium speed, pausing to scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula, until ingredients are well-combined.24 oz packages cream cheese, ¾ cup granulated sugar, ½ cup malted milk powder
- Add eggs, one at a time, beating just until combined after each addition.3 eggs
- On low speed stir in sour cream until just combined.⅓ cup sour cream
- Using rubber spatula, fold in crushed milk balls.2 cups semi-crushed malted milk balls (I place the milk balls in a large resealable plastic bag and then smash repeatedly with rolling pin until they are crushed into pieces
- Pour cheesecake batter into prepared springform pan/over malted shortbread crust
- Bake on 350F for 45 minutes/until cheesecake is mostly set, slightly jiggly in the center still but firm to the touch when lightly touched with fingertips. Edges may be slightly golden.
- Remove from oven and allow to cool completely. Transfer to fridge and allow to chill at least 6 hours or overnight.
Dark Chocolate Ganache
- Once cheesecake has completely chilled, run a sharp knife around the sides of the springform pan and release the edges (sides of springform pan should no longer be attached)
- Combine chocolate chips and heavy cream in medium saucepan and set to medium heat.1 ⅓ cup dark chocolate chips (if you prefer to have a milk chocolate topping, ½ cup heavy cream
- Stir frequently until chocolate is completely melted and well-combined with the cream.
- Remove from heat and allow to set for about 1-2 minutes before pouring over cheesecake.
- Within several minutes of pouring ganache, sprinkle additional chopped milk balls over the top of the cheesecake.½ cup Additional semi-crushed milk balls to sprinkle on top
- Return to fridge and allow to chill for at least 10 minutes so the ganache can set before cutting and serving.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered an estimate only. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods, cooking method, portion sizes, and more.
TJLooker1
I made two-9” and one-4.5” of these Malted Cheescakes and they came out absolutely delicious. I was worried about the malted shortbread crust!! But my fears were squashed when I tasted the crust of one 4.5” that I felt I didn’t have enough batter to fill because I wanted the larger cheesecakes to feel substantial. I would make cookies out of this crust recipe and drizzle or dip with chocolate:) My daughter and I munched on the crust as an appetizer while the cheesecakes cooled and then set in the refrigerator, sooooooo great!
I posted pics on my Instagram and would love it if you checked them out. Your recipes are always reliable and I appreciate you! Thanks 🫶🏻
Sam
I’m so glad you enjoyed it so much! 🙂
jamie
At the risk of saying something depressing that others have already said (I didn’t stop to read the other comments), OMG Sam you’ve never had a malted milkshake? WHAT?! Okay, so my spouse and I were born in 1972 & 1981 and we were both craving a chocolate malt this one time and we discovered, to our horror, that NO ONE had them anymore (we drove to a few places, then started calling around to see who had them, and couldn’t find one anywhere). We were just like, WHAT? How could they just disappear from the earth? Prior to that moment, we’d always assumed they continued to exist, because our whole lives, at a LOT of places, you could always ask for a malt, which just meant they added malt powder to the shake (we think). And then we were so sad that day… was it 10 years ago already? We’re really not sure. We though, okay, this is just a problem of living in Los Angeles. Surely normal cities still have them. But it seems like you’re saying this is not a thing anymore anywhere! How can this be?! Sam, I am truly sorry you’ve never had the pleasure to enjoy a malt. Because chocolate malt balls are just not the same. For one, the waxy chocolate-like substance on those is usually terrible. And it’s just not the same. You must make it a quest to find one. And now you’ve informed us, we must find a place during some road trip, some day, for our baby (she’s only 19mo right now, she can’t eat sugar yet, lol) to try one. You’re breaking our hearts, for you and for us and for our baby! Maybe there’s malt powder to be purchased and you can find a recipe for a malted milk shake and we don’t need to go anywhere. You are really missing out. I mean it. This is not a relic of the 50s, this is seriously the best version of a milk shake!!!
Sam
Hi Jamie! It sounds like I really have to find myself a malted milkshake now! There are a few small ice cream shops around me that may have it. I have just never looked. I will certainly be on the lookout for them now, you have convinced me. 🙂
TJLooker1
Hi Jaime:) Buy Anthony’s Malted Milk Powder Non-Diastatic / Non GMO from Amazon where I bought it. I used it in Malted milk shakes and the taste of the malt powder is very tasty and definitely like an old fashioned malted sold in ice cream shops. In my opinion Haagan Daz is the best ice cream to use and just add the malt powder to an ice cream shake. It’s that easy. Hope this brightens your day. Good luck!
doreen
I’m not sure do I remover the parchment paper before I pour the cheese cake mixture in to the pan?
Sam
Nope you can leave it 🙂
Sue
Question: you say 24 oz packages of cream cheese? Then do not give a count, 1 or 2
Sam
Hi Sue! Sorry about the confusion. You will need 24 oz of cream cheese total. Usually cream cheese is sold in 8 oz packages, so you would need 3 of them. Make sure to use the brick-style cream cheese and not the spreadable kind.
TJLooker1
I love malted milk shakes too. So I bought malt powder and malt balls to make your Malted Milk Cheesecake. But before I did I used the malt powder to make malteds for me and my kids. It’s not as DRAMATIC because all you do is add the desired quantity of malt powder dependent on your taste to an ice cream shake. You don’t have to go anywhere for a malted! I used Chocolate and Coffee Haagen-Dazs ice cream, crème, and malt powder. It was delicious! I personally like a good amount of the malt powder. Start with a tablespoon or so and go from there. You can add chocolate syrup or use milk instead of cream. But I’m sure you don’t need guidance on how to make a milkshake and add malt powder;) 😉
I am making your Malted Milk Cheescake now. I’ll keep you updated:)
Geri from PA
Honey you should sell your cakes and pies. I’d buy them. The malted cheesecake looks amazing! I love to cook but suck at baking. I wish you the best. You seem to be very talented.
Sam
You are so sweet, Geri! Thank you for such a kind comment!
Madison
I’ve tried so many of your recipes and they are always amazing! I’m wanting to use this shortbread crust on another cheesecake recipe without the malted milk powder. Can I just leave it out or would you recommend adding more flour or something to replace it?
Sam
Hi Madison! I’m so glad you have enjoyed everything so much! I haven’t tried removing that powder so I honestly can’t say how it would work or if there would need to be any other alterations needed. I’m sorry. 🙁
KC
I can’t wait to make this but have googled to no avail so I will ask. I have ovaltine malt powder. Is that the same as malted milk?
Sam
Yes that will work! 🙂
Aida
Beautiful! Great photos too. Thanks for sharing this.
Sam
Thank you Aida!
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary
Wowza! This is ONE he!!a spin on a malted dessert! Decadent, creamy, dreamy, chocolatey and foe-so delish. Seriously drool-worthy! ♡ Loves it!!!
Sam
Haha, thank you Cheyanne!
Fanny @ Oh Sweet Day!
I’ve been tempted to make something with malt powder. Your cheesecake looks really fun and delicious to make! Gotta get it started! BTW, thanks for stopping by my website! Happy Monday! 🙂
Sam
Let me know how you like it! Thanks Fanny!