I was so excited yesterday when I stumbled across a recipe for Malt-Fudge brownies over at the Tummy Treasure blog. I needed a dessert to take to our Mom’s Night Out game night and chocolate anything is usually a hit with women. I knew I had a lot of leftover malted milk balls from the Malt Ball Cake I made last month, so this recipe wouldn’t require an extra trip to the store, which was a big plus.
We were pretty busy yesterday so I didn’t get around to starting the brownies until around 5pm. I wasn’t worried as the recipe was straight forward and simple…. nothing at all complicated about it. I was mixing the ingredients together and got to the part that required coarsely chopped malt balls. I walked into my pantry, found the box of Whoppers and picked it up. I opened the top and went to pour them into my food processor. Much to my surprise, my box that should have been over half full had 5 tiny little malt balls trickle out. 5 malt balls and I needed a full cup. I looked up to see my husband’s face… he looked like a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar. “What happened to all of the Whoppers?”, I asked. “Ummmmmm…..yikes. I didn’t know they were off limits. You didn’t tell me that I couldn’t eat the Whoppers.”
This used to happen all the time when I was pregnant. I’d have something I was savoring… taking my time eating. One day I’d reach in to grab it and it would be gone. My husband is a snack stealer… a candy thief… a “I can’t resist it anymore” fall for the temptation kind of guy. As you can imagine, when I was pregnant this would make me see red. Everyone knows you don’t get in the way of a pregnant hormonal woman and her treats! Not to worry…I’m not pregnant right now and I’m not too hormonal this week, so I calmly growled at my husband (just to make a point) and then thought of a game plan. Since the recipe called for 1 cup of coarsely chopped malted milk balls I decided to just substitute an additional 1/2 cup of chocolate malted milk powder. Not really the same, but it was the only alternative I could come up with.
Let me tell you… these have to be the absolute best brownies I have ever made. They are rich, chewy, fudgy and delicious. The malt flavor is subtle, but strong enough to make you wonder what the “secret” ingredient might be. I can imagine that with the recipe followed exactly, these would be out of this world.
Here is the recipe, as written by Erika over at Tummy Treasure. This is well worth keeping the malted milk balls in an “off limits” location until you are ready to make these. They are delicious!
Malt-Fudge Brownies
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/3 cup malted milk powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup butter
- 4 ounces unsweetened chocolate cut up (I used Ghiradelli)
- 2 cups sugar
- 4 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 cup chopped walnuts toasted (I omitted)
- 4 ounces coarsely crushed malted milk balls about 1 cup
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325ºF. Lightly grease a 13 x 9 x 2 inch baking pan; set aside. In a medium bowl, combine flour, malted milk powder, and salt; set aside.
- In a medium saucepan, combine butter and chocolate; heat and stir over low heat until chocolate melts. Remove from heat, stir in sugar. Using a wooden spoon, beat in eggs, one at a time. Add vanilla. Stir in flour mixture, wwalnuts and half of the crushed malted milk balls. Spread batter in prepared pan.
- Bake in preheated oven for 35 minutes. Cool in a pan on a wire rack. Cut into bars. To package, place remaining crushed malted milk balls in a small plastic bag with the instructions, "Use a small amount of canned frosting to 'glue' malted milk balls atop bars." Makes 30 bars.
- To Store: Layer unfrosted bars between waxed paper in an airtight container; cover. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
I wish someone would invent a way to remove calories and carbs from recipes like this. I’m afraid I could not stop at one, Kristen!
You and Erika always come up with consistently good stuff.
Oooh. Malt makes everything better!
But what is it with men and leaving ridiculously small amounts of any given food item? Do they feel less guilty if they don’t finish it? But don’t they realize that what they leave behind is essentially useless?
When I was younger, my father used to leave like a half-inch of lemonade in the pitcher. My mom and I figured that was so he wouldn’t have to make another pitcherful. But even today, I’ll go to my mom’s and grab the potato chips only to discover that he’s put away the bag with mere crumbs left in the bag.
Boys. Harumph. : o )
Alright, you are going to my source for chocolaty things that I can’t have anymore (on a regular basis). CURSE YOU WW! But, I’m thankful you made them this week and not last because last week, I would’ve caved in and made them.
That is TOO funny! I also LOVE Whoppers so I can’t really blame your hubby all that much. They are delish!
But… these brownies look delish too. Might have to try those. YUM!
Oh hooray! I’m so glad you liked them. I hate it when I make a recipe and I love it and no one else does. You really need to try them with a ganache on top. Seriously. 🙂
Wow! That sounds like something my dad would do! I have a good malt ball cookie recipe that I should make and post about some time. Maybe next time I see Daddy I’ll make those!
ahhh brownies, never fail to win me over, and this particular specimen looks particularly delicious.
As for guys eating stuff undercover, happens everytime, at least your hubby was nice enough to feel guilty about it! haaha
I wonder if I can find malted chocolate here in Italy, hmmm I have to do some research!
They sound like the perfect brownie. Will try this recipe the next time I get a brownie craving.
Oopss I gotta go.. I get a brownie craving approximately ever 7.3 seconds. 😀
I buy chocolate bars with the intention of using them for baking but they never last that long…
Those look pretty darn delicious. And you know the same thing happens with the hubby and I! Now we have a "saving for a rainy day" shelf were we know if food is there it’s not for snacking (at least, not without asking first.)
🙂
Kristen, I had a laugh with your post! Love it! 🙂
I don’t have any babies yet but I can only imagine how angry you were after checking the food you were dreaming of was gone… lol
These brownies are so tempting!
Oh , drool, brownies! I like it especially since it looks crusty on top and is thin.
Beautiful photo and very yummy looking brownies. Never tried malted milk flavor but I can imagine how great it wold be with the chocolate. I hide baking and cooking things that might be too tempting to Sweetie…not always successfully.
there you go again torturing me with the malt chocolate deserts again! damn this looks good!
Ack!!! You’ve done it again!! Made me crazy hungry after looking at one of your pictures!!!! Wonderful!
Looks like fantastic brownies! Malt and chocolate, it’s got to be good! Great photo!
My name is Deborah and I am a maltball addict and you have now contributed to a relapse. I will not be able to rest until I make these and the maltball cake!
These do like the best chewiest brownies ever. What is that phenomenon with women and chocolates?
Whoppers are one of my favorites, so I certainly can’t blame your hubby for his indiscretion. However, when, and I do mean when I make these brownies, I am going to have to get only the exact amount of Whoppers and make sure there are no leftovers, or I will be the one sneaking them!
Oh my….is my husband and your husband one in the same?????
😉
He is the worst…… but i still love him
Oh man. MALT BALLS and Brownies?? That is a deadly combo.
Yum. I think I’ll try this someday! 🙂
My husband is a sneaky treat theif too, so I can empathize! Those brownies look delish, and I’m not even a fan of malt flavoring.