Chocolate Malt Oatmeal Smoothie
This rich and creamy oatmeal smoothie is my transport to a less complicated time, when drinking a chocolate malt for breakfast could be deemed sensible and met with enthusiasm.
Perhaps having a shake for breakfast was never technically acceptable, but my childhood self certainly would have embraced the concept. Now in my semi-prudent adult life, I’ve turned to oatmeal smoothies to start my day and, fortunately for all young and old, the two—shakes and smoothies—need not taste quite so different.
I’ve been a fan of oatmeal in my smoothies for a few years (it makes them gloriously thick and filling), and of chocolate in my everything since the days of my kindergarten milk cart (we could have chocolate or plain—not a hard choice), but malt is a recent addition to my pantry. I’m not entirely certain why it took me so long to put it in my grocery cart, but with my affinity for nostalgic flavors and dishes (reference: Strawberry Shortcake Trifle; Grandma’s Butter Bundt Cake; the entire casserole section of this website), I am confident that malt is here to stay.
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Malt (or malted milk) powder is the single ingredient that transforms a standard milkshake into a malt. Though its taste won’t strike you at first, as you slowly sip, the malt flavor builds, leaving a lingering, caramely finish that makes me long for simpler times and old-fashioned ice cream parlors. I’d like to pour myself an extra large chocolate malt oatmeal smoothie, put on a pair of saddle shoes, and step into a Norman Rockwell painting.
Though a trip to the ice cream shop no longer eradicates my problems quite as effectively as it did when I was nine, drinking a healthy oatmeal smoothie that tastes strikingly similar to a classic chocolate malt does give my adult self quite the mood boost. The base of the oatmeal smoothie is frozen bananas, which give it a thick, ice cream-like consistency. The addition of oatmeal (fiber + an even more decadent texture), cocoa powder, and today’s special guest, malted milk powder, carry it from smoothie to healthy shake.
My favorite liquid to use in any smoothie is almond milk, because it maximizes the creamy factor. I used Silk Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk for its bonus layer of vanilla flavor, which also makes it my top pick for breakfast cereal. (PS. If you sign up for Silk’s newsletter, you’ll receive a $1 off coupon. Score!) More unsolicited shopping advice: in case you are curious or in the market, I use and love this blender. After blowing through two cheap ones, I’m so, so happy to have this workhorse to give me beautifully blended smoothies in record time.
To finish these chocolate malt oatmeal smoothies with flair, I added a shower of chopped malted milk candies. Though you might want to skip the extra garnish if you’re having these oatmeal smoothies first thing in the morning or after a workout, the candy edges them from breakfast to dessert.
All we are missing are two bendy straws and maybe a set of those soda jerk white paper hats. Bonus if the hat disguises my morning bed hair!
Chocolate Malt Oatmeal Smoothie
A filling oatmeal smoothie that tastes just like a chocolate malt! Perfect for making healthy breakfast shakes or dessert.
Yield: 1 smoothie
Total Time: 5 minutes
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup old fashioned rolled oats or quick oats
- 1 large banana, cut into slices and frozen
- 1/2 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk, vanilla soymilk, or coconut milk
- 3 to 4 tablespoons malted milk powder*
- 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 to 2 teaspoons maple syrup (optional)
- Chopped malted milk candies (optional)
Directions:
- Place the oats in your blender and pulse a few times to pulverize. Add the banana, almond milk, cocoa powder, and 3 tablespoons malted milk powder and blend until smooth. Taste and add maple syrup 1 teaspoon at a time, as desired. For a stronger malt taste, add 1 additional tablespoon malted milk powder. Enjoy immediately, topped with chopped malted milk candies as desired.
*Malted milk powder is available in nearly all grocery stores. Check the baking aisle beside the powdered, evaporated, and condensed milk or beside the hot chocolate. You can also purchase it online here.
Did you try this recipe? I want to see! Follow Well Plated on Instagram, snap a photo, and tag it #wellplated. I love to know what you are making!
More marvelous smoothies:
- Blueberry Cream Oatmeal Smoothies
- Oatmeal Cookie Smoothies from Gimme Some Oven
- Kick Booty Kale Smoothie
- Healthy Orange Sweet Potato Smoothie from Minimalist Baker
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About Erin Clarke
I’m fearlessly dedicated to making healthy food taste incredible. Wearer of plaid, travel enthusiast, and firmly convinced that sweets and veggies both deserve a place at the table. MORE ABOUT ERIN…
Oatmeal smoothies are seriously my FAV way to start the day, and the fact that you loaded up all the chocolate and malt goodness into these is totally convincing me to throw my boring ol’ oatmeal/banana smoothie out the window and make THESE beauties for the rest of my days. ;) It’s gorgeous, Erin!
love this smoothie, Erin. . it’s a chocolate lover’s dream! and LOVE that shot with the spoons! gorg!
This smoothie sounds perfect, I need it right now! Love it, and especially love the added “flair” of the malted milk balls!
Dee-lish.That overhead shot is gorgeous! Let’s be smoothie friends and drink smoothies all the time.
why have I never put oatmeal in my smoothie before? I can’t wait to try this!
This sounds delish!! Yummy!!
Now this is a fantastic reason to get out of bed in the morning!
This looks fantastic!! I’ve never tried putting oatmeal in smoothies before, but I can’t wait to try it. Last year I bought a box of oatmeal from Costco and then promptly got tired of eating oatmeal for breakfast…smoothies to the rescue!
Want. Now. Please?
I’m in love with malted anything, and the oatmeal and chocolate just makes it that much better. WOW.
I love putting oatmeal in smoothies…it gives them so much more staying power! But now I definitely need to get my hands on some malt powder, because I love those malt candies so much! This looks like a seriously delicious smoothie, Erin!
This smoothies look amazing! I would love to have this for breakfast!
Of course, it has always been acceptable to have a smoothie for breakfast – I guzzle the entire blender full every morning, a whole liter or so, haha! This is a wonderful-looking idea, and I have never made a chocolate smoothie yet, so I will be trying this or a variation at some point soon. To keep it *healthy* though, better omit the malt ball candies – trust me, I’m a doctor (or will be by year’s end!!)!
All the best,
D
A chocolate malt smoothie sounds like the best way to start off the day! Love the malted milk and oats in here! Gorgeous pictures too!
Recently I tried oatmeal smoothies for the first time. I’ve made a few and I just love them. The oats keep the smoothie thick, even after it starts to cool off. And I need that because sometimes I sip on them slowly, especially while I busy at work! Digging all of the rich chocolate flavors in this one. I’ll have to give it a try this week, Erin!
Just recently got turned on to oatmeal smoothies!!! I guess it was getting a nutribullet as a gift that did it. Anyway I am on THAT band wagon. In I had one this AM for breakfast with a luscious mango. Chocolate malt is a bell ringer version too!!!
Oh, Erin, a chocolate malt to die for! I’ve been wondering what to do with all the leftover malted milk eggs from Easter – the perfect solution! Beautiful and tasty looking!
I don’t think I’ve ever had a chocolate malt shake before, even though I’ve definitely read it in menus! I love good oats smoothie, it just makes it that much more indulgent, and now I’m thinking I need to give malt a try!
X
If you can have chocolate for breakfast, you should. Grown up life rule #156.
And the best part of being a grown up is that you can totally make up your own life rules :)
I love the sound of these smoothies, although I have yet to find GF malt :( All the other ingredients are only a cupboard/refrigerator door away though, so I guess I’m having chocolate for breakfast tomorrow too!
I am just wondering if you can make these and then refrigerate? (Maybe overnight?) I have recently been reading about overnight oats, but have not tried them yet. Trying to get my teenage son off of a certain packaged oatmeal that is high in sugar, but keeps him filled up at school – at least until 2nd period! Please let me know if this would work, as I don’t think I can get him to make them in the morning.
Hi Carol! Making smoothies ahead can be kind of tricky, because they tend to separate after an hour, even in the fridge. Here are two ideas:
– Prep and measure all of the ingredients except for the frozen bananas the night before and refrigerate. In the morning, add the bananas and blend.
– Make the smoothie the night before, then pour into an ice cube tray and freeze. Right when you wake up in the morning, pop as many cubes as you like into a glass or to-go cup (they take about an hour to thaw).
Otherwise, you can stir the smoothie back together, but it definitely affects the texture and experience. I hope one of these two suggestions would be workable!
For a filling make-ahead breakfast, overnight oats are great. I also really like these banana oatmeal bars (warning: they are not very sweet sweet, so if that’s important to your son, add a little more honey and peanut butter) http://www.wellplated.com/oatmeal-breakfast-bars/
Great question, and I hope these ideas help!
I am guessing you can use steel cut oats?
Hi Gail! Great question—honestly, I would not. Because steel cut oats are much harder than rolled or quick-cooking, I don’t think they would blend properly and might give the smoothie an odd, crunchy texture. I know that’s not the answer you were hoping for, but I want the recipe to turn out properly for you!
can you share the calorie/protein etc?
I love it, but would like to know the nutrition details please.
Hi Jude! Although from January 2016 on I calculate calories for my recipes, unfortunately due to time constraints, I am unable to calculate it for all of the older ones. The good news is that you can do so yourself for free at myfitnesspal.com. I hope that is helpful for you!
Can I make this with regular dairy milk since I don’t like substitutes? Would it still make it healthy?
You can certainly make it with dairy milk Taylor! I’m not a registered dietitian, but I know dairy milk has wonderful health properties too.