Ingredients You'll Need
For the Chocolate Bars
- 1 box chocolate cake mix, about 15.25 ounces
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
- 2 large eggs
- 1½ cups semisweet chocolate chips
- 2 cups whole, unwrapped malted milk balls
That's it!
Five ingredients are all you need to make these rich, chocolatey bars.
What Are Malted Milk Balls?
Malted milk balls are chocolate-covered candies made with a crunchy malted milk center.
They have that distinctive old-fashioned malt flavor that's often associated with milkshakes, chocolate malt drinks, and classic candy-shop treats.
For this recipe, use whole malted milk balls rather than crushed pieces.
The whole candies can be stirred into the thick dough, and they'll naturally soften as the bars bake.
Tools You'll Need
You don't need any fancy equipment.
- 9x13-inch baking pan
- Parchment paper
- Large mixing bowl
- Rubber spatula or sturdy wooden spoon
- Measuring cups
- Microwave-safe bowl for melting butter
- Cooling rack
Parchment paper is especially helpful because these bars can be quite soft and chocolatey when they first come out of the oven.
How To Make 5-Ingredient Malted Milk Chocolate Bars
Step 1: Prepare the Oven and Pan
Preheat your oven to 350°F.
Line a 9x13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving a little overhang along the sides if possible.
The overhang will make it much easier to lift the cooled bars out of the pan.
Step 2: Combine the Cake Mix, Butter, and Eggs
Add the chocolate cake mix to a large mixing bowl.
Pour in the melted butter and add the two eggs.
Stir until everything comes together into a thick, sticky dough.
Don't worry if it looks much thicker than traditional cake batter.
That's exactly what you want.
Step 3: Add the Chocolate Chips
Fold the semisweet chocolate chips into the dough.
Try to distribute them evenly so every square gets plenty of chocolate.
Step 4: Add the Malted Milk Balls
Gently fold in the whole malted milk balls.
Be careful not to stir too aggressively. You want to keep the candies intact rather than crushing them into the dough.
A few pieces breaking is perfectly fine, though!
Step 5: Press Into the Pan
Transfer the thick dough to your prepared baking pan.
Using a spatula or lightly greased hands, gently press the mixture into an even layer.
The dough can be sticky, so don't worry if it takes a little patience to spread it.
Step 6: Bake
Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for approximately 20–25 minutes, or until the edges look set and the center is just beginning to firm up.
Be careful not to overbake.
The bars will continue to set as they cool, and slightly underbaking them helps keep that wonderful soft, chewy texture.
Step 7: Cool Completely
Remove the pan from the oven and place it on a cooling rack.
Let the bars cool completely before slicing.
I know.
This is the hardest part!
But giving them time to cool makes them much easier to cut, and the texture becomes wonderfully chewy.
Step 8: Slice and Serve
Once completely cooled, lift the bars from the pan using the parchment paper.
Cut into squares or rectangles and serve.
If you want especially clean slices, use a sharp knife and wipe it clean between cuts.
Tips for Making the Best Malted Milk Chocolate Bars
Don't Overbake Them
This is probably the most important tip.
The bars should look set around the edges while the center still has a little softness.
If you bake them until the center looks completely dry, you may end up with firmer bars than intended.
Line Your Pan With Parchment
Chocolate bars can sometimes stick, especially around the edges.
Parchment makes removal much easier.
Let Them Cool Before Cutting
Warm bars are delicious, but they're also soft.
For neat squares, allow them to cool completely first.
Don't Crush the Malted Milk Balls
Whole candies give you those wonderful little pockets of malted flavor.
Some will soften considerably during baking, while others will retain some texture.
That's part of the fun!
Use Good-Quality Chocolate Chips
Since there are only a few ingredients, the chocolate really gets a chance to shine.
Semisweet chocolate chips provide a nice balance against the sweetness of the cake mix and malted milk balls.
Easy Variations
Extra Chocolate Malt Bars
Replace some or all of the semisweet chocolate chips with milk chocolate chips for an even sweeter dessert.
Dark Chocolate Version
Use dark chocolate chips for a richer, slightly less-sweet chocolate flavor.
Chocolate Drizzle
Once the bars have cooled, drizzle melted chocolate over the top.
Let it set before cutting.
Add Chopped Nuts
Fold in ½ cup of chopped pecans or walnuts along with the chocolate chips.
The nutty crunch works beautifully with the malt flavor.
Add a Pinch of Sea Salt
Sprinkle a little flaky sea salt over the bars immediately after baking.
That salty-sweet combination with chocolate is hard to beat!
Ice Cream Dessert
Warm a bar slightly and serve it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Add chocolate syrup and a few crushed malted milk balls on top.
Now we're talking!
How to Serve Malted Milk Chocolate Bars
These bars are perfect on their own, but there are plenty of ways to dress them up.
Serve them with:
- Vanilla ice cream
- Chocolate ice cream
- Whipped cream
- Fresh strawberries
- Chocolate sauce
- Caramel sauce
- A cold glass of milk
- Hot coffee
- Vanilla milkshakes
- Chocolate malted milkshakes
They're also wonderful on a dessert platter alongside brownies, cookies, and other bite-sized treats.
How to Store Them
Once completely cooled, place the bars in an airtight container.
They can be stored at room temperature for about 3–4 days.
For the best texture, keep them tightly covered so they don't dry out.
If you want them slightly softer, place a small piece of bread in the container. The bread can help maintain moisture without changing the flavor of the bars.
Can You Freeze Malted Milk Chocolate Bars?
Yes!
These bars freeze well.
Allow them to cool completely, then cut them into individual portions.
Wrap each bar tightly in plastic wrap or place layers between sheets of parchment paper in a freezer-safe container.
Freeze for up to 2–3 months for the best quality.
Thaw at room temperature before serving.
Make-Ahead Instructions
These are excellent make-ahead dessert bars.
You can bake them a day before serving and keep them tightly covered at room temperature.
In fact, making them ahead gives the bars plenty of time to cool and develop their chewy texture.
For parties and gatherings, that's a huge advantage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a different flavor of cake mix?
Yes. Chocolate cake mix gives you the classic chocolate-malt combination, but you can experiment with devil's food or another chocolate-based cake mix.
Keep in mind that cake-mix sizes and formulations can vary, so the texture may change slightly.
Can I use crushed malted milk balls?
You can, although whole candies give the bars more noticeable pockets of malted flavor.
If you prefer smaller pieces throughout the bars, lightly crush some of the candies before adding them.
Why are my bars too dry?
They may have been baked too long.
Because the bars continue cooking from residual heat after coming out of the oven, it's better to remove them when the center is just set rather than waiting until it looks completely firm.
Why are my bars too soft?
Make sure they have cooled completely before judging the texture.
Chocolate bars can seem extremely soft when warm but firm considerably as they cool.
If they're still unusually soft after cooling, they may simply need another few minutes of baking next time.
Can I use salted butter?
Yes.
If you use salted butter, you may notice a slightly more pronounced sweet-and-salty flavor.
Since this recipe doesn't contain additional salt, salted butter is an easy substitution.
Can I make these in a smaller pan?
You can, but the baking time and thickness will change.
A smaller pan will create thicker bars and may require additional baking time. Watch the center carefully rather than relying only on the original timing.
Can I add frosting?
Absolutely!
A thin layer of chocolate frosting, malted chocolate frosting, or vanilla buttercream would turn these simple bars into a much more decadent dessert.
Recipe Information
Prep time: 10 minutes
Bake time: 20–25 minutes
Cooling time: About 1 hour
Total time: About 1 hour 35 minutes
Servings: Approximately 24 bars
Difficulty: Easy
Category: Dessert, Cookie Bars
Cuisine: American
Approximate Nutrition
Nutrition will vary depending on the specific cake mix, chocolate chips, and malted milk balls used.
For approximately 1 of 24 bars, a reasonable estimate is:
- Calories: 230–270
- Fat: 11–14g
- Carbohydrates: 30–36g
- Protein: 3–4g
- Sugar: 20–25g
- Sodium: 180–260mg
For the most accurate nutrition information, calculate using the exact brands and quantities you use.
Final Thoughts
These 5-Ingredient Malted Milk Chocolate Bars are proof that you don't need a complicated recipe to make a dessert people remember.
You've got rich chocolate cake mix, buttery goodness, melty chocolate chips, and those irresistible malted milk balls all baked together into soft, chewy bars.
They're easy enough for a weeknight treat but special enough for a party, bake sale, holiday dessert table, or family gathering.
And that malted milk flavor?
It's the part that really gets me.
One bite and suddenly you're thinking about old-fashioned chocolate malts, candy-shop treats, and desserts that somehow tasted a little more special simply because everyone was gathered around the kitchen.
Make a batch, cut them into squares, and don't be surprised if they disappear faster than you expected!
If you make these bars, leave a review and share your photos on Pinterest. I always love seeing how readers make these recipes their own!
More Easy Chocolate Desserts to Try
If these chocolate malt bars have you reaching for the baking pan, you might also enjoy:
- 3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Blondies
- Chocolate Éclair Cake
- Salted Caramel Crackle
- Cinnamon Sugar Dessert Pizza
- Loaded Cowgirl Cookies
- Classic Chocolate Brownies
- Easy Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
