Chocolate Chip Stand-Ins

• You can turn any chocolate chip recipe into malted milk ball cookies. Just substitute crushed malted milk balls for all or part of the chocolate chips. However, ideas for malted milk balls aren't limited to chocolate chip cookies. You can stir a small handful of crushed candy into nearly any cookie dough, including oatmeal cookies or sugar cookies. If you like the blend of chocolate and peanut butter, mix a small handful into your favorite peanut butter cookie recipe. For a more pronounced malt flavor, substitute malted milk powder for a small amount of the flour.

Brownies and Bars

• Malted milk balls add chocolaty crunch to nearly any homemade brownie or bar. If you don't have a lot of time for baking, keep things simple and stir crushed milk balls into a boxed brownie batter or bar mix. You can opt for traditional chocolate brownies or fudge brownies, or stir the crushed candy into blond brownies or peanut butter bars. Even easy crispy rice cereal bars become an extra-special dessert when you add crushed malted milk balls.

Cupcakes and Muffins

• To make malted milk ball cupcakes, stir crushed malted milk balls into the cupcake batter -- either homemade or from a box, then bake the cupcakes in paper-lined muffin pans. Similarly, malted milk balls add interest to nearly any type of muffin, including chocolate, banana or oatmeal muffins. Crushed milk balls blend well with other muffin add-ins such as raisins, chopped nuts or dried fruit. Don't overdo it. Malted milk candy shouldn't overpower the flavors of brownies or bars.

Frostings and Toppings

• Crushed milk balls offer plenty of opportunities for creativity when it comes to frostings and toppings. Frost cake, cookies or cupcakes with your favorite cake icing, then sprinkle the tops with the crushed candy. If you like the flavor and convenience of canned frosting, transfer the frosting to a bowl, then stir in a few crushed milk balls. You can also sprinkle the candy on top of chocolate, banana cream or peanut butter pie. For a simple, light topping, stir the candy into whipped cream or refrigerated dessert topping.