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How To Make a Milkshake
Ingredients
- Vanilla Ice Cream: Despite the name, milk is a bit player in any good milkshake—it’s really all about the ice cream. For the best texture, I prefer to steer clear of reduced-fat varieties and opt for a good-quality brand of American-style ice cream, with or without eggs. Just make sure the ice cream is frozen solid; if it starts off a touch soft, your milkshake is liable to wind up too liquid.
- Milk: I firmly believe a milkshake should be unapologetically rich and creamy. Naturally, only whole milk will do. Just make sure the milk is fridge-cold.
- Whipped Topping, Sprinkles, Maraschino Cherry: With these three toppings, you’ll feel like you just pulled up to the soda fountain in a chrome-finned '57 Chevy Bel Air. Consider your nostalgia trip booked.
Step-By-Step Instructions
Pretty simple: Ice cream and milk go into the blender. Both ingredients should be nice and cold. Now, rev up your engines and blend. Pay close attention: You want to blend just until the mixture is thick and sludgy; blend too long and you'll wind up with a smoothie.
Pour the milkshake into a tall glass; for bonus points, chill the glass ahead of time. But don’t dive in just yet, because it's the toppings that take this milkshake over the top.
This recipe comes fully customizable. So long as you abide by the ice cream:milk ratio, the sky's the limit. Plug in your favorite ice cream, go bonkers with the toppings, and if you're feeling EXTRA, add whatever mix-ins strike your fancy. I strongly suggest you try the combination of chocolate ice cream with crushed Oreos. Or, for something fruity, go for strawberry ice cream with some frozen strawberries tossed into the mix, then top it with finely ground freeze-dried strawberries for a turbo-boost of strawberry flavor.
Milkshake Variations
While I love classic vanilla, this two-ingredient recipe is endlessly versatile depending on your fave flavors! Swap out the vanilla ice cream for whatever ice cream you please: strawberry for the sweetest strawberry shake or chocolate if that’s more your thing. Craving a malt? Add 2 tablespoons malt powder to your ice cream and milk, then blend it all together!
And don’t forget the mix-ins. Oreos, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, brownies, cookie dough, chocolate syrup, or fruit would all be delicious. Add peanut butter, bananas, and chocolate chips for a Chunky Monkey vibe, or caramel, coconut, and chocolate chips for a Samoas-like milkshake. Or, go all out with wine for a boozy red wine milkshake.
Finally, get creative with the toppings. While you can’t go wrong with the classic combination of whipped cream, sprinkles, and a maraschino cherry, don't stop there. Can’t get enough chocolate? Drizzle on some chocolate syrup, fudge, or crushed Oreos. Feeling tropical? A sprinkle of coconut and a cherry will take you away to a seaside getaway.
Recipe Tips
- What if I don’t have a blender? No problem—it’s actually easier to make a milkshake without a blender than you may think. You can use a food processor instead, but if you don’t have one of those, you can try it by hand! Add your ice cream and milk to a large bowl and use a rubber spatula to stir until the milk is incorporated, then pour the mixture into a glass. It won’t be quite the same consistency as a blended milkshake, but it’ll work in a pinch.
- Can I make it ahead of time? Surprisingly, yes! Blend your milkshake and pour it into a glass, then stick it in the freezer for up to 2 hours. Just let it sit out for 5 minutes or so before it's drinkable again! It's a fantastic party hack.
More Milkshake Ideas
Red Wine Milkshakes
Strawberry Milkshake
Creamsicle Milkshakes
Storage
The milkshake can be made 2 hours ahead. Pour into a freezer-safe glass, cover, and freeze. When ready to serve, let it sit at room temperature for 5 minutes or so, until drinkable.
Made This?
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