Today, we're learning a very important life lesson. In my opinion, How to Make a Milkshake should be taught in schools. We will go over exactly how to make them and how to further customize them, all using my special formula! So grab your blenders, your favorite ice cream flavor, and let's start mixing!
Easy Milkshake Recipe
I am trying so hard to be a fun ‘summer mom’ lately, even though I want some form of learning to continue over the summer months. My kids are getting their math lesson by practicing fractions while they make Mommy's Cinnamon Dolce Latte first thing in the morning.
If the kids can measure out milk and cinnamon for my latte, then I think they deserve to learn the formula for how to make a milkshake! The formula below makes a perfect milkshake in any blender, of any flavor!
Homemade Milk Shake ingredients
- Ice Cream. Select your favorite flavor of ice cream for the base, as this will become the building block of the flavor of the milkshake.
- Milk. For every 3 scoops of ice cream, we will need 1 cup of milk to thin it out. This is just how you make a milkshake. It's essentially like drinking ice cream.
- Flavor Component. This can be anything from malted milk powder to amp up the vanilla flavor, mini chocolate chips for a chocolate milkshake, frozen fruit, chunks of cookies or baked pie crust.
- Toppings. It really wouldn't be a milkshake without whipped cream and a cherry on top, would it? My daughter also thinks sprinkles of any color are mandatory, and I happen to agree with her.
Milkshake Recipe variations
- Ice Cream - Any type of ice cream works here, so use whatever works for your dietary preference. I make this with vegan ice cream and dairy-alternative ice cream frequently.
- Milk - Similar to ice cream, any type of milk works here, even vegan milks!
- Banana - Use a banana for part of the ice cream and make my banana milkshake.
How to Make a Milkshake
After typing in ‘how to make a milkshake’ on my phone and being overwhelmed with results, I came up with my own plan. I decided to keep it really simple: just ice cream, a splash of milk and some fun, optional additions.
I also made the executive decision to always keep the ingredients in my house for the remainder of the summer months.
If you want something slightly fancy, try my Cheesecake Milkshakes!
Basic Milkshake Recipe:
The formula for how to make milkshakes is simple: 3 scoops of ice cream + 1 cup of milk. Anything else you want to add is entirely up to you!
- In a clean blender, add the 1 cup of milk. It's helpful to add the liquid at the bottom because it's closest to the blender blades and will help everything puree faster.
- Add 3 scoops of ice cream on top of the milk.
- Now is the time to add any additional flavorings: chocolate syrup, mini chocolate chips, crushed cookies, frozen fruit, cooked pie pieces (for a cherry pie milkshake).
Strawberry Milkshake Recipe:
When I’m making a strawberry version, I like to toss in a handful of fresh strawberries to make it extra delicious. Fresh strawberries with 3 scoops of strawberry ice cream plus 1 cup of milk is perfect!
Another fruity version is my Pineapple Milkshake made with roasted pineapple!
For a strawberry shake, you need 3 scoops of your favorite strawberry ice cream. You also need one cup of chopped fresh strawberries, and 1 cup of milk.
Place everything in a blender, puree, and then pour into a glass and serve. We like to garnish our strawberry shakes with whipped cream, sprinkles, a pretty sliced strawberry and a cute straw!
Vanilla Milkshake Recipe:
When I’m making a vanilla shake, I like to add 3 tablespoons of malted milk powder for that classic soda fountain flavor. So, it’s 3 scoops of your favorite vanilla ice cream with one cup of milk, plus malted milk powder.
First, select your favorite vanilla ice cream (we love a French vanilla), your milk of choice, plus malted milk powder.
Combine everything in a blender, puree until very well mixed (to make sure the malted milk powder dissolves), and then pour into a glass and serve. Garnish a glass dipped in sprinkles with whipped cream and a pretty straw.
Chocolate Milkshake Recipe:
If I’m making a chocolate version, I also add malt powder because my husband loves a good chocolate malt! This is why he loves my malted chocolate chip cookies, by the way.
His perfect chocolate malt recipe is 3 scoops of chocolate ice cream with one cup of milk, plus malted milk powder. If I have chocolate milk in the fridge, I use that instead of plain milk to make it a double chocolate milkshake!
A fun twist on a chocolate shake is a Smores Milkshake. If you can fit in a few extra steps, you won't be disappointed with that one.
Milkshake Recipe with Ice Cream equipment
While there are special gadgets, we always use our regular blender. It's a Vitamix, and it's just the best blender on the market. This is just my unpaid opinion based on decades of using alternate blenders.
How to store a Homemade Milkshake
This always happens in my house: my kids can't finish their milkshake and they want to save it in the freezer for another day. The truth is, these are best enjoyed the same day. Once frozen, the milk turns icy and often thaws into more of a slush. This recipe is to make one at a time, and if you make a small batch, you shouldn't have leftovers.
If you keep these milkshake ingredients in your freezer all summer long, you’re just minutes away from a smile on every face in your family! If you’re like me and enjoy things like this, keep these items stocked up in the freezer means you’ll have them on hand when you need them.
How to make a Milkshake FAQs
I like to think of milkshakes as drinkable ice cream, so yes, a milkshake is really just milk blended with ice cream. Since you have the blender out, use it as an opportunity to add more flavorings, like chocolate syrup, butterscotch syrup, strawberry sauce, whatever you want! Using additional flavorings elevates a milkshake from just milk and ice cream to something crave-able and delicious!
There are two ways to make a thick milkshake: one, use a high-powered blender. If your blender is weak, you’ll have to add too much milk to make it blend. Two, don’t add too much milk if you want a super thick milkshake. The recipes below have the perfect amount of milk to make thick milkshakes that are still sip-able through a straw.
The best ratio for a milkshake is 3 big scoops of ice cream plus one cup of milk. Instead of milk, you could use half and half or a coffee creamer for extra flavor.
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Homemade Milkshake
How to make a milkshake: all your favorite flavors, like vanilla, strawberry and chocolate versions. Each recipe makes one milkshake--scale up as needed.
Ingredients
For chocolate milkshake:
- 3 scoops chocolate ice cream
- 1 cup whole milk
- 3 tablespoons malted milk powder (optional)
For vanilla milkshake:
- 3 scoops vanilla ice cream
- 1 cup whole milk
- 3 tablespoons malted milk powder (optional)
For the strawberry milkshake:
- 3 scoops strawberry ice cream
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 cup chopped fresh strawberries
Toppings:
- whipped cream
- hot fudge sauce
- sprinkles
- Maraschino cherries
Instructions
1. Make each flavor one at a time in the blender: combine the ice cream, milk and malted milk powder (if using) or strawberries in the blender.
2. Blend on high speed until smooth.
3. Pour into a glass and serve with any toppings of your choice.
Notes
*Each recipe makes 1 milkshake; double or triple the recipe as needed to serve more.
Storage: This is a small batch recipe that makes one milkshake at a time, so you shouldn't have leftovers. This is for the best because leftovers cannot be refrozen.
Ice Cream: Use any type of ice cream you prefer, even alternative dairy ice creams.
Milk: I'm using whole milk here, but any type of milk works, even vegan milk.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
3Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 805Total Fat: 32gSaturated Fat: 19gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 97mgSodium: 372mgCarbohydrates: 115gFiber: 5gSugar: 80gProtein: 18g
Janabelle says
Oh, these look so good! I love a good homemade milkshake. And girl, your adding the malted milk powder has given me all kinds of ideas...like, putting PB2 (powdered peanut butter) in a chocolate shake for a Reeses flavored shake. Or adding instant coffee granules to a vanilla shake to make a coffee flavored shake.
This is gonna be so bad for my summer weight loss plan. lol
Nina says
Hi, is malted milk powder condenyed milk? I am not sure I will find this in our stores...
Christina Lane says
No, it's a dry milk powder. If you watch the video, you can see the consistency of it. Ask the store manager, it's normally near the chocolate syrup.
Margaret says
I have started making these with pumpkin ice cream from Shady Glen and it is delicious!!!
Afton Jackson says
Thank you for talking about the basic milkshake recipe and all the different ways to customize it. Family vacations are one of the rare occasions that we can go all out with our celebrations and eat anything we want, so I wanted to find out ideas for dessert recipes to serve to my kids. Considering that I have no experience making these just yet, I'll be looking for any ice cream or gelato distributor that I can order desserts like milkshakes from before trying it myself, just so my kids can get a taste of the good stuff.
Katie says
Could you provide a cup equivalent for the scoops,please? They look good, but I’m not quite sure what size of scoop needs to be used.
Christina Lane says
Of course, sorry! One scoop of ice cream is about 4 ounces, roughly a 1/2 cup.
Michelle kinmond says
Can you also add angel delight powder for flavour