How to Make a Milkshake (2024)

· Modified: by John Kanell

These milkshakes are thick, creamy, and so addictive that you’ll be trying to drink every last drop. They're the perfect treat for any time of the year, so here’s How to Make a Milkshake. You only need two ingredients and you can customize it however you’d like with as many toppings as you’d like!

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Making a milkshake is super simple, you really only need two ingredients but do you know the perfect ratio? It can be a little disappointing to drink a milkshake that is closer to the consistency of a juice or a milkshake that’s so thick you can’t get it through the straw.

So today I’m sharing how to make the perfect milkshake and you can use it as a guide to customize whatever flavor you’d like to make. Not a fan of milkshakes when it’s cool out? Try my Hot Chocolate Bombs or my classic Hot Chocolate instead!

WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE THIS RECIPE

How to Make a Milkshake (1)

Ice cream – full-fat ice cream will yield the creamiest and smoothest milkshake. Low-fat ice cream just isn’t the same! Choose the highest quality ice cream you’re able to find in stores.

Milk – use whatever milk you have at home. Just keep in mind that the higher the fat percentage of your milk, the creamier your milkshake will be. I use whole milk.

Toppings – take your pick on your toppings. I love adding whipped cream, sprinkles, and a cherry.

HOW TO MAKE A MILKSHAKE

How to Make a Milkshake (2)

1. Add the ice cream to the blender.

2. Add the milk to the blender.

How to Make a Milkshake (3)

3. Blend on low until smooth.

4. Pour into a cup and garnish with whipped cream.

How to Make a Milkshake (4)

5. Add some sprinkles.

6. And add a cherry if desired.

How to Make a Milkshake (5)

PRO TIPS FOR MAKING THIS RECIPE

  • To make this milkshake even creamier, you can try using heavy cream in place of milk.
  • When purchasing ice cream, make sure you buy real 100% dairy ice cream. There are ice creams that are labeled as “frozen desserts” as they’re made with vegetable oils.
  • To easily scoop your ice cream, let your ice cream sit at room temperature for around 5 minutes so it can soften enough to scoop.
  • If you find the milkshake a little too thick for your liking, add in additional milk a couple of splashes at a time.
  • To help your drink stay cold longer, you can place your glasses in the freezer beforehand.
  • Don’t have a can of whipped cream on hand? Try making your own homemade whipped cream.
  • Don’t add ice to this. Ice will water down your drink.

How to Make a Milkshake (6)

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

HOW DO I MAKE DIFFERENT FLAVORS?

You can easily change the flavor with a few simple swaps. For example, you can use different ice cream flavors such as strawberry, chocolate, mint chocolate chip, chocolate peanut butter, matcha green tea, and more! The options are endless. You can also change the milk as well for chocolate milk, strawberry milk, banana milk, or whatever flavored milk you have at your local grocery store.

WHAT ELSE CAN I USE AS A TOPPING

Some ideas for topping your milkshakes include chocolate syrup, strawberry syrup, caramel sauce, crushed cookies, sliced nuts, fresh fruit, and candy. If you’re feeling especially indulgent, you can try my Freakshake. If you’ve got extra time, you can try to make my homemade marshmallows to top your drink with.

WHAT IF I DON’T HAVE A BLENDER?

If you don’t have a blender, you can use a food processor. If you don’t have a food processor, then you can use a stand mixer to beat the ingredients together.

CAN I MAKE THIS AHEAD OF TIME?

I highly recommend you enjoy your milkshake immediately after you make it.

If you love this recipe try these out!

  • Ice Cream Sandwiches
  • Caramel Sauce
  • Oreo Cupcakes
  • Hot Fudge Sundae

How to Make a Milkshake (12)

If you’ve tried this Milkshake recipe then don’t forget to rate the recipe and let me know how you got on in the comments below, I love hearing from you!

How to Make a Milkshake (13)

5 from 80 votes

How to Make a Milkshake

Making milkshakes at home has never been easier. Here's how to make a milkshake that is the perfect consistency.

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Course Drinks

Cuisine American

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 0 minutes minutes

Total Time 5 minutes minutes

Servings 1 serving

Calories 720kcal

Author John Kanell

Equipment

  • Blender

Ingredients

  • 5 scoops ice cream about 1 ¾ cups
  • ¼ cup milk

Instructions

  • Combine the ice cream and milk in a blender and blend on low until smooth.

  • Pour into a cup and garnish with whipped cream, sprinkles and a cherry if desired.

Notes

  • To make this milkshake even creamier, you can try using heavy cream in place of milk.
  • When purchasing ice cream, make sure you are being real 100% dairy ice cream. There are ice creams that are labeled as “frozen desserts” as they’re made with vegetable oils.
  • To easily scoop your ice cream, let your ice cream sit at room temperature for around 5 minutes so it can soften enough to scoop.
  • If you find the milkshake a little too thick for your liking, add in additional milk a couple of splashes at a time.
  • To help your drink stay cold longer, you can place your glasses in the freezer beforehand.
  • Don’t have a can of whipped cream on hand? Try making your own whipped cream.
  • Don’t add ice to this. Ice will water down your drink.

Nutrition

Calories: 720kcal | Carbohydrates: 81g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 38g | Saturated Fat: 24g | Cholesterol: 151mg | Sodium: 290mg | Potassium: 737mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 73g | Vitamin A: 1488IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 491mg | Iron: 1mg

*Nutrition Disclaimer

Have you Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @preppykitchen and tag #preppykitchen!

How to Make a Milkshake (2024)

FAQs

How to Make a Milkshake? ›

Your Homemade Milkshake Formula

How to make a milkshake in 5 steps? ›

Instructions
  1. Set Out the Ice Cream to Soften. The key to the perfect milkshake consistency is the right ratio of milk to ice cream. ...
  2. Measure Your Ingredients. ...
  3. Blend the Ingredients. ...
  4. Add Your Mix-Ins and Blend. ...
  5. Top It Off, Serve, and Enjoy.
Dec 21, 2023

What is the ratio of milk to ice cream in a milkshake? ›

1 cup ice cream to 1/4 cup milk is a great ratio. Blend the shake. In a blender, combine the milk and ice cream and blend until smooth. Add any your mix-ins and blend them in to your desired consistency.

How many scoops of ice cream in a milkshake? ›

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.

How many ingredients do you need to make yummy milkshake? ›

You only need two ingredients to make a great milkshake: ice cream and milk. One pint of ice cream will make two milkshakes. Stick to plain flavors that don't have mix-ins. You'll need 2/3 cup milk, which is enough to get things moving but doesn't overwhelm the ice cream flavor.

What is the secret of a good milkshake? ›

What you do: Add a few scoops of ice cream to your blender, your desired flavorings and a splash of milk (go easy, you can always add in more later). Next add a tablespoon of milk powder, blend low and slow and ta-da—milkshake perfection.

How do you thicken a milkshake without ice? ›

I learned early on to add bananas to them to thicken them. Make sure the banana is cold or better yet, cut into pieces and frozen. Malt powder or malted milk powder also work well. Use more of the fruit pulp and less quantity of milk.

How to make a milkshake thicker? ›

The trick to a thicker milkshake is the ice cream to milk ratio. Use 2 cups of ice cream to 1/2 cup of milk. You will need a spoon to eat this milkshake, not a straw! If you prefer to use a straw and want a thinner milkshake just add in more milk or less ice cream.

How to make milkshake by hand? ›

To make a milkshake without a blender, start by adding 3 parts ice cream and 1 part milk to a bowl. Then, use a spoon or a whisk to mix the ice cream and milk together. Once you're satisfied with the consistency, pour your milkshake into a glass, top it with some whipped cream, and enjoy!

What is a thick milkshake called? ›

A milkshake containing malted milk powder is sometimes called a malt. The term concrete is used for particularly thick milkshakes that do not spill when turned upside down, such as those offered by the restaurant chain Culver's.

Which milk is used for milkshake? ›

Suggest that you use pasteurised and hom*ogenised milk (standardised / toned / double toned / full cream etc) for preparing milkshake. Reason, people expect your milkshake to be really really thick. hom*ogenised milk gives that “thick” consistency and will be appreciated by the consumer.

Is there milk in a McDonald's milkshake? ›

Our shakes contain milk from our reduced-fat soft serve, which makes them thick and creamy. Dairy regulations actually vary from state to state on what can officially be called a 'milkshake. ' We like to keep it simple and refer to them strictly as 'shakes. ' Get the full list of ingredients for all of our shakes.

How does 5 guys make their milkshakes? ›

At Five Guys, the milkshakes are made with just a few simple ingredients: primarily milk, nonfat milk, sugar, whey, and whatever toppings you choose to have mixed in to your creation, so you know exactly what you're getting when you order one of these hand-spun milkshakes.

What is a milkshake a mixture of? ›

Similar to milk smoothie, milkshakes are also blended cold dairy beverages. It is usually prepared by milk, ice cream or iced milk, emulsifier and/or stabilizer, and flavorings or sweeteners (e.g., fruit syrup or chocolate sauce).

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