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Everybody loves a good homemade milkshake! As it turns out, it is not hard to make them at home. We’ll share the best milkshake recipes with a few simple ingredients!
I always thought I could only get a good milkshake at a burger joint or ice cream shop. Imagine my surprise when I combined two simple ingredients in the blender and got a delicious, creamy, smooth milkshake! It’s so easy – the secret is getting the ratios right and using high quality ingredients. Once you have your basics down, the possibilities are endless! Add mix-ins and topping galore!
Ingredients for the Best Homemade Milkshake Recipes
For the most basic milkshake recipe, you only need two ingredients – ice cream and milk. It really is that easy! However, on top of that, there are a million different combinations. We have several mix-in and topping ideas to choose from. You want to use good quality ice cream and whole milk. Of course, the store brand will work, but the high-quality brands will give you an even creamier, dreamier treat!
Milkshake Flavors
The simplest way to change the base flavor of your milkshake is to use flavored ice cream. Chocolate, Strawberry, and Vanilla are all great base flavors for any milkshake recipe! You can also stick with vanilla ice cream and use flavored ice cream syrups, like Hershey’s chocolate syrup, to change the flavor. Use 2 tablespoons of syrup per milkshake.
Milkshake Recipes
Start with our basic vanilla milkshake recipe in the recipe card below. Then, choose a recipe below and add the mix-ins accordingly!
- Chocolate
add 2 tablespoons chocolate syrup or hot fudge
top with whipped cream, chocolate shavings, and Maraschino cherries - Cookies and Cream
add 3 Oreo cookies, any flavor
top with whipped cream and crushed Oreo cookies - Berry Milkshake
add ½ cup of fresh or frozen berries
top with whipped cream - Reese’s
add 2 tablespoons chocolate syrup or hot fudge and 3 Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
top with crushed Reese’s cups or Reese’s Pieces - Grasshopper
add 3 Oreos, 1 teaspoon mint extract, and a drop or two of green food coloring (optional)
top with whipped cream and crushed Oreos
Milkshake Mix-In Ideas
There are so many possibilities when you are making a milkshake. My kids love to try all kinds of flavor combos. If you have any favorite milkshake recipes, then let us know in the comments below! Mix-ins go in the blender with the ice cream and milk.
- Syrup – Chocolate syrup, caramel syrup, and strawberry syrup are all great ways to add flavor without a lot of work. Simply drizzle the syrup over the top of the ice cream and watch it blend into the color of your choice!
- Cookies – Crush Oreos for a delicious Oreo shake! Cookie dough is always a fun way to make a cookie dough ice cream shake. Use mini round cookie dough balls and drop them in while it is blending or mix them with a spoon.
- Peanut Butter – MMM, a delicious peanut butter shake is just what you need for a savory dessert.
- Coconut Flakes – Always light and tasty with an extra texture to enjoy! Scoop a spoonful of coconut right into the blender.
- Nuts – Almonds, walnuts, and pecans are so delicious mixed into a shake! Plus, you get an extra crunch in your drink.
- Fruit- Blueberries, raspberries, pineapple, bananas, blackberries, mango, peaches, and strawberries are all just the beginning of fruit happiness! There are so many options when it comes to fresh or frozen fruit!
- Chocolate – Butterfingers, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, chocolate chips, or any candy bars are a great addition to making a tasty milkshake.
- Crackers – Graham crackers crushed are yummy with a special texture that is sweet and savory.
- Extract – Extracts are the secret weapon of delicious milkshake recipes! Mint, almond, or vanilla extract is so delicious for adding a splash of flavor that is light and delicious!
Toppings
After you have made your homemade milkshake and poured it into a tall glass, then add your delicious toppings!
- Whipped cream – Make a pretty whip topping on top of your blended milkshake cup.
- Sprinkles – You can’t go wrong with sprinkles in every color or change it up for special occasions. Have it blue or pink sprinkles for a gender reveal party or the holiday colors like red and green for Christmas!
- Crushed Oreos – Sprinkle the extra crushed Oreos on top for a spoonful of deliciousness!
- Sauce – Drizzle caramel sauce, hot fudge, or chocolate sauce that will melt and drizzle along the sides.
- Maraschino cherries – Top it off with a cherry on top!
Milkshake Recipe Tips
If you want the best at-home milkshake, then you need to use good ingredients. Use good quality ice cream and whole milk.
“My daughter used this recipe to make us some strawberry milkshakes. She had so much fun, and they were delicious! Her favorite part was adding the cream and sprinkles on top. 🙂”
-Kara
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can! You can use an immersion blender, a food processor, or a good old-fashioned whisk. It may take a little more hand power but it is worth it in the end!
You can thicken your milkshake a couple of ways. You can blend it for a shorter amount of time, you can use less milk, or you can add ice. All these ideas will help give you that thick milkshake appearance and taste.
For a thinner milkshake, blend the ingredients longer or use a little bit more milk. The consistency will thin and be easier to suck threw a straw.
Yes! It is simple ingredients that make a delicious treat! The ice cream and milk ratio is 1 ½ cups to ¼ cup. Double the recipe or use different estimates when making your own homemade milkshake!
More Ice Cream Treats
If you love our milkshake recipe, then you have to try some of our other ice cream recipes! You scream we all scream for thick, delicious, and creamy ice cream every time! It is so simple to make and the best dessert for gathering friends and family together!
Homemade Milkshake
Video
Equipment
- Blender
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cup ice cream
- 1/4 cup whole milk
- mix-ins if desired
- whipped cream
- sprinkles
- Maraschino cherries with stems
Instructions
- Place ice cream, milk, and mix-ins if using in the blender.
- Blend just until smooth and drinkable through a straw.
- Pour into a glass and add whipped cream, sprinkles, and Maraschino cherries.
Love this recipe!! We are huge milkshake fans over here & they came out so good!
So fun to make for my kids, they were just like my grandma used to make me!
My daughter used this recipe to make us some strawberry milkshakes. She had so much fun, and they were delicious! Her favorite part was adding the cream and sprinkles on top. 🙂