How to Make Milkshakes

Strawberry? Peppermint fudge? Banana? Whatever flavor you crave, you can make it at home! Our step-by-step guide (with pictures) shows you how to whip up creamy, delicious milkshakes from scratch.

Milkshakes are a classic American dessert, but you don’t have to visit a 24-hour diner to enjoy one. Making a milkshake at home is simple and quick, needing only milk, ice cream, and a blender.

The beauty of milkshakes is the versatility. Different ice creams, fruits, and mix-ins can create countless flavor combinations. Some people prefer a thin, drinkable shake, while others go for a thick, spoonable treat—it’s all up to you.

Our basic milkshake recipe gives you a creamy, balanced texture—not too thick, not too thin. Once you master the basics, you can customize it however you like, with toppings, mix-ins, and more.

How to Make Milkshakes

Making a milkshake in a blender is easy: simply blend ice cream with milk until smooth and creamy. At Taste of Home, our preferred ratio is 1/3 cup milk to 1 1/2 cups ice cream. Pour into a glass and enjoy!

Ingredients for Homemade Milkshakes

Milk: Whole milk is ideal for a rich, smooth shake, but you can also use 2%, skim, or a milk alternative. Avoid heavy cream—it can separate in the blender.

Ice cream: Your ice cream choice determines the base flavor. Vanilla or chocolate works perfectly, or you can use homemade ice cream for a special touch.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Add Ingredients to the Blender
Start by placing the milk in the blender, then add the ice cream. This order helps the blender mix everything evenly.

Tip: Allow ice cream to soften slightly. Hard ice cream may require extra milk, which can thin the shake too much.

2. Blend Until Smooth
Blend the milk and ice cream until you reach the desired texture. Use less milk for a thicker, spoonable shake, or more for a thinner, sippable version.

3. Serve and Enjoy
Pour your milkshake into a chilled glass. Serve as-is or top with whipped cream for an extra treat.

Fun Milkshake Variations

Once you know the basics, the possibilities are endless:

Add fruit: Fresh berries, banana, mango, or peaches create fruity versions. Frozen fruit thickens the shake, while fresh fruit makes it slightly looser.

Mix-ins: Blend in chocolate syrup, Nutella, caramel, cookie crumbles, brownies, candy bars, or peanut butter. For chunkier mix-ins, reserve them as garnish instead of blending.

Alternative milk: Use almond, oat, or soy milk for a dairy-free version.

Lower-fat options: Swap ice cream for frozen yogurt or sherbet, or substitute part of the milk with juice.

Make a malted shake: Add 2–4 tablespoons of malted milk powder per cup of milk for a classic malt flavor.

Old-fashioned soda twist: Stir in ginger ale or soda after blending for a fizzy treat.

Storing Milkshakes

Milkshakes are best enjoyed fresh, but leftovers can be frozen for up to two days. Let thaw at room temperature for 20 minutes and stir before drinking.

Make ahead tip: Pour the prepared milkshake into a cup, freeze, then thaw and stir before serving.

Tips for Perfect Milkshakes

No blender? Use an immersion blender or food processor. Blend slowly in bursts until smooth.

Too thin? Add more ice cream to thicken.

Topping ideas: Whipped cream, cherries, sprinkles, candy, chocolate drizzle, cookies, Pocky sticks, crushed nuts, fruit, coconut, or graham cracker crumbs. Let your creativity run wild!

Milkshakes are easy, fun, and endlessly customizable. Once you know the basics, you can experiment with flavors and textures to create your perfect treat—just like the diners of classic Americana!