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Home - Drinks

Published: Jul 6, 2020 · Modified: Jun 17, 2024 by Amanda Powell · This post may contain affiliate links.

Vanilla Milkshake

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Nothing is better than a thick, creamy classic vanilla milkshake. Now, you can make the best milkshake of your life to keep you cool all summer long! You only need 3 ingredients and a few of my best tips and recommendations to make the perfect milkshake.

hero shot of milkshake on marble coaster

Why you'll love it

Milkshakes are one of the greatest ways to make your day amazing. Nothing beats a cold, creamy shake after a long hot summer day. I wanted to share this creamy vanilla milkshake because it is perfect on its own and is also the perfect blank canvas for adding in any of your favorite flavor combinations. 

It only takes a couple of minutes until you are sipping on a delicious treat.

Ingredients

Any good vanilla milkshake has the same simple ingredients.

adding ice cream to blender
  • Vanilla ice cream - Since this is a simple recipe, I highly recommend using good-quality ice cream. This is a great opportunity to use my recipe for vanilla ice cream. The better and more nuanced the flavor of the ice cream you use, the better your drink will be!
  • Milk - You can use any kind of milk you want. Personally, I prefer whole milk or even heavy cream. A high fat milk will add more flavor and keep things nice and creamy. You won't need more than a half cup milk. 
  • Vanilla - Even though we use vanilla ice cream to get some vanilla flavor, I like to add a touch more vanilla to ramp up the flavor a bit more. Even a half teaspoon vanilla extract can make a big impact. You can use extract, vanilla bean paste, or if you want to be fancy, fresh vanilla beans
adding milk and vanilla to blender with ice cream

Making Creamy Milkshakes

A good milkshake should be thick and creamy and flavorful. Making one is one of the easiest things in the world to do once you know what to do.

One of the most overlooked aspects of making a great shake is the ratio of ice cream to milk. I prefer to use about ½ cup of milk to a pint (2 cups) of ice cream.

All you need to do is combine the ingredients together and mix them together using a blender or a milkshake machine until the ingredients are combined, thick, and creamy!

If you want to learn more, you can check out my guide on how to make a milkshake.

  1. Add your ingredients to the blender. Start with about half the milk.
  2. Blend until it is all combined and creamy. Add the remaining milk, if needed to thin out the milkshake. 
  3. Pour into tall glasses and top with your favorite toppings like whipped cream, fresh strawberries, or a maraschino cherry. 
pouring vanilla milkshake into glass

Blender vs milkshake maker

So, if you've ever been to a diner or a nice ice cream shop, you probably noticed they used a funny little machine with a long metal rod that goes into the cup. That is a milkshake maker. It is specifically made to create the perfect milkshake.

Unlike blenders, it keeps the ice cream thick while completely incorporating the milk. It also aerates the mixture to give it a really nice mouthfeel. It also helps to keep the shake nice and cold unlike blenders which tends to just whir the mixture around and can melt the ice cream a bit too much.

Does this mean you need to invest in a milkshake maker? No way! It'd be nice, sure but who wants an appliance that does only one thing? If you have one, that's awesome, but if not (I don't have one!) a blender is just as good to get the job done. You can even just use an immersion blender. 

overhead of milkshake on marble coaster

F.A.Q.s

Can you make a vanilla milkshake without ice cream?

Yes! You can use frozen yogurt, or your favorite non-dairy ice cream.

Can I still make a milkshake without a blender or milkshake maker?

Of course! You can use an immersion blender, hand mixer, or even a stand mixer if you allow your ice cream to soften slightly beforehand.

How do I know what is a good-quality ice cream?

The best ice creams use simple, premium ingredients that you can understand on the label. At the end of the day, however, it comes down to personal tastes. What ever is the best brand to you, is the one you should use for maximum enjoyment. 

vanilla milkshake on coasters

Related recipes

If you want to sip on more milkshakes, you should try these (you can make them regular or boozy!) S'mores milkshake, blueberry pancake milkshake, cake batter milkshake, matcha milkshake, strawberry mango milkshake, salted caramel milkshake, thin mint milkshake, bacon milkshake, and coffee cookies and cream milkshake.

Recipe Card

hero shot of milkshake on marble coaster

Vanilla Milkshake

Amanda Powell
A thick and creamy vanilla milkshake you will never forget
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 4 minutes mins
Total Time 4 minutes mins
Course Drinks
Cuisine American
Servings 2 milkshakes
Calories 323 kcal
Prevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients
  

  • 1 pint vanilla ice cream
  • ½ cup whole milk
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Get Recipe Ingredients

Instructions
 

  • Add the ice cream, milk, and vanilla to the blender.
  • Blend on medium until the milk and ice cream are blended and creamy.
  • Pour into chilled glasses. Top with your favorite toppings

Notes

Top with whipped cream, cherries, chocolate sauce, strawberry sauce, or anything else you enjoy!

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 323kcalCarbohydrates: 35gProtein: 7gFat: 17gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 64mgSodium: 132mgFiber: 1gSugar: 32g
Keyword ice cream, milkshake, vanilla
Tried this recipe?Tag me on Instagram! @acookienameddesire #acookienameddesire

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About Amanda Powell

Baker, photographer, and sometimes world traveler behind A Cookie Named Desire. Obsessed with helping people live life sweetly with delicious food to share with the special people in your life and creating lasting memories.

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Hey, I'm Amanda!

I am the baker and photographer behind A Cookie Named Desire. I'm a cookbook author, food science nerd, world traveler (sometimes) with a major weakness for cookies and cheese.

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