Tips for making the best milkshakes:
Choose the best quality ice cream you can afford. It really does make a difference here!
Full-fat ice cream will yield the thickest and creamiest milkshakes, but real cream ice cream also melts faster. If you want to prolong the life of your milkshake, try blending in a couple of ice cubes or serving in a chilled glass.
Low fat and/or low calorie ice cream can still be used, but won’t produce the same thick and creamy texture. It will, however, stay cold longer due to the higher water content.
Use heavy cream in place of milk for an ultra-fluffy and rich tasting milkshake.
Chocolate milkshake variations:
Make a cocoa-flavored chocolate milkshake.
No fudge sauce? No problem! Substitute 1-2 tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa, and add sugar to taste if you find the chocolate flavor too dark.
Add the cocoa powder in the bottom with the milk so it blends in evenly.
Add melted chocolate in place of fudge sauce.
Carefully melt a few squares of chocolate or a handful of chocolate chips in the microwave and use it in place of hot fudge sauce.
Depending on your family’s preferences you can experiment with milk chocolate, dark chocolate, and mint chocolate.
Optional chocolate milkshake add-ins:
a spoonful of peanut butter of almond butter
instant coffee or espresso powder
marshmallow topping
caramel sauce
a few frozen bananas or strawberries
a couple drops of mint extract
Banana milkshake variations:
Use frozen banana slices for an even thicker banana milkshake.
Cut bananas into slices and freeze in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking tray.
Once the banana slices are frozen transfer them to a resealable freezer bag and use as needed for milkshakes and smoothies.
Use up extra frozen banana slices the next time you make my Strawberry Banana Smoothie Recipe!
Make a tropical banana milkshake.
Substitute 1/4 cup of canned coconut milk for the dairy milk and add 2 tablespoons of canned crushed pineapple.
Optional banana milkshake add-ins:
a spoonful of cocoa powder
a dollop of peanut butter
a spoonful of dulce de leche for a banoffee spin
Strawberry milkshake variations:
Sweeten up out-of-season strawberries.
Boost the natural sweetness of strawberries by tossing the slices in 112 a teaspoon of white granulated sugar. Refrigerate the sugar-coated strawberries for an hour before adding them to the milkshake (along with any accumulated juices).
Blend in a tablespoon of strawberry preserves for an extra punch of berry flavor.
Make a mixed berry milkshake by adding raspberry, blueberry, or blackberry preserves in place of the strawberry.
Use strawberry ice cream. Double up on strawberry flavor by substituting strawberry ice cream for the vanilla.
Optional strawberry milkshake add-ins;
additional berries like raspberries or blackberries for a mixed-berry milkshake
use coconut milk in place of the dairy milk for a fun twist
a teaspoon of cocoa powder for a chocolate covered strawberry milkshake