Chocolate Milkshake Recipe

This creamy & thick Chocolate Milkshake is the ultimate summer dessert drink! It was a hot summer day in 1922, and Ivar “Pop” Coulson was working behind the bar of a Walgreens soda fountain. At that time, one of their most popular drinks was a simple concoction of milk, malt powder, and chocolate syrup mixed together and poured into a glass. Ever an innovator, Coulson decided to make the drink more heat-friendly. He added a few scoops of cold ice cream to the drink. The chocolate milkshake was born!

Chocolate Milkshake

Obviously the milkshake has evolved since the 1920s; nowadays the most basic milkshake contains milk and ice cream, though there can also be flavorings like syrups, malt powder, and mix-ins.

Even with all the variations between milk, ice cream, and syrup flavors, sometimes the classic is still the best. It’s hard to beat a chocolate milkshake topped with fluffy whipped cream and a drizzle of chocolate syrup on a warm summer’s day. Better yet, why not share it with a loved one?

Thankfully, you and your loved ones no longer need soda shops and diners with specialty drink mixers to make chocolate milkshakes. You can now make them in the comfort of your own home with a simple blender and a few simple ingredients.

For an easy night in and the perfect sweet treat for two (or more, or just yourself, no judgment either way), try making a homemade chocolate milkshake with all the classic fixings. Don’t forget the cute colorful straw to complete the aesthetic!

While people’s ideas of milkshakes have expanded, there are now plenty of milkshake recipes that leave out or change the titular milk and the important ice cream. But the classic milkshake is arguably the easiest to make.

If you can’t eat dairy, don’t worry! Replace the milk and ice cream with any plant-based alternatives. You should still have a similar effect.

Don’t be afraid to get creative! You can also add malt powder, chocolate chunks, flavor extracts, spices or other mix-ins to give your chocolate milkshake a unique spin.

Don’t have an Ice cream?

But what if you don’t have an ice cream? Or you don’t want to drink an ice cream every day, simply use my alternative chocolate shake recipe (recipe 2 in the card below) made with just milk, cocoa and milk ice.

Now if you wonder what milk ice is, it is just frozen milk. It gives a thicker and frothy texture to your milkshake even without using ice cream. But the flavors won’t be the same. If you are a beginner read my pro tips section below for more tips & tricks.

So what are you waiting for? Grab a glass, a loved one, and a blender. It’s been a long, hot day. Time to enjoy one of life’s simple pleasures.

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How to Make a Chocolate Milkshake (Stepwise photos)

To make a chocolate milkshake, you first need to add your milk to a blender. The type of milk can vary, obviously, but full-fat dairy milk will give you the richest results.

Next, add your ice cream. There are two options here for chocolate milkshakes. You can use vanilla ice cream as a base, and add chocolate syrup for the chocolate flavoring. Or you can use chocolate ice cream for a richer chocolate taste, making the syrup optional or cut down the quantity of chocolate syrup.

Finally, decide whether or not you want to add chocolate syrup depending on the ice cream you chose and the chocolate intensity you prefer. If you don’t have chocolate syrup, make your own with cocoa following my pro tips section below.

Pour the chocolate sauce.

Blend everything together until just combined. Over blending can make your milkshake runny. Avoid it if you prefer thick Chocolate shake. A few lumps of ice cream in your shake is just alright.

If you want you may decorate your serving glass with a tbsp of chocolate syrup. Simply pour it on the sides of your glass. Pour your milkshake into glass.

Consider adding toppings like whipped cream, cherries, sprinkles, chocolate shavings or just a drizzle of the chocolate syrup.

Serve Chocolate milkshake immediately.

Pro Tips

Proportion of ice cream & milk: For a thick and creamy chocolate milkshake, the proportion is the key. Using more milk and less ice cream is only going to make your shake less rich & creamy. For best results weigh your ice cream.

Milk: Avoid using raw milk. Use pasteurized or boiled & cooled milk. Chill the milk well before using.

Cocoa powder: For a richer flavor, avoid using cocoa directly in your shake. If you don’t have chocolate syrup make your own as mentioned below. It just takes 5 mins.

Chocolate syrup/ sauce: Stir in 4 tbsps of cocoa, half cup sugar with 4 tbsps water & half tsp vanilla extract in a small sauce pot. Whisk it well so there are no lumps & sugar dissolves, bring this to a boil on a medium flame and cook for a few minutes until you smell the sauce good. It will thicken up cooling. Cool completely and use it.

Chocolate chips: You may substitute chocolate syrup with 2 to 3 tbsps of chocolate chips. Pour little hot milk over the chocolate chips and mix well with a spoon until melted. Use this for the chocolate milkshake. You can add them directly if you want unmelted chocolate chips in your milkshake.

Recipe 2: You can make recipe 2 by making the chocolate sauce or melting chocolate chips.

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Recipe Card

Chocolate Milkshake Post is from the Archives. Recipe first published in April 2017, updated and republished in May 2022.