How to Make the Perfect Milkshake

How to Make the Perfect Milkshake

As we begin to move into the later parts of summer, you may find yourself realizing either that you simply haven’t eaten enough ice cream yet this summer, or that you’ve eaten a ton and need to “shake” things up a bit (see what we did there? Never mind.) Yes, ice cream is amazing all year long, but for many of us, it’s a cardinal necessity of our summertime existence. Some may even agree that the delicious treat is a product of creation’s eighth day. If you love ice cream, you probably also love milkshakes. If you love milkshakes, you probably wouldn’t mind having more of them in your life. If that’s the case, we’re here for you. This is a quick (and fun) guide to making the perfect milkshake in the comfort of your own home!

Step One: Acquire the Core Ingredients

                    Buy it. Borrow it. Beg for it. Do whatever you must (as long as your actions fall within the basic bounds of moral behavior) to get yourself some ice cream. Obviously, you’re going to need ice cream for your shake. Choose wisely, though. As the core ingredient to your shake, the flavor of ice cream will greatly affect the taste, texture, and viscosity of your final shake. Don’t be afraid to experiment – you know what they say! High risk, high reward. If you plan on adding more ingredients later, however, it may be a good idea to stick with a simple base. Along with ice cream you’re going to need milk (go figure, huh?). Whether you get whole milk or reduced fat milk is completely up to you. But come on, you’re making a milkshake. Go big or go home. Shoot, I think I’ll make mine with half and half.

Step Two: Gather the Hardware

                    You’ll need the following tools:

• A blender
• A cup (for optimal satisfaction, a very large one)
• A thick straw or spoon
• Measuring cups (not necessary, but you’ll want them if you want to be able to perfectly recreate your favorite shake)
• A bed, couch, or at least a clean floor to crash on in case of a milkshake-induced coma

Step Three: Decide on Additional Ingredients (Optional)

This step is completely negotiable. If you’re looking for a traditional, smooth milkshake, you may stick with just the core ingredients, maybe with some whipped cream to top it off. However, if you’re looking to wander into the more adventurous territories of milkshake making, you may decide to make your milkshake more like a blizzard. Think of the possibilities! You could throw fruit, candy, extracts (mint, vanilla, maple), Torani syrups, cake mix, cookies, and more into the mix. I was blown away by how delicious a simple vanilla fruit loop milkshake was. Make your own mad scientist-esque discoveries by getting creative!

Step Four: Shake it All Up

Now’s the time to blend everything you’ve chosen (whether haphazardly or carefully) into the perfect milkshake. The ratios are certainly the trickiest bit here. How much milk to ice cream? How many pieces of candy, or how much of your flavoring do you put in? The answer to these questions depends completely on a number of factors. What brand of ice cream are you using? What flavor? What kind of milk? What additional ingredients are you using? While it may be difficult to get it right on your first go, the nice thing is that you can always just add a bit more milk if your shake turns out too thick, or more ice cream if it’s too thin. The only danger here is that you may end up with more milkshake than you initially anticipated, and we figure that’s a pretty darn good problem to have, especially if you’ve got that coma landing-platform we recommended earlier. If you’re looking to create the perfect recipe that you can come back to time and time again, measure everything you do with measuring cups and spoons. If you need to add more of an ingredient, be sure to keep track of how much you add. Nothing’s worse than creating perfection, only to find later that no matter how hard you try you simply can’t replicate it.

Step Five: The Very Best Step

                            Once you’re satisfied with your shake, pour it into a glass (or perhaps a giant cup from Maverick) and enjoy! If you’ve got more of a Blizzard than a shake you’ll probably be using a spoon. Otherwise, your shake will be best-enjoyed through a straw. In addition to enjoying a shake that’s perfectly tailored to your own cravings and preferences, you can sip away with the satisfaction of knowing you made it all on your own!