Peppermint Milkshake

Make your holiday a little sweeter with a festive peppermint milkshake. Our recipe makes three lusciously smooth milkshakes with notes of tingly peppermint and rich vanilla cream. Each milkshake is dotted with real bits of crushed peppermint candies and topped with whipped cream.

Learning how to make a milkshake is easy. Just process milk and ice cream with the yummy mix-ins of your choosing. So bust out the blender, and whip up a peppermint milkshake for a truly special holiday treat.

Peppermint Milkshake Ingredients

• Milk: A little bit of milk brings the ice cream to a drinking consistency and adds even more richness to the shake. Win-win!
• Vanilla ice cream: Our Test Kitchen researched the best vanilla ice cream brands, from the creamiest to the richest to the best everyday ice cream. If you’re going the store-bought route, we recommend any of the ones on our list. Or take this peppermint milkshake recipe to the next level, and make your own homemade vanilla ice cream.
• Peppermint extract: This milkshake is pretty pepperminty! Use just half of the extract amount if you want a more subtle peppermint flavor.
• Peppermint candies: It’s easy to crush these candies up. Just place them in a sealed resealable bag, and gently crush with a hammer or rolling pin or the smooth side of a meat mallet. They should be broken into small pieces when you’re done. If you want, you can place a kitchen towel underneath if you’re nervous about cracking the countertops.
• Sweetened whipped cream: You can use whipped cream right out of the can, or make your own sweetened whipped cream for an ultra-luxurious mouthfeel.

Directions

Step 1: Blend the milkshake base

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In a blender, combine the milk, ice cream and peppermint extract. Cover and process until the milkshake is smooth, about 30 seconds.

Editor’s Tip: You know our Test Kitchen pros took the time to find the best blenders for a home kitchen!

Step 2: Flavor with peppermint

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Stir in 1/4 cup of the crushed peppermint candies.

Step 3: Garnish and serve

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Pour the milkshake mixture into chilled glasses. Top each peppermint milkshake with whipped cream and the remaining crushed peppermint candies. Serve the milkshakes immediately.

Editor’s Tip: To chill your milkshake glasses, pop them into the freezer for about 30 minutes.

Recipe Variations

• Mimic the famous fast-food milkshake: The Chik-fil-A peppermint milkshake makes its highly anticipated drop every November, just in time for the holiday season. Recreate it yourself by adding shaved chocolate flecks and a dot or two of red food coloring to the base of this milkshake.
• Use peppermint ice cream: Can’t find peppermint extract? Don’t feel like crushing up peppermint candies? Omit them, and use peppermint ice cream instead. So easy!
• Garnish with chocolate shavings: Glide dark chocolate over the smallest side of a grater (or use a Microplane grater) to get confetti-like chocolate shavings. Garnish them over the top of your peppermint milkshake. A Maraschino cherry wouldn’t hurt, either.

Can you store a peppermint milkshake?

Yes, you can store a peppermint milkshake. Simply pour the shake into a paper cup, and store it in the freezer for up to two days. When you’re ready to enjoy it, let the shake soften at room temperature for a few minutes, then give it a good stir with a spoon.

Peppermint Milkshake Tips

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What are some other holiday milkshake recipes?

You’re in luck, we have plenty of other holiday milkshake recipes to celebrate the festive season! Make sure you check out this decadent eggnog milkshake. It’s downright delicious.

Are you supposed to put ice in a milkshake?

No, you are not supposed to put ice in a milkshake. Our peppermint milkshake recipe churns out a perfectly thick and creamy treat, no ice required. In fact, ice makes milkshakes thin and watery with unpleasant ice chunks dotted throughout. Ice is an overall no-no in milkshakes!

Which milk is used for milkshakes?

This peppermint milkshake recipe calls for 2% milk, but you could use whole milk or a combination of milk and half-and-half for an ultra-rich shake.