Save This creamy milkshake blends vanilla ice cream, whole milk, and pure mint extract for a cool, refreshing treat. Sweetened with optional sugar and colored with green food coloring, it’s blended until smooth and creamy. Served chilled with a swirl of whipped cream, each glass is finished with a maraschino cherry on top, balancing sweetness with bright mint flavor. Ideal for hot days or festive moments, it’s quick to prepare using common kitchen tools and customizable with chocolate or vegan alternatives.
The air conditioning had broken down during the hottest July I can remember, and my sister suggested we make milkshakes for dinner. No cooking, just cold blended happiness in a glass.
We experimented with different extracts that afternoon, but the pure mint extract hit differently—cool, almost tingly on the tongue, like eating a peppermint leaf straight from the garden.
Ingredients
- Vanilla Ice Cream: Let it soften for five minutes before blending for that perfectly smooth diner consistency
- Whole Milk: Creates the ideal pourable thickness that still holds a straw upright
- Pure Mint Extract: A little goes a long way, so start with half a teaspoon
- Sugar: Only needed if your ice cream isnt already sweet enough
- Green Food Coloring: Completely optional but adds that classic retro look
- Whipped Cream: The homemade kind melts beautifully into the cold shake
- Maraschino Cherries: With stems because they double as a finger hold while you eat the cherry last
Instructions
- Gather everything first:
- Place your glasses in the freezer now so theyre frosty cold when ready
- Blend it up:
- Combine ice cream, milk, mint extract, sugar and food coloring in your blender and mix until completely smooth
- Taste and tweak:
- Take a tiny sip to see if you want more mint or sweetness before pouring
- Pour and crown:
- Divide between chilled glasses, add whipped cream in tall swirls and top with cherries
Save Now I keep maraschino cherries in the fridge year round, just in case someone suggests milkshakes for dinner on a random Tuesday.
Making It Your Way
Chocolate ice cream transforms this into a grasshopper shake, while a splash of chocolate syrup drizzled inside the glass before pouring creates those pretty streaks.
Texture Secrets
The thickness depends entirely on your ice cream to milk ratio. More milk equals drinkable, more ice cream equals spoonable soft serve territory.
Serving Suggestions
Tall soda fountain glasses work best for the full experience, and metal straws keep the shake extra cold while you sip.
- Add crushed mint leaves to the blender for fresh flavor
- Sprinkle crushed chocolate wafers on top of the whipped cream
- Serve with a long spoon for the thicker parts at the bottom
Save Some nights call for proper dinner, and other nights just call for something cold, sweet, and minty.
Recipe FAQs
- → Can I use peppermint extract instead of mint extract?
-
Yes, peppermint extract offers a sharper mint flavor. Add it gradually as it is more potent to avoid overpowering the milkshake.
- → How can I make this milkshake vegan?
-
Replace vanilla ice cream with plant-based alternatives and use a non-dairy milk to craft a vegan-friendly version.
- → Is it necessary to add sugar?
-
Sugar is optional and can be adjusted to taste, depending on your sweetness preference and the ice cream used.
- → What tools are needed to prepare this milkshake?
-
A blender for combining ingredients, measuring cups and spoons for accuracy, and serving glasses are required.
- → Can the vanilla ice cream be substituted?
-
Yes, swapping vanilla for chocolate ice cream creates a mint-chocolate twist for a richer flavor profile.
