Chocolate Milkshake Recipes

If you have ever searched for the perfect chocolate milkshake recipe, you know the disappointment of a shake that turns out thin, icy or barely chocolatey at all. A great milkshake should be thick enough to hold a straw upright, rich with real chocolate flavour, and creamy from the first sip to the last. The good news is that all of that is easy to achieve at home with a blender, good ice cream and a few simple tricks.

This roundup brings together 13 chocolate milkshake recipes that cover every craving. You will find the timeless diner-style classic, an ultra-rich double fudge version, a Nutella lover’s dream, a mint chocolate chip favourite, and even a dairy-free coconut option and a spiked Baileys shake for the grown-ups. Every recipe uses everyday ingredients, most of which you probably already have in the freezer and pantry, and each one takes just a few minutes to blend. They scale up easily for parties, movie nights and summer birthdays, and every single one can be dressed up with whipped cream, sauces and sprinkles for that proper ice-cream-parlour finish.

A few tips before you start: use cold milk and well-frozen ice cream so the shake stays thick, add the liquid first so the blender blades move freely, and blend just until smooth — over-blending warms the shake and makes it runny. Now grab your blender and pick your favourite.

1. Classic Chocolate Milkshake

The timeless diner-style shake — thick, creamy and full of honest chocolate flavour.

Serves: 2 | Prep: 5 mins

Ingredients

• 4 scoops chocolate ice cream (about 2 cups)
• 3/4 cup whole milk, cold
• 3 tbsp chocolate syrup, plus extra for the glasses
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• Whipped cream, to serve
• Chocolate shavings or sprinkles, to serve

Method

1. Drizzle chocolate syrup around the inside of two tall glasses and place them in the fridge to chill.
2. Add the milk, ice cream, chocolate syrup and vanilla to a blender.
3. Blend on high for 30–45 seconds until smooth and thick. If it is too thick to pour, add a splash more milk; if it comes out too thin, add another scoop of ice cream and blend briefly again.
4. Pour into the chilled glasses, top with a generous swirl of whipped cream and a shower of chocolate shavings, and serve immediately with thick straws.

2. Double Chocolate Fudge Milkshake

For serious chocoholics — cocoa, chocolate ice cream and warm fudge sauce in every sip.

Serves: 2 | Prep: 5 mins

Ingredients

• 4 scoops chocolate ice cream (about 2 cups)
• 2/3 cup whole milk, cold
• 3 tbsp hot fudge sauce, warmed slightly, plus extra to serve
• 2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/4 cup chocolate chips
• Whipped cream and a drizzle of fudge, to serve

Method

1. Add the milk, ice cream, fudge sauce, cocoa powder and chocolate chips to a blender.
2. Blend for 45–60 seconds until completely smooth and the chips are finely broken down.
3. Swirl warm fudge sauce around the inside of two glasses so it runs down in thick ribbons.
4. Pour in the shake, top with whipped cream and an extra fudge drizzle, and serve straight away with a spoon for the fudge at the bottom.

3. Nutella Chocolate Milkshake

Hazelnut heaven — the beloved chocolate-hazelnut spread blended into a silky, nutty shake.

Serves: 2 | Prep: 5 mins

Ingredients

• 4 scoops vanilla or chocolate ice cream (about 2 cups)
• 3/4 cup whole milk, cold
• 4 tbsp Nutella, plus extra for the rims
• 1 tbsp cocoa powder
• Crushed roasted hazelnuts, to serve
• Whipped cream, to serve

Method

1. Spread a little Nutella around the rims of two glasses and dip them in the crushed hazelnuts so they stick in a crunchy ring.
2. Add the milk, ice cream, Nutella and cocoa powder to a blender. Warming the Nutella for 10 seconds in the microwave first helps it blend in smoothly.
3. Blend for 30–45 seconds until thick and glossy.
4. Pour into the prepared glasses, finish with whipped cream and a pinch of hazelnuts, and serve immediately.

4. Chocolate Peanut Butter Milkshake

The classic sweet-and-salty pairing — rich chocolate with a swirl of creamy peanut butter.

Serves: 2 | Prep: 5 mins

Ingredients

• 4 scoops chocolate ice cream (about 2 cups)
• 3/4 cup whole milk, cold
• 3 tbsp creamy peanut butter, plus extra to drizzle
• 2 tbsp chocolate syrup
• Pinch of sea salt
• Whipped cream and crushed peanuts, to serve

Method

1. Add the milk, ice cream, peanut butter, chocolate syrup and sea salt to a blender.
2. Blend for 30–45 seconds until smooth and thick.
3. Drizzle a little warmed peanut butter (15 seconds in the microwave makes it pourable) and chocolate syrup inside two glasses.
4. Pour in the shake, top with whipped cream, crushed peanuts and one more drizzle of each sauce, and serve right away.

5. Chocolate Banana Milkshake

Naturally sweet and extra creamy — ripe banana makes this shake taste like a chocolate banana split.

Serves: 2 | Prep: 5 mins

Ingredients

• 3 scoops chocolate ice cream (about 1 1/2 cups)
• 1 large ripe banana, sliced and frozen
• 3/4 cup whole milk, cold
• 2 tbsp cocoa powder
• 1 tbsp honey or maple syrup (optional)
• Whipped cream and banana slices, to serve

Method

1. Add the milk, frozen banana, ice cream, cocoa powder and honey to a blender. Freezing the banana first is the secret to the extra-thick texture, so do not skip that step.
2. Blend for 45–60 seconds until completely smooth and frothy, stopping once to scrape down the sides if needed.
3. Taste and add a little more honey if you like it sweeter.
4. Pour into two glasses, top with whipped cream and banana slices, and serve immediately.

6. Mint Chocolate Chip Milkshake

Cool, refreshing and pretty pale green — like mint choc chip ice cream in a glass.

Serves: 2 | Prep: 5 mins

Ingredients

• 4 scoops vanilla ice cream (about 2 cups)
• 3/4 cup whole milk, cold
• 1/2 tsp peppermint extract
• 3–4 drops green food colouring (optional)
• 1/4 cup dark chocolate chips, finely chopped
• Whipped cream and chocolate shavings, to serve

Method

1. Add the milk, ice cream, peppermint extract and food colouring to a blender.
2. Blend for 30 seconds until smooth and evenly coloured.
3. Add the chopped chocolate and pulse 3–4 times so tiny chips stay speckled through the shake. Go easy on the peppermint extract — a little goes a long way and too much tastes like toothpaste.
4. Pour into two glasses, top with whipped cream and chocolate shavings, and serve straight away.

7. Mocha Chocolate Milkshake

A coffee-lover’s shake — deep chocolate with a proper espresso kick, perfect for an afternoon pick-me-up.

Serves: 2 | Prep: 5 mins

Ingredients

• 4 scoops chocolate or coffee ice cream (about 2 cups)
• 1/2 cup whole milk, cold
• 1/4 cup strong espresso or cold brew, chilled
• 2 tbsp chocolate syrup
• 1 tsp instant coffee granules (optional, for extra kick)
• Whipped cream and cocoa powder, to serve

Method

1. Add the milk, espresso, ice cream, chocolate syrup and instant coffee to a blender.
2. Blend for 30–45 seconds until smooth and thick.
3. Swirl chocolate syrup inside two glasses, then pour in the shake. Make sure the coffee is properly cold before blending, or it will melt the ice cream and thin the shake out.
4. Top with whipped cream and a dusting of cocoa powder, and serve immediately.

8. Malted Chocolate Milkshake

Old-fashioned soda-fountain flavour — malt powder adds a toasty, nostalgic depth to the chocolate.

Serves: 2 | Prep: 5 mins

Ingredients

• 4 scoops chocolate ice cream (about 2 cups)
• 3/4 cup whole milk, cold
• 3 tbsp malted milk powder
• 2 tbsp chocolate syrup
• Crushed malted chocolate balls (such as Maltesers or Whoppers), to serve
• Whipped cream, to serve

Method

1. Add the milk, ice cream, malt powder and chocolate syrup to a blender.
2. Blend for 30–45 seconds until smooth, thick and frothy.
3. Pour into two tall glasses, leaving a little room at the top for the cream.
4. Top with whipped cream and a spoonful of crushed malted chocolate balls for crunch, and serve right away. This is the shake to make when you want proper old-school diner flavour at home.

9. Salted Caramel Chocolate Milkshake

Sweet meets salty — buttery caramel and a flake of sea salt make the chocolate taste even richer.

Serves: 2 | Prep: 5 mins

Ingredients

• 4 scoops chocolate ice cream (about 2 cups)
• 3/4 cup whole milk, cold
• 3 tbsp salted caramel sauce, plus extra to serve
• 2 tbsp cocoa powder
• 1/4 tsp flaky sea salt, plus a pinch to finish
• Whipped cream, to serve

Method

1. Drizzle salted caramel sauce around the inside of two glasses.
2. Add the milk, ice cream, caramel sauce, cocoa powder and sea salt to a blender.
3. Blend for 30–45 seconds until silky and smooth.
4. Pour into the prepared glasses, top with whipped cream, an extra caramel drizzle and a pinch of flaky salt, and serve immediately.

10. Brownie Batter Milkshake

Tastes like licking the spoon — a thick shake blended with real brownie chunks and cocoa.

Serves: 2 | Prep: 5 mins

Ingredients

• 4 scoops chocolate ice cream (about 2 cups)
• 2/3 cup whole milk, cold
• 1 chocolate brownie (about 80 g), broken into chunks, plus extra crumbled to serve
• 2 tbsp cocoa powder
• 2 tbsp chocolate syrup
• Whipped cream, to serve

Method

1. Add the milk, ice cream, brownie chunks, cocoa powder and chocolate syrup to a blender.
2. Blend for 45 seconds until mostly smooth, with a few tiny brownie flecks remaining.
3. Pour into two glasses.
4. Top with whipped cream and crumbled brownie, and serve with a spoon as well as a straw.

11. Cookies and Cream Chocolate Milkshake

Crushed chocolate sandwich cookies through a chocolate shake — crunchy, creamy and always a crowd-pleaser.

Serves: 2 | Prep: 5 mins

Ingredients

• 4 scoops chocolate ice cream (about 2 cups)
• 3/4 cup whole milk, cold
• 6 chocolate sandwich cookies (such as Oreos), plus 2 extra to serve
• 2 tbsp chocolate syrup
• Whipped cream, to serve

Method

1. Add the milk, ice cream, cookies and chocolate syrup to a blender.
2. Blend for 30–40 seconds until the cookies are broken into fine crumbs through the shake. For bigger cookie pieces, reserve two cookies, crumble them in by hand at the end and pulse just twice.
3. Pour into two glasses.
4. Top with whipped cream and a whole cookie on each rim, and serve immediately.

12. Dairy-Free Coconut Chocolate Milkshake

All the richness, none of the dairy — coconut milk and coconut ice cream make it naturally creamy and vegan-friendly.

Serves: 2 | Prep: 5 mins

Ingredients

• 4 scoops dairy-free coconut or chocolate ice cream (about 2 cups)
• 3/4 cup coconut milk (from a carton), cold
• 3 tbsp cocoa powder or cacao powder
• 2 tbsp maple syrup
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• Toasted coconut flakes and dairy-free whipped topping, to serve

Method

1. Add the coconut milk, dairy-free ice cream, cocoa powder, maple syrup and vanilla to a blender.
2. Blend for 45–60 seconds until completely smooth and thick.
3. Taste and add a little more maple syrup if needed. For an even richer shake, use chilled tinned coconut milk instead of the carton kind.
4. Pour into two glasses, top with dairy-free whipped topping and toasted coconut flakes, and serve straight away.

13. Spiked Baileys Chocolate Milkshake

Adults only — Irish cream liqueur turns this into a proper after-dinner treat for grown-ups.

Serves: 2 | Prep: 5 mins

Ingredients

• 4 scoops chocolate ice cream (about 2 cups)
• 1/2 cup whole milk, cold
• 1/3 cup Baileys Irish Cream
• 2 tbsp chocolate syrup, plus extra for the glasses
• Whipped cream and grated dark chocolate, to serve

Method

1. Drizzle chocolate syrup inside two glasses and chill briefly in the fridge.
2. Add the milk, Baileys, ice cream and chocolate syrup to a blender.
3. Blend for 30–45 seconds until smooth and pourable but still thick.
4. Pour into the prepared glasses, top with whipped cream and grated dark chocolate, and serve immediately. Adults only — please enjoy responsibly.

More Drink Recipes You’ll Love

Still in the mood for something sweet and sippable? Try these reader favourites next — they use the same simple blender method and just as much chocolatey (or fruity) goodness.

• Oreo Milkshake Recipes
• Strawberry Milkshake Recipes
• Mango Smoothie Recipes