How to Make a Milkshake in a Blender

On this page (9 sections)

1. What ingredients do you need for a homemade milkshake?
2. How do you make a milkshake in a blender step by step?
3. Why does the order of ingredients matter?
4. Which blender speed and setting should you use?
5. How do you get a thick milkshake instead of a thin one?
6. How much milkshake can your blender jar hold?
7. How do you clean a blender after making a milkshake?
8. Common mistakes to avoid when blending a shake
9. What's the best way to make a homemade milkshake in a blender?

Put milk in the blender first, add ice cream and flavoring on top, then pulse on low and finish on medium until thick and smooth. A 1 to 3 milk-to-ice-cream ratio keeps the blades moving without turning the shake thin.

That's the whole method for how to make homemade milkshake in blender style, and the details below handle texture, settings and cleanup.

The order matters more than the ice cream brand. Liquid at the bottom lets the blades spin, and cold, hard ice cream gives the thick body people want from a shake.

What ingredients do you need for a homemade milkshake?

You need ice cream, milk and one flavoring, plus a pinch of salt if the shake tastes flat. For two medium glasses, plan on about 2 cups of ice cream and 1/2 to 2/3 cup of milk.

Whole milk gives the creamiest result; skim milk works but produces a thinner drink.

Vanilla ice cream is the base for most flavors. Chocolate syrup, strawberry puree or a spoon of peanut butter each change the shake with one ingredient.

A splash of vanilla extract sharpens plain vanilla ice cream without adding much liquid.

Keep the ice cream frozen hard until the last moment. Softened ice cream blends faster but gives a looser shake that separates sooner.

A pinch of salt balances sweetness and makes chocolate taste richer.

Skip the ice cubes. They water down the mix and make the shake gritty.

If you want it colder, chill the milk and the glasses instead.

How do you make a milkshake in a blender step by step?

Pour the milk in first, add the ice cream and flavoring, then blend in short bursts. That sequence keeps the blades from packing ice cream against the jar wall.

Follow these steps for a reliable result every time.

1. Add 1/2 cup cold milk to the blender jar.
2. Spoon in 2 cups of hard ice cream in rough chunks.
3. Add your flavoring, such as 2 tablespoons of chocolate syrup.
4. Secure the lid and pulse 5 or 6 times on low speed.
5. Run on medium for 15 to 30 seconds until smooth and thick.
6. Stop, scrape down the sides, and pulse once more if needed.
7. Pour into chilled glasses and serve right away.

Don't fill the jar past its maximum line. Ice cream expands as it blends and can push the lid loose.

For a single serving, halve the amounts and use a smaller jar.

Why does the order of ingredients matter?

Liquid under the ice cream lets the blade create a vortex that pulls the solid pieces down. Put ice cream in a dry jar and the blade spins in air while the ice cream sits on top.

Milk first is the simplest fix.

The same logic applies to frozen fruit. Place milk or juice at the bottom, then fruit, then ice cream.

If the blade stalls, stop the blender before scraping. Never push a spoon or spatula into a running jar.

Turn the machine off, wait for the blade to stop, then stir the mix and pulse again.

Which blender speed and setting should you use?

Use low speed to break up the ice cream, then medium to smooth it out. High speed is the wrong choice for a milkshake because it whips in air and thins the texture.

A milkshake needs mixing, not a long high-speed run.

Pulse in short bursts at the start. Most machines handle a shake in 20 to 40 seconds total.

Stop when the shake looks even and moves as one mass in the jar.

If your blender has a smoothie or shake preset, it will usually run a short cycle on its own. Watch the first few seconds anyway.

Some presets run longer than a milkshake needs. For more on matching power to the job, see our guide to blender wattage.

How do you get a thick milkshake instead of a thin one?

Use hard ice cream and cut the milk back for a shake that holds its shape. Too much milk is the most common cause of a thin, watery result.

The ratio does more for thickness than any setting.

A few adjustments make a thicker shake:

• Start with less milk than you think you need and add more only if the blade stalls.
• Use ice cream straight from the freezer rather than softened scoops.
• Pulse rather than blend continuously so the mix stays cold.
• Add a spoon of ice cream at the end for body without extra liquid.
• Chill the glass so the shake doesn't warm up as you pour.

If the shake gets too thick to pour, add milk 1 tablespoon at a time. Small additions are easier to control than large ones.

Serve immediately, because any milkshake loosens as it warms.

How much milkshake can your blender jar hold?

A 40 oz jar makes about two large shakes without crowding, so check your jar size before doubling a recipe. Leave at least an inch of headspace for expansion.

A jar filled to the top can overflow when the ice cream foams.

A personal blender cup suits a single serving. A full-size jar is better for two or more glasses and gives the blade more room to move.

If you're unsure which size fits your kitchen, read what size blender do i need.

The Hamilton Beach Wave Crusher has a 40 oz glass jar and 14 functions, including settings for shakes and icy drinks. Its Wave~Action system pulls the mix down into the blades as it blends, which helps with thick ice cream.

The jar, lid and removable blades are dishwasher-safe.

The Oster Pro 1200 steps up to 1200 watts and adds 7 speeds with 3 pre-programmed settings, including one for milkshakes. Its 6 cup Boroclass glass jar handles thermal shock, and the set includes a 24 oz to-go cup for single servings.

Either machine makes a good shake. Pick the Hamilton Beach for a simpler everyday jar at a budget tier, or the Oster for more power and the to-go cup.

Compare more options in our blender guide.

How do you clean a blender after making a milkshake?

Rinse the jar right after pouring, because milk and ice cream dry hard and stick to the blade. A quick rinse takes seconds while a dried jar needs soaking and scrubbing.

Warm water and a drop of dish soap handle most of it.

Add warm water and a little soap to the jar, run a short pulse, and pour it out. Repeat with clean water to rinse.

Then wash the lid and jar by hand or in the dishwasher if the maker allows it. Our step-by-step guide to how to clean a ninja blender covers the blade and lid in more detail.

For tall glasses, straws and narrow lids, a brush set reaches the spots a sponge misses. The Holikme set includes a 16 inch long-handle brush, a 14 inch sports bottle brush, a 10 inch sponge brush, a 4.3 inch spout brush and four straw brushes.

Dry everything fully before storing. A damp lid or jar can pick up a smell between uses.

Common mistakes to avoid when blending a shake

The most common mistakes are too much milk, warm ice cream and blending on high too long. Each one turns a thick shake into a thin drink.

Avoid them and the texture takes care of itself.

Other easy fixes:

• Don't pack the jar past the maximum line.
• Add flavoring before blending, not after, so it mixes evenly.
• Scrape the sides once halfway through rather than blending longer.
• Use a spatula only when the blender is off.
• Serve in a chilled glass to slow the melt.

If the shake tastes icy or grainy, the ice cream was too soft or the blend ran too long. Short pulses keep the mix cold and smooth.

For a thicker result next time, start with less milk.

What's the best way to make a homemade milkshake in a blender?

The best method is milk first, hard ice cream next, then short pulses on low and a medium finish. Keep the ratio near 1 part milk to 3 parts ice cream and stop as soon as the texture is even.

That gives a thick shake without a watery finish.

Pick the Hamilton Beach Wave Crusher if you want a simple 40 oz glass jar for everyday shakes. Choose the Oster Pro 1200 if you want more power and a to-go cup for single servings.

Either way, rinse the jar before the milk dries and your next shake will be just as easy.

Frequently asked questions

How much milk do you put in a milkshake?

Start with about 1/3 cup of milk for every 1 cup of ice cream. A 1 to 3 milk-to-ice-cream ratio gives a thick shake that still moves in the blender.

Add more milk in 1 tablespoon steps if the blades stall.

What blender speed makes the best milkshake?

Start on the lowest speed and pulse 5 or 6 times to break up the ice cream, then run medium for 15 to 30 seconds. High speed whips air into the mix and thins the shake.

Stop as soon as the texture looks even.

Why is my milkshake too thin?

The mix is too warm or too milky. Use hard ice cream straight from the freezer, cut the milk back, and blend in short pulses.

A splash of milk is easier to add than a thicker ingredient is to remove.

Can you make a milkshake without ice cream?

Yes. Frozen banana slices or frozen milk cubes give thickness, and milk plus a little sugar and vanilla makes a lighter shake.

Keep the frozen pieces small so the blade can bite into them.

How do you get a milkshake thick enough for a straw?

Use less milk and pulse rather than blend. Add 1 or 2 tablespoons of ice cream at the end and run 3 short pulses.

Serve right away, because the shake softens as it sits.