A milkshake made without ice cream is still enjoyable and delicious. If you're out of ice cream, there are various great ways to still produce a sweet milkshake!

  • Prep time (blender): 5 minutes
  • Cook time (blending): 30-60 seconds
  • Total time: 5-10 minutes

Ingredients

Blender milkshake:

  • 12 ice cubes
  • 2 cups (475 ml) milk
  • 1 tsp (5 g) vanilla extract
  • 3/4 c (100 g) sugar
  • Chocolate syrup or other flavors (optional and to taste)

Milkshake in a bag:

  • 2 cups (475 ml) milk or half-and-half
  • 1 tsp (5 g) sugar
  • 12 ice cubes
  • Dash of vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon (pinch) salt
  • Chocolate syrup or other flavors (optional and to taste)

Crushed ice milkshake:

  • Milk (enough for a glass)
  • Syrup or fruit of choice (to taste)
  • Crushed ice
Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Making a Blender Milkshake

  1. 1
    Measure out 2 cups (475 ml) milk, 1 tsp (5 g) vanilla extract, and chocolate syrup (if desired). Put them into a blender and mix for 15-20 seconds. This circulates the air.
    • The thicker the milk you use (2%, for example) the thicker your milkshake will be.
  2. 2
    Put 3/4 cup (100 g) sugar into the blender. Blend for 5 - 10 seconds more.
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  3. 3
    Add the ice. This will work best with pre-crushed ice. Watch it as it blends -- if it blends too much, it will get quite runny.
  4. 4
    Serve and enjoy. Consume immediately -- it's best when cold and the ice still gives it texture.[1]
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Making a Milkshake in a Bag

  1. 1
    Take a small plastic bag and fill it with milk. It needs to be resealable above all else.
  2. 2
    Put a teaspoon of sugar in the milk. Lightly stir to combine.[2]
  3. 3
    Add a few drops of vanilla extract/essence into the bag. Stir the vanilla in thoroughly.
  4. 4
    Fill the big bag up halfway with ice. It needs to be able to contain a smaller bag and be sealed. A gallon-sized resealable bag is ideal.
  5. 5
    Put the bag with the mixture in the bigger bag. The ice is simply to get the chemical reactions going -- you won't be consuming it. It will remain separate from the milk mixture.
  6. 6
    Add 1/4 teaspoon of salt into the bigger bag. This has to do with exothermic reactions and is an imperative step to your mixture thickening!
  7. 7
    Shake for about 5-7 minutes, or until mushy like a milkshake. It requires vigorous shaking for the mixture to thicken. If 7 minutes have passed and it's not thick enough, shake it for a few more.
  8. 8
    Open up the small bag and pour it into a cup. Enjoy your shake!
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Making a Crushed Ice Milkshake

  1. 1
    Add the ingredients to the blender. If using fruit, chop into small enough pieces.[3]
  2. 2
    Blend until all the ingredients are well mixed.
  3. 3
    Add crushed ice. Blend again to mix thoroughly.
  4. 4
    Pour into the glass. The crushed ice will make the milkshake both cold and texturally thick.
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Community Q&A

  • Question
    What if I use cream instead of ice?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    This makes what is called a thick shake. You won't be left with any small clumps of ice in the end.
  • Question
    Is there a way to make a milkshake for someone who's lactose intolerant?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Sure. Substitute almond milk or coconut milk or some other milk substitute for the cow's milk, and just make sure the rest of your ingredients are lactose or dairy-free (according to the exact nature of your allergy).
  • Question
    Can I mix milk and chocolate to make a milkshake?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    If you use these two ingredients only, you will basically be making chocolate milk, which is similar to a milkshake, but not quite the same.
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Warnings

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Things You'll Need

In a Bag

  • Big bag (preferably resealable)
  • Small bag (also resealable)
  • Cup
  • Teaspoon
  • Spoon

In a Blender

  • Blender
  • Measuring tools


About This Article

Tested by:
wikiHow Test Kitchen
wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 100 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been viewed 1,070,759 times.
3 votes - 20%
Co-authors: 100
Updated: January 8, 2023
Views: 1,070,759
Article SummaryX

To make a milkshake without ice cream, mix milk, vanilla, and chocolate syrup in your blender for 15-20 seconds. Add sugar and blend for an additional 5-10 seconds, then pour in your ice cubes and blend again until the milkshake is smooth. Be careful not to overblend the ice, though, or your milkshake will be runny. Pour the milkshake into a glass, topping it with whipped cream if you like, and drink it immediately. If you want to learn how to make your milkshake in a plastic bag, keep reading!

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