How to make a caramel milkshake?

A thick and creamy caramel shake is one of life’s guilty pleasures. It may not be the healthiest treat in the world, but sometimes we all deserve a good treat.

We’ve all tried a good caramel milkshake at a coffee shop or bar, but can you recreate it at home?

To make a caramel milkshake, there are several methods that work well. The classic recipe mixes ice cream, milk, and caramel sauce to make a thick, creamy shake. Alternative methods include using crushed ice cubes or substituting ingredients to make dairy-free and healthier alternatives.

Do you want to know more about the best way to make a caramel milkshake? We have all the answers and more for you!

What is a caramel milkshake?

There shouldn’t be many people who don’t know what a milkshake is, but just in case you’ve suddenly come back from a long trip to Outer Mongolia, we’ll explain it to you anyway!

A milkshake is a cold, sweet drink, usually made by mixing milk with ice cream. This gives a thick, creamy texture to the drink, along with thousands of tiny bubbles that are suspended in the liquid.

The shakes are usually served in a tall glass, and are sometimes topped with chips or ice cream. The best way to drink a smoothie is through a straw, as freezing temperatures can cause your teeth to shrink.

These indulgent drinks come in a myriad of flavors, and if you go to a smoothie bar you’ll be overwhelmed with choice.

From fruity berries to juicy bananas to rich chocolate, the flavor combination options in your smoothie are endless.

One of the most popular milkshake flavors has long been butterscotch.

This thick, rich, dark sauce pairs amazingly well with creamy milk and ice cream, and a butterscotch shake will be on the menu of any respectable smoothie bar.

But you don’t have to go outside to treat yourself to this popular smoothie, as it’s easy to recreate at home.

Let’s find out how to make a caramel milkshake, as well as all the variants to suit different dietary needs.

How to make a simple caramel milkshake - Step by step guide

This easy caramel shake recipe only needs three ingredients: milk, vanilla ice cream, and caramel sauce.

They are carefully blended to create a rich, thick and creamy shake that is a great treat any time of day.

Ingredients

• 2 cups of vanilla ice cream
• ½ cup milk - any type of milk will do, but whole milk gives the best creamy flavor
• 1-2 tablespoons caramel sauce (depending on how sweet you like your shake)

Instructions

• Put all the ingredients in the blender jug (you can use a blender with a jug attachment or a stick mixer in your regular kitchen jug).
• Beat until the shake is completely smooth, with no visible lumps of ice cream.
• Pour the smoothie mixture into a tall chilled glass.
• Add a dash of caramel sauce and enjoy.

How to make caramel sauce

Caramel sauce is available at most grocery stores, but it’s also quick and easy to make at home.

The advantage of making caramel sauce is that you know exactly what’s in it – there are no nasty sweeteners or preservatives lurking around!

Follow this step-by-step guide to make a quick and easy caramel sauce at home!

Ingredients

• ½ cup brown sugar
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
• ½ cup heavy cream
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

• In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat.
• Add the brown sugar, cream and salt and mix well.
• Keep the saucepan over medium-low heat and bring it to a boil, stirring occasionally.
• Boil for 4-5 minutes (no more!), stirring every 30 seconds or so.
• Remove from heat and add vanilla extract, stirring to blend.
• Transfer the sauce to a container to cool. It will thicken as it cools, so don’t panic if it seems thin at first.

How to make a caramel milkshake without a mixer

Don’t have a blender in your kitchen? Don’t panic, it’s easy to make a great smoothie without it!

And since mixers can be a complete pain in the ass, we find the no mixer option very appealing!

All you need to make a great shake without a mixer is a way to gently melt the ice cream, so you can mix it with the milk.

The goal is to create an ice cream that is semi-liquid, but still has enough ice crystals to give your shake a thick texture.

Here you have two options, depending on the time and patience you have. The first is to let the ice cream melt at room temperature. This can take a while, but the process is speeded up if you stir the ice cream regularly.

The second option is to use the microwave’s defrost setting to soften the ice cream. Put it on for 30 seconds each time, stirring well to help the process.

Once the ice cream is smooth, pour in the milk and caramel and mix well. Voilá: a sumptuous caramel milkshake, without a mixer!

How to make a caramel milkshake with ice cubes

If you don’t have ice cream, or want to make a healthier shake, you can use ice cubes to create a thick, icy shake.

For this method, you’ll need a blender, as the goal is to crush the ice into fine grains. Added to milk, this slushie will give you a drink almost as good as the real thing.

For every cup of milk, add 6 ice cubes to your blender. Give it a quick hit until the ice cubes are in small pieces, and then add the milk and caramel sauce. Beat again until the mixture is smooth and creamy.

Serve in tall glasses, with a drizzle of caramel sauce for added sweetness.

How to make a healthy caramel shake

If you want to reduce the number of calories in this treat, there are a few easy ways to do it.

First, if you switch to a low-fat variety from your milk, your shake will immediately be healthier. You can also cut the amount of ice cream you use in half, but your shake won’t be as thick and decadent.

One way to make a thick and healthy shake is to add a frozen alternative to ice cream.  Frozen yogurt is a great substitute, and can give you a thick, decadent shake without the high fat content of ice cream.

You can also add frozen fruit to thicken the smoothie. One of the best pairings for caramel sauce is banana, so put a few frozen banana chunks in your blender instead of ice cream.

This will give you a natural sweetness without the fat, as well as a thick and creamy shake.

However, there are things that you cannot skip, and caramel sauce is one of them. You’ve already made your smoothie as healthy as it can be, so treat yourself to a good splash of caramel sauce for a rich caramelized sweetness.

How to make a fancy caramel shake

Let’s face it, a milkshake is supposed to be a decadent treat, right? With a few simple twists you can turn the basic recipe into a sumptuous smoothie that anyone would enjoy.

For starters, you only want the best raw ingredients. So stick with whole milk for extra creaminess, and treat yourself to some fancy vanilla ice cream from the store.

You know, the one made with real vanilla beans and the highest quality ingredients, and that you have to hide from the kids and your other half.

Your homemade caramel sauce can be taken to the next level with a few simple additions (as if that wasn’t decadent enough already!).

High-quality butterscotch is made with melted butter, and you can also add a dash of corn syrup and Scotch for added decadence . If you like salty butter caramel, add an extra pinch of sea salt flakes.

Another great way to increase the creaminess of your smoothie is to swap out some of the fresh milk for condensed milk.

This will increase the sweetness of the shake, so it’s best not to add more caramel sauce.

Lastly, let’s talk about dressings. One of the best things about restaurant smoothies is the care and attention that goes into making them absolutely delicious.

To create this at home, you can use a few basic ingredients to turn your thick smoothie into a gastronomic delight.

Here are some topping suggestions for the caramel shake:

• A tablespoon of whipped cream
• finely grated dark chocolate
• A splash of thick caramel sauce
• little marshmallows
• crushed cookies
• sprinkled
• crushed ash candy
• A scoop of caramel ice cream

Remember that if you add something that doesn’t dissolve in the shake, you’ll need a spoon to scoop it out. Small objects can also pose a choking hazard to children, especially if they are sucked up through a straw.

How to make a dairy free caramel shake

If you’re lactose intolerant or on a vegan diet, it can be frustrating when treats like shakes are loaded with dairy ingredients.

Don’t despair though, because with a few simple changes you can make a great dairy-free smoothie at home.

First, let’s look at milk. There is now a wide variety of non-dairy milks, so all you have to do is choose your favourite.

We recommend using oat or almond milk, as both have a slightly sweet flavor that works well in a smoothie.

When it comes to ice cream, this can be a bit trickier. There should be some vegan ice cream alternatives in the frozen section of your grocery store, so see if you can find a dairy-free vanilla frozen dessert.

For the caramel sauce, simply substitute or omit the cream. Again, look for a dairy-free option in your store, such as non-dairy milk or cream.

You can also get a dairy-free or vegan caramel sauce at specialty grocery stores.

Plus, the frozen banana chunks taste great in a dairy-free caramel shake, as well as giving you a thick and creamy shake!

And to finish it off, some totally over the top caramel shake toppings!

As with most things edible, the craze for increasingly elaborate smoothie toppings has skyrocketed of late. Here are some of the wackier caramel shake toppings we’ve come across:

• a tower of donuts
• A carefully balanced cupcake
• A fruity assortment of banana slices and cherries
• Your favorite candied candies
• caramel wafers
• cocktail umbrella
• Crushed chocolate coated cookies

Related questions

Now that we’ve gone over how to make a caramel milkshake, let’s look at some related questions!

How do you make a thick shake?

If you want a thick, luxurious shake, stay away from the ice! Although blended ice is a great quick fix for making a smoothie, you’ll find that it quickly turns watery as the ice begins to melt.

The best thick shakes are those made with ice cream, which gives them a thick, velvety texture.

But to get more thickness, we suggest you also add some frozen fruit. A splash of condensed milk is also a good way to thicken the shake.

Having chopped fruit in the freezer to add to your smoothies is a great way to not only make them super thick, but also add some nutritional goodness.

This means you can enjoy a guilt-free shake that still tastes like your favorite.

Is caramel sauce the same as caramel?

You’ll often find caramel sauce and butterscotch sauce side by side at the grocery store, but are they the same thing? Although you may think they taste very similar, there are some key differences between these two popular sauces.

Both caramel and butterscotch sauce are made with sugar, but the types of sugar used are different.

Caramel sauce is made with white granulated sugar, and caramel sauce is made with brown sugar. Cream is also sometimes added to the caramel, and both sauces benefit from a dash of vanilla and a pinch of salt.

The difference in sugar is what makes the flavor of each sauce so distinctive. The flavor of caramel is richer and more intense than that of caramel, which has a smoother and more delicate flavor.

They are pretty similar though, so there’s no problem swapping one for the other!

What is caramel shake powder?

Powdered shake mixes have long been popular with people looking for a convenient and easy way to make a shake.

These pre-mixed powders contain all the necessary flavors and ingredients to make a thick, decadent shake in a matter of seconds. All you need is milk and a way to mix it.

Powdered shakes work best if you have a mixer, but there are other options available to create a thick, creamy texture. One of the simplest is to put the milk and powders in a glass jar, make sure the lid is on properly, and shake.

While this is a faster option than making a shake from scratch, you’ll find that shake powder contains many additives, and may not be the healthiest option available.

But as an occasional treat or closet stash, shake powder is second to none when it comes to convenience.