Chocolate Milkshake
Ice cream, milk and cocoa blended thick enough to hold a straw upright. The ratio matters far more than the ingredients, and the most common mistake is far too much milk.
Photograph credit: Chocolate milk shake - The Bystander Cafe by Andy Li · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons
Method
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Whisk the cocoa, sugar, water and salt in a small pan and bring to a simmer, whisking, for 2 minutes until glossy and slightly thickened.
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Take off the heat, stir in the vanilla, and chill completely. This makes more than you need and keeps for weeks.
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Chill two tall glasses in the freezer for at least 20 minutes.
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Put the milk, 5 tablespoons of the chocolate syrup and the malted milk powder into the blender first — liquids at the bottom help the blades catch.
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Add the ice cream on top.
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Blend in short 3-second pulses, stopping to scrape down, for no more than 20 seconds in total.
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The shake should be thick enough that it barely moves when you tilt the jug.
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Pour into the frozen glasses, top with whipped cream, chocolate shavings and a cherry, and serve with a thick straw and a long spoon.
Chef’s Tips
- Freeze the glasses. It buys you several minutes before the shake starts to slump.
- Pulse, do not blend continuously. Friction heat is what turns a milkshake into chocolate milk.
- If it is too thick to move, add milk one tablespoon at a time — you can always add, never remove.
Pairing Suggestions
- A burger and fries, in the diner tradition
- Salty crisps
- Nothing at all
Storage & Reheating
Drink immediately. The chocolate syrup keeps 3 weeks refrigerated and is excellent over ice cream.
Common questions
How long does Chocolate Milkshake take to make?
About 10 minutes in total — 5 minutes of preparation and 5 minutes of cooking. The recipe serves 2.
What are the key tips for making Chocolate Milkshake?
Freeze the glasses. It buys you several minutes before the shake starts to slump. Pulse, do not blend continuously. Friction heat is what turns a milkshake into chocolate milk. If it is too thick to move, add milk one tablespoon at a time — you can always add, never remove.
What should I serve with Chocolate Milkshake?
A burger and fries, in the diner tradition; Salty crisps; Nothing at all.
How should Chocolate Milkshake be stored?
Drink immediately. The chocolate syrup keeps 3 weeks refrigerated and is excellent over ice cream.
Is Chocolate Milkshake suitable for a special diet?
This recipe is vegetarian and gluten-free. Those labels are checked against the ingredient list, so a dish is only marked when nothing in it contradicts the claim.
How many calories are in Chocolate Milkshake?
About 648 kcal per serving, with 12 g protein, 82 g carbohydrate and 32 g fat. The figures are calculated from the ingredient list and are an estimate.
Nutritional Highlights
Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list. Treat these as an estimate — brands and cuts vary.
Reader Reviews
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Written and tested by Turab
One person, one kitchen — no test kitchen, no team. How every recipe on this site is checked before it goes up.