Boozy Milkshakes Recipe

Chill glass

Place milkshake glasses in the freezer for 10–15 minutes to chill while you prepare ingredients.

If using the salted caramel rim: spread caramel sauce around the rim of each chilled glass and dip into a shallow plate of coarse sea salt. Set glasses upright to let caramel firm up slightly.

Scoop 3 cups of vanilla ice cream into a blender.

Add 1 cup whole milk and 1/4 cup heavy cream to the blender to create a rich, creamy base. If you prefer a thinner shake, use an extra 1/4 cup milk instead of the cream.

Add 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract for extra flavor.

Choose one booze option per serving. Add 1.5 oz of the selected spirit or liqueur to the blender (examples: bourbon, dark rum, coffee liqueur, Irish cream, or vodka).

Add any flavor add-ins you like (optional): 2 tablespoons chocolate syrup for a chocolate boozy shake; 2 tablespoons peanut butter for a peanut butter shake; 1 ounce cooled espresso for a coffee-flavored shake (especially with coffee liqueur); or 1/2 cup ripe banana for a banana-bourbon shake. You can combine up to two add-ins but reduce ice cream by 1/4 cup if adding banana to keep consistency balanced.

Secure the blender lid and blend on medium-high until smooth and thick, about 20–30 seconds. Pulse first to break up ice cream if needed. Do not overblend — you want a thick milkshake texture, not a milk soup.

Remove chilled glasses from freezer and, if desired, drizzle chocolate syrup inside the glass before pouring to create a decorative swirl (use about 1 tablespoon per glass).

Pour the blended boozy milkshake into the prepared chilled glass, filling to about 1/2 inch from the top.

Top each milkshake with a generous dollop of whipped cream (about 2 tablespoons), sprinkle with chocolate shavings or 1 teaspoon cocoa powder, and add crushed cookies or nuts if using.

Finish with a maraschino cherry on top. Serve immediately with a straw and a long spoon.

Alcohol will thin the shake slightly — do not exceed 1.5–2 oz per serving unless you want a much thinner texture. For stronger flavor without thinning, use a boozy sauce (e.g., reduce coffee liqueur) or boozy whipped cream.

For multiple servings, multiply quantities by the number of servings. Blend in batches if your blender is small.

If you prefer non-dairy: use dairy-free ice cream and a neutral plant milk; heavy cream can be omitted or replaced with coconut cream for richness.