December 2, 2015
updated
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This peppermint milkshake recipe is a creamy, frosty treat that will make the holidays even better!
I’ll never forget my first milkshake. It was winter of 1990 when I visited my mom in California from Spain. The town of Los Gatos had a small, old-time diner that made the most amazing milkshakes. I experienced my first candy cane milkshake that Christmas and have dreamed of it ever since.
I’m pretty sure it was the white chocolate candy cane rimmed glass that made it unforgettable, and today’s milkshake is the closest thing to recreating that memory and sharing it with you.
Peppermint Milkshake Ingredients
Here’s everything you’ll need to make a dreamy peppermint milkshake:
- white chocolate chips: for melting and coating the rim of the glasses.
- candy canes: crushed, for the chocolate peppermint rim.
- peppermint ice cream: use any of your favorite peppermint ice creams.
- milk: regular whole milk works best. If you want to make this lighter, use skim milk or a non-dairy alternative.
- whipped cream: to top this delicious milkshake off!
- toppings: candied cherries, crushed peppermint, shaved white chocolate, holiday-colored sprinkles, etc.
To kick off the holiday season, I partnered with Edy’s Ice Cream for this recipe. My daughter, Sofia, loves all things peppermint, so naturally, she was thrilled to work with me on this idea.
I chose Edy’s Slow Churned Peppermint Wonderland light ice cream because it’s light ice cream and the peppermint candy pieces give it a memorable frosty flavor in every sip!
If you can’t find peppermint ice cream, then use vanilla ice cream and ½ teaspoon peppermint extract.
How to Make a Peppermint Milkshake
This recipe goes by fast! Grab those ingredients and let’s make it!
Grab a blender
Combine the peppermint ice cream and milk in the blender and process for 20 seconds or until the mixture is thick and has a milkshake consistency.
Final touches
Divide the milkshake into the glasses and top with whipped cream and crushed candy canes.
The Peppermint Rim
The peppermint rim is what makes this treat even more special. Not only is it beautiful to look at, but the combination of peppermint and white chocolate is divine.
My biggest concern for this recipe was how to create the rimmed glass. Luckily, all it took was melting some white chocolate chips and rolling it in finely chopped candy canes, as I show you how to do below:
- Melt some chocolate
Place the white chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave, pausing every 15 seconds to stir until the chocolate is melted and smooth. - Crush
Add the candy canes to a large zip bag and seal. Place the bag onto a sturdy, flat surface such as a heavy-duty cutting board. Use a meat mallet or rolling pin to pound the candy into fine pieces. Transfer the crushed candy canes into a separate bowl. - Decorate
Slowly dip the serving glass rims into the melted chocolate. After a couple of seconds, dip the rims into the crushed candy canes. Place the glasses upright in the refrigerator and allow the chocolate and candy to harden.
Peppermint Shake Recipe Video
This is a fun treat to assemble with the kids, and you can watch how it’s made in the video below. The visual demonstration is helpful, especially when decorating the glasses.
Dairy-Free Peppermint Milkshake
Need a dairy-free milkshake? Use your favorite dairy-free vanilla ice cream, ½ teaspoon peppermint extract, and ½ cup non-dairy milk such as almond or soy. Place all of the ingredients in the blender and blend until smooth.
Skip the white chocolate rimmed glasses and serve this milkshake topped with whipped coconut cream and crushed candy cane.
How to Make this The Creamiest Holiday Milkshake!
If you like your milkshakes super creamy and thick, here are a few tips to make sure it has the perfect consistency you can sip through a straw or eat with a spoon:
- start with less milk and add more as needed.
- use slightly softened ice cream, it requires less milk and blends easier.
- whole milk makes the milkshake creamier.
- don’t add ice, it will water down the milkshake.
Candy Cane Milkshake – Peppermint Milkshake Recipe
Ingredients
- ½ cup white chocolate chips
- 1 candy cane, finely crushed
- 2 cups Peppermint ice cream
- ½ cup milk
- Whipped cream, for topping
Instructions
- Add the candy canes in a large zip bag and seal. Place the bag onto a flat, sturdy surface such as a heavy-duty cutting board. Use a meat mallet or rolling pin to crush the candy canes into fine pieces.
- Place the crushed candy cane in a small bowl or plate.
- Place the chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl that is large enough to fit the rim of your serving glass. Microwave, pausing every 15 seconds to stir the chocolate until it’s melted and smooth.
- Slowly dip each serving glass into the melted chocolate and allow excess chocolate to drip off. After a couple of seconds, dip the white chocolate-covered rim into the crushed candy canes.
- Place the glasses upright in the refrigerator for 20 minutes to allow the chocolate and candy to harden.
- In a blender, combine the peppermint ice cream and milk. Blend for 15-20 seconds until it reaches a thick, milkshake consistency.
- Pour the milkshake into the candy cane rimmed glasses. Top with whipped cream and sprinkle with crushed candy canes. Serve immediately.
Amy J
I love mixing in raspberries & coffee, and then adding a little chocolate syrup on top. So yummy!
Karissa G
I like to add vanilla ice cream to a cup of hot coffee (affogato I believe the Italians call it) as a nice treat. No need to add cream or sugar to my coffee and it’s a drinkable temperature right from the start!
Lisa Marz
My son’s favorite way to top his ice cream is with chocolate syrup and sprinkles. 😉 My favorite from the ice cream shop we visit each summer is the peanut butter delight. Peanut butter topping and chocolate fudge over vanilla ice cream.
Anna
Our favorite way to dress up ice cream is to mix peanut butter with vanilla ice cream. Thanks for the giveaway, we’re big ice cream fans around here!
Amanda Okandan
Whipped cream, sprinkles and a cherry! Yum.
SJ
melted peanut butter and sprinkles are our faves!
Lisa Thatcher
I love to crush Heath or Skor bars (or buy them already crushed) and sprinkle that on ice cream.
Polly
I take peanut butter, or whatever butter, and plop a few tbs. in the bottom of a dish and warm it for a few secs in the microwave, then top it with cold vanilla Ice cream, and whipped cream and chocolate syrup if I have it!! Yummy!
Marion
Our little ones like their “sometimes treat” with chocolate syrup drizzled on top!
Shannon M.
Hot fudge!
Andrea
I love ice cream any way! My current favorite way is with homemade chocolate magic shell and whipped cream. 🙂
Pavana Rogers
We love to add gummi worms!
Amy Nichols
Very simply dressed ice cream…whipped cream and crushed Oreos or brownie pieces!
Shakeeta W
Nothing compares to hot caramel on top of my ice cream! No matter the flavor or other toppings, caramel has to be there 🙂
JoeyfromSC
wow, it looks SO pretty and delicious!!!
I dress up my milkshakes with whipped cream & drizzle of caramel on top! I know, not that creative, ha..but it’s good!!
Thanks for the chance to win!! I LOVE ice cream!!!!
Laura Fuentes
Hi Joey! You won a year’s worth of ice cream! Please check your email for details.
JoeyfromSC
woohoo! THANKS SO MUCH! I somehow overlooked the email! I replied:)
I hope you’re enjoying your vacation!
Joey
Elizabeth
Ice cream is an obsession in our household. Usually we buy really good tasting ice cream so it doesn’t need embellishment, but every now and then I will whip up some homemade whipped cream with either vanilla or mint extract to put on top.
cara
Our favorite way to have ice cream is straight out of the carton! In the cases where I have self control and actually put the ice cream in a bowl I like to eat a scoop of plain ice cream (vanilla, chocolate, mint, etc.) and add in some mini chocolate chips and whatever nuts I have on hand.
Faith
I enjoy just ice cream all by itself, but the kids love sprinkles, whipped cream, etc.
Deena
My family doesn’t dress up our ice cream. Scooped right from the container is best! No frills for us!
Talia B.
Homemade hot fudge can’t be beat.
Amanda
Fresh berries
Merrie
My favorite way to make Icecream special is to do ” Tea Cup Sundaes”
The kids can fill tea cups with ice cream and top with homemade chocolate syrup, fruit syrup or Nutella. Whipped cream and Jimmies!! That’s what they call sprinkles in our part of the country:)
It’s perfect because it feels like a super fancy treat with the tea cups and saucers but it’s great for portion control!
Cristina
My favorite way is with homemade butterscotch and homemade whipped cream!
Jamie
We like to add sprinkles to our ice cream. The kids get to pick which sprinkles they want and then everyone gets to enjoy!
Karrie
Sprinkles!
Samantha W
I love ice cream. Ice cream is my nightly after the kids are in bed de stressing routine.
I recently tried salted caramel with Heath topping and it was divine. I love buying bags of baking chips, any variety and topping my ice cream with them.
When I was right out of high school I worked at a Friendly’s and my favorite was black raspberry with rainbow sprinkles and marshmallow topping.
Kathy C
We buy natural vanilla ice cream and use it in tin roof sundaes, chocolate milk shakes and to top brownies, cake and pumpkin pie. From time to time I make a “specialty” ice cream in my ice cream maker, such as mint chocolate chip or peanut butter, and freeze in a loaf pan (lined with plastic wrap) for easy slicing. I then wrap the slices individually so it’s easy to pop one out of the freezer for a treat.
Jennifer
We love ice cream all ways!! My girls especially love whipped cream on top and cherries though
Sheila H
We love to cool our hot chocolate down with Candy Cane Ice Cream!
Sarah W.
I live got fudge/chocolate syrup, fruit, and nuts in mine. Sometimes if I’m eating vanilla, I’ll mix a little peanut butter and hot fudge into it. I think I’m going to have to eat some ice cream today!
Athena R
I love adding peanuts, chocolate syrup and whipped cream to my ice cream…yum!
Kim
We recently came across Brownie Brittle – YUM! Anyway, we use the fine crumbs in the bottom of the bag to dress up our ice cream treat – sort of like sprinkles – only better! (I don’t like sprinkles) A cherry on top is a must too!
Sarah
We like to enjoy our ice cream with lots of stuff- whipped cream, chocolate syrup, berries, and some nuts. Peppermint sounds
Kristina
In the summer, nothing beats fresh berries or peach slices. Sometimes I make a syrup of the fruit to drizzle over in a more sundae-like presentation. Just putting the ice cream in sundae dishes seems to make it taste better to the kids 🙂
Lisa
We love homemade chocolate syrup and sprinkles.
Heather T
I love vanilla ice cream drizzled with my mother-in-law’s homemade hot fudge sauce!
Sandra
We love to make milkshakes with Godiva chocolate liqueur with chocolate shavings! It’s our grown up treat!
rig
I love to eat mint chocolate chip plain. But if I only have vanilla ice cream, I add chocolate chips to it. And all ice cream is softened a bit in the microwave so it’s smooth and creamy.
Love ice cream!!
Karin
Oh do I love ice cream! I have some every night…usually with a banana on the bottom, vanilla ice cream (because it’s what I always keep on hand), chocolate syrup, and almonds! And sometimes I add some instant coffee for a special treat!
But I’ll eat ice cream most any way it comes. My son (6) and I loved making peppermint ice cream last year and need to do it again soon. Thanks for the reminder!
Michelle
My daughter loves to whip up milkshakes for us. She uses vanilla ice cream, protein powder and almond milk. Delicious.
Rachael
Good old hot fudge! Peanuts and whipped marshmallow are great as well, but the hot fudge is a must!
Stephanie
My favorite way to dress up ice cream is to have little bites of cheesecake and lots of cherries! So yummy!
Kasey
I love to mix just a little milk in with it
Mindy
Popcorn and Carmel sauce. Sounds gross but it’s delicious. They serve it this way at a restaurant in the Opryland Hotel. Also, I like to make 2 ingredient (or more) ice cream using frozen bananas and a really good blender. Guiltless ice cream!
Julie
My husband and I love vanilla ice cream with banana, homemade granola and chocolate sauce!
Tessa
Love making buster bars – oreo cookie crust, layers of ice cream, hot fudge, salted peanuts…Yum!
Tricia
Homemade fudge and rainbow sprinkles!
Amy J.
I love ice cream any way – but if I’m really going all out to dress it I love toppings – caramel, chocolate, nuts, coconut, and of course the cherry on top!
Judi
I like to add some milk and peppermint extract to a cup of ice cream, mix it a little with a spoon and eat it. Easier than a thick milkshake because no blender needed!
Wendi
Vanilla ice cream with sliced bananas, hot chocolate syrup and pecans!
Susan V
My favorite flavor is vanilla, and I put caramel sauce on top! Or I like to sprinkle Nestle’s Chocolate Malt powder on top and work it in with a spoon – like a chocolate malt in a bowl! My favorite Edy’s flavor to eat plain is the Slow-Churned Light Coffee.
Zeynep
I like it plain. But one of my favorite is caramel…:)
Denise
We like sprinkles for fun and fresh fruit when we are going for the healthy choices!!
Lili
My kids love sprinkles. I like it plain
Charity
Dark chocolate anything…chunks, covered pretzels, covered fruit, sauce…the darker the better!
Sara
Rainbow sprinkles!!!! They just make us smile
Alex
I love the contrast between a warm, crisp cookie and cool, creamy ice cream.
Christina
I love adding crushed cookies (oreos or chocolate chip), yum!
Heather S.
We love adding fresh strawberries to ice cream!
Julie
We love topping our ice cream with homemade “magic shell” with coconut oil, chocolate chips, and a bit of honey. Soooo good! Top that off with some whipped cream and it’s like going out for ice cream but much cheaper. 🙂
Erica K.
When I was a kid, my mom made “milk floats” instead of ice cream and soda, use ice cream and milk. Rocky road was the best. You got chocolate milk at the end with the almonds that fell to the bottom! Any ice cream works well though.
kristi v
any ice cream done anyway is my families favorite. you will never hear any of us say no to anything with ice cream
Marith
Malt powder! Yum!
Lee
Love all things peppermint and was excited to find Edys light peppermint! So delicious! I love to add in peppermint chocolate sand which cookies:)
Heidi Hollenbach
Vanilla ice cream with crushed Oreos or served over a warm brownie…yum!
Kimberly
Ice cream is my favorite food and i love it plain and dressed up. My kids love it with sprinkles and mini marshmellows.
Emily Burns
I love mixing chocolate and vanilla ice cream together, adding in a dollop of peanut butter, and microwaving it for a good 10 seconds. Love mixing it all together and adding in candied pecans and a little bit a whipped cream. My favorite!
Cassandra
My family loves peanut butter, but most of the time we just eat it plain! 😉
Stephanie
Caramel sauce and whipped cream!
Nicole
I love the walnuts in syrup over vanilla ice cream! Also rice chex makes a lovely topping.
Eleni
I love mint chocolate chip ice cream with hot fudge and strawberry sauce!
Sabinah
I love to use sprinkles and chocolate ships on top of frozen banana ice cream for my kidshealthy
Carla Rose
Brownie chunks and Reese’s pieces!!! TASTY!!
A splash of simple
I was going to post on this soon, but my husbands sweet southern belle grandmother introduced me to peppermint ice cream (in her fancy dish of course) with a little eggnog poured on top! Sounds crazy but it is delicious and we have every Christmas! It was her favorite!
Sarah
I love making milkshakes! This looks delicious!
Katie
Our favorite way to dress up ice cream is with magic shell and a bit of whipped cream!! Delish!!
Jessica parker
My favorite way to dress up my ice cream is to make my own little banana spirit! Slice up the bananas and lay them in the bottom of my bowl, add some neopolitan ice cream, more bananas, chocolate syrup, whipped cream and lots of cherries! My fav!
Jessica parker
My favorite way to dress up my ice cream is making my own little version of a banana spilt! I cut some bananas up and place them on the bottom of the bowl and then I use neopalitin ice cream, more bananas, chocolate syrup whipped my cream and some cherries! My absolute fav!
Linda Weatherly
I love hot fudge and bananas.
LizR
I’m an ice cream purist, so I don’t do much dressing up on my dish, but if you hard-pressed me to add something, I say vanilla with maple syrup on top is devine!
Toni
Whipped cream!
Stacie Lightell
This reminds me of one of my favorite milk shakes, Chocolate Peppermint. Use your same recipe but add dark chocolate into the blender – YUMMY!!
Jennifer Croley
I love adding lots of fun toppings like sprinkles, chocolate chips, and mini marshmallows!
Rachel Smith
Our favorite way to have ice cream is to make sundaes! Chocolate syrup, sprinkles, whipped cream and cherries.
Laura Fuentes
It’s the cherry on top!!