Coffee Milkshake, 2 Ways!

Coffee AND ice cream? It can’t get much better. These amazing coffee milkshakes are thick, creamy, and super easy to make! Made with either two or three ingredients, we have a coffee milkshake option for both the vanilla and the chocolate lover.

two milkshake glasses filled with coffee milkshakes. the chocolate based coffee malt is on the left and the vanilla coffee milkshake is on the right.

Is there anything better than a milkshake on a warm summer’s day? A coffee milkshake is the perfect option for those who love coffee and ice cream. 

These coffee milkshakes are made with strongly brewed coffee, not instant coffee (like a lot of the recipes you’ll find), because good coffee makes a good coffee milkshake!  

TELL ME ABOUT THESE COFFEE MILKSHAKE RECIPES

Level of difficulty: Easy. Measure, blend, and enjoy!

Flavor: Depending on which ice cream base you choose, you’ll have a blend of coffee with either vanilla or chocolate as your main flavors.

Time: It will take you less than 5 minutes to make your 

side by side ingredient shot showing what is needed to make these coffee milkshake recipes.

INGREDIENTS NEEDED

Vanilla Version:

  • Vanilla Ice Cream
  • Strongly Brewed Coffee, Chilled

Chocolate Version:

  • Chocolate Ice Cream
  • Strongly Brewed Coffee, Chilled
  • Chocolate Malt Powder (may be labeled as Chocolate Malted Milk Powder)
    • NOTE: Ok, technically, this is a coffee and chocolate malt. We’ve tried leaving out the malt powder, and honestly, the chocolate and coffee combination alone can be a little bitter. The chocolate malt powder takes this coffee shake to a whole new level of awesome! I highly recommend using this ingredient.

Optional Garnishes:

  • Whipped Cream
  • Chocolate Sauce / Chocolate Syrup
  • Pirouette Cookies
  • Maraschino Cherries
  • Wafer Cookies
  • Waffle Cone Pieces
  • Chocolate Shavings

MALT VS. SHAKE

You may be wondering what is the difference between a malt and a shake? A malt uses malted milk powder in addition to the other milkshake ingredients. 

What is malt powder?

Malt powder is used to give beverages, like malts, their distinctive flavor. Malted milk powder can also be used in baking for various reasons.

Malt powder, aka malted milk powder, is made of malted barley, wheat flour, and powdered milk. Chocolate malt powder has the addition of cocoa powder as well. Depending on the brand, there may also be some sugar added.

side by side 4 image collages showing how to make coffee milkshakes, vanilla on the left and chocolate on the right.

OVERVIEW: HOW TO MAKE A MILKSHAKE AT HOME

  1. Place ingredients into a blender, and blend until smooth.
  2. Check the consistency.
    1. If you’d like your milkshake to be a little thicker, add another scoop of ice cream. 
    2. If you’d like your milkshake a little thinner, add another splash of cold coffee.
    3. If making a change, blend again to combine.
  3. Pour into a serving glass. Add optional garnishes if desired.
  4. Serve with a spoon and a straw, and enjoy!

WHAT IS THE BEST ICE CREAM TO USE FOR A COFFEE MILKSHAKE?

A good milkshake needs good ice cream! This isn’t the time to worry about calories. Go for the good stuff.

For the vanilla coffee milkshake, I like to use vanilla bean ice cream. However, you can use whatever vanilla ice cream you like best. In the chocolate coffee milkshake, I like to use a classic chocolate ice cream. 

close up of a vanilla coffee milkshake. the coffee milkshake is topped with whipped cream and garnished with a pirouette cookie.

WHAT KIND OF COFFEE SHOULD I USE IN THIS MILKSHAKE RECIPE?

Much like the ice cream, good coffee will make a good coffee milkshake!

If you are brewing hot coffee, make sure you cool down your coffee before blending up your milkshake. Using cold brew coffee is also a great option for coffee milkshakes.

RECIPE VARIATIONS AND SUBSTITUTIONS

  • Change up the ice cream: try coffee flavored ice cream for an extra intense coffee flavor. You could also use a chocolate chip ice cream! 
  • Make a boozy milkshake: if you’d like to make this into an adult milkshake, add some liqueur to your coffee shake! Start by replacing 2 tablespoons of the coffee with the liqueur of your choice. Kahlua or Irish Cream would both be great options.

FAQS

Can I make my coffee milkshake ahead of time? Homemade milkshakes are best enjoyed straight from the blender. Plan to make your coffee milkshakes when you want to enjoy them.

How to make a thick milkshake? If you prefer an extra thick milkshake, add an extra scoop of ice cream! You can always alter the consistency of your coffee malt after blending, creating your perfect homemade milkshake.

close up of a chocolate coffee milk shake. the coffee milk shake is topped with whipped cream and and chocolate syrup.

EQUIPMENT NEEDED

Blender

Liquid Measuring Cup

Ice Cream Scoop

Milkshake Glasses

Reusable Straws

Tall Spoons

LOVE THIS RECIPE? YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY:

two milkshake glasses filled with coffee milkshakes. the chocolate based coffee malt is on the left and the vanilla coffee milkshake is on the right.

Coffee Milkshake – 2 Ways!

Meredith
These amazing coffee milkshakes are thick, creamy, and super easy to make! Made with either two or three ingredients, we have a coffee milkshake option for both the vanilla and the chocolate lover.
5 from 3 votes
Prep Time 3 mins
Total Time 3 mins
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 1 Serving
Calories 479 kcal

Ingredients
  

Option 1 – Vanilla Base

  • 1 + ½ C vanilla ice cream
  • ½ C strongly brewed coffee, chilled*

Option 2 – Chocolate Base

  • 1 + ½ C chocolate ice cream
  • ½ C strongly brewed coffee, chilled*
  • 3 tablespoon chocolate malted milk powder

Instructions
 

  • Add all ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth.
  • Check the consistency. If a thicker shake is desired, add more ice cream. If a thinner shake is desired, add more cold coffee. If making a change, blend again to combine.
  • Pour into a serving glass. Add optional garnishes if desired.
  • Serve with a spoon and a straw, and enjoy!

Notes

*make sure coffee being used is chilled. cold brew coffee is a great option for coffee milkshakes.
 
*optional garnish ideas include: whipped cream, chocolate sauce / chocolate syrup, pirouette cookies, maraschino cherries, wafer cookies, waffle cone pieces, and/or chocolate shavings.
 
*the nutrition information for this recipe was calculated for the chocolate base with chocolate malt powder.

Nutrition

Calories: 479kcalCarbohydrates: 61gProtein: 8gFat: 23gSaturated Fat: 14gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 87mgSodium: 192mgPotassium: 554mgFiber: 2gSugar: 53gVitamin A: 853IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 266mgIron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
*Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which means at no additional cost to you I may receive a small commission for purchases made through these links. However, please know that I strive to provide links to products that I actually use and wholeheartedly recommend whenever possible.
Share this Recipe

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

How many stars would you give this recipe?




Comments

  1. David says

    5 stars
    I mean, come on. What’s not to like about this?!

    • ourlovelanguageisfood says

      I mean, I totally agree! Which one did you like best?