Anyone who loves the taste of vanilla, probably also likes vanilla milkshakes. And even better than a vanilla milkshake is a thick vanilla milkshake. Ideally, it should be thick enough that your straw can stand up on its own.

Buying a vanilla milkshake can be an expensive treat and you can't always be sure exactly what's gone into it. So why not make your own at home where you make it as healthy or decadent as you please.



No matter how many weird and wonderful flavors are dreamed up for creating a milkshake, the plain old vanilla milkshake remains at the top of many people’s favorite milkshake list.

There’s something about its delicate sweetness that just seems to satisfy that milkshake craving. While it’s nice to treat yourself to a thick vanilla milkshake from McDonald's once in a while, you can just as easily create your own version at home and make it as healthy or decadent as you please.

Ice cream vanilla shake

To make a thick vanilla ice cream milkshake, gather together your usual milk, your favorite vanilla ice cream, some vanilla extract and sugar or sweetener (if desired). Use vanilla extract instead of essence as it will provide a deliciously rich vanilla flavor and aroma. And if you can find some vanilla extract with seeds, your milkshake will be decorated with tiny flecks of vanilla giving it an authentic touch!

To serve one person, pour around half a pint or one cup of milk into a blender along with one to two teaspoons of vanilla extract. Have a quick taste test at this point to check whether the vanilla strength is how you like it. Add two or three scoops of vanilla ice cream and blend it up for about thirty seconds.

Taste again and sweeten if necessary, then top with another scoop of ice cream and pop in a straw which should be able to stand up on its own. To make the shake even thicker, simply reduce the amount of milk and replace it with more ice cream. Of course, this is going to increase the calorie count, as well as fat and sugar content.

Alternative thick vanilla shake

If you’d like to make a slightly more healthy vanilla thick shake, you’ll need to reduce the amount of ice cream used. Instead of using two or three scoops of ice cream, use one scoop of ice cream and add crushed ice or cubes if your blender is capable of crushing ice.

Vanilla smoothie

Smoothies are all the rage nowadays and they’re great for blending up a range of fresh fruit to make a delicious and healthy milkshake alternative. If you’d like a healthier alternative to the traditional vanilla milkshake, try making a lovely thick vanilla smoothie instead. Simply blend together either some plain natural yogurt or vanilla yogurt, which can be partially frozen for a thicker smoothie. Add some vanilla flavoring and a little fat free milk. To make it thicker still, add some crushed ice and blend again.

Further options

As a change to using vanilla extract to flavor your milkshake, there are a few alternatives you could try. For instance, Starbucks sell delicious bottles of vanilla syrup which also comes as a sugar free version. This is what they add to their vanilla lattes. Or if you search among the coffee section of a supermarket, you should be able to find bottles of vanilla flavored syrup. Some stores also sell vanilla flavored milk which you can partially freeze at home and pop into a blender then add some ice cream for a really creamy, thick vanilla milkshake.

There’s nothing quite like sipping on an icy cold, deliciously thick and creamy vanilla milkshake to bring a smile to your face. But you don’t need to go out and spend a fortune on buying one when it’s perfectly easy making them at home. With a little experimentation using different combinations of milk, ice cream, vanilla or yogurt, your home-made thick vanilla milkshakes may prove so enjoyable you’ll want to repeat the experience every day.