6 Ways to Shake Up Your Vanilla Milkshake

Today (June 20, 2018) is National Vanilla Milkshake Day, which conjures up nostalgic images of frosty glasses filled to the brim by guys and gals in pinstripe aprons and paper caps. It certainly makes our mouths water for a creamy sip of a milkshake, but dessert has come a long way since the days of jukebox tunes and linoleum counter tops and so have our appetites. These days, vanilla milkshakes feel a little, well, vanilla.

That doesn’t mean we’re not going to celebrate, of course (we’re not ones to pass up dessert)! We’re just going to celebrate the SpouseLink way and give our shakes an extra little shake with some of the scrumptious ideas below.

But first things first.

Before you even think about shaking up your vanilla milkshake, you’re going to need a way to blend it up. You’ll want to use your handy dandy blender or a stainless steel drink mixer that will instantly transform your kitchen into a ’50’s soda shop. Short on counter space? A hand blender will do the trick without taking up too much real estate.

The best way to enjoy a milkshake is in a classic soda glass that will impart a bit of nostalgia while showing off all the delicious syrupy swirls and drool-worthy mix-ins that will take her vanilla shake up a notch. Extra wide reusable smoothie straws will ensure you’re never without a way to slurp up every last drop of your creamy concoction.

Now for the fun.

Below are 6 incredible ways to shake up your vanilla shake. And, the only limit to your dessert is your imagination (well, that and your blender’s willpower). Want a rainbow shake with a strawberry swirl and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups? Do it. How about a frosting rim with donut garnish? We’ll take one, too.

Mix it up. This one’s a no-brainer, really. Just take whatever candy, cookies, or fruit you have on hand, give any big pieces a rough chop, and toss it in.
Get salty. All out of Oreos? How about grabbing that bag of Lay’s Potato Chips instead, or topping your shake with a couple pretzel sticks. It might sound funny, but this sweet-and-salty combo will appeal to anyone who can’t resist dipping their French fries in their shake.
Give it a swirl. Give your shake an effortless upgrade by drizzling your favorite sauce or syrup in tantalizing ribbons around the glass. Chocolate, caramel, peanut butter, and strawberry are classic favors, but any of your favorite jams or jellies will do just fine (as would that jar of Cookie Butter eyeing you from the pantry).
Icing on the shake. Channel your favorite cocktail recipe and rim your milkshake glass with frosting! Smear your favorite flavor of frosting around the rim, then roll it in sprinkles, M&Ms, or other small candies.
Go Rainbow. Sometimes all it takes to brighten up a plain vanilla shake is a new coat of paint or, rather, food coloring! Add a few drops of your favorite color to the blender or take a cue from MyCupcakeAddiction and layer several colors to make a rainbow milkshake.
Top it off. Restaurants around the country are making super-stacked shakes with donuts, cupcakes, cookies, and more all the rage. You can get in on the trend by balancing your favorite treats on top of your glass.

Once you’ve given your ingredients a good blend and your milkshake’ ready for a first taste, we recommend adding a finishing touch that will harken back to the heyday of soda shop milkshakes by playing your favorite ’50’s jukebox hits. This playlist will get you started while you get sipping.