This gingerbread milkshake recipe combines the best of both worlds: the warm and cozy flavors of gingerbread with the creamy goodness of a milkshake. It makes a tasty beverage for the holiday season or one you can enjoy whenever you're craving a flavor-packed milkshake!
Gingerbread milkshakes are the perfect treat with a unique blend of warm spices and sweet, creamy goodness. It provides a comforting, nostalgic touch to any winter gathering.
Gingerbread milkshakes can be enjoyed by people of all ages, making them an excellent choice for holiday parties or gatherings. Children will delight in the novelty of a milkshake that tastes like a classic holiday cookie, while adults can appreciate the nostalgic flavors and creamy consistency.
Love gingerbread? Try this gingerbread cake recipe, stuffed gingerbread cookies, gingerbread snowflakes or gingerbread ice cream!
Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Festive Drink. Easy Gingerbread milkshakes are perfect for the holiday season.
- Quick and Easy Treat. Made with just a few ingredients this kid-friendly milkshake recipe is simple and quick to prepare.
- Great Flavors. The combination of warm spices and cool ice cream makes for a refreshing drink.
Ingredients
Here's a look at the simple ingredients you need to make gingerbread milkshakes.
- Vanilla Ice Cream and Milk: The foundation for every milkshake!
- Gingersnap Cookies: To give your milkshake it's gingerbread flavor. Make sure you have extras to use for garnish!
- Molasses: Adds rich sweetness to the milkshake. You can also use maple syrup but it will have a less intense flavor.
- Ground Cinnamon and Ground Ginger: Adds more wonderful gingerbread flavor.
- Vanilla extract: Vanilla is a universal crowd-pleaser but feel free add some of your desired extract flavor to your milkshake like almond, maple, or rum extract.
- Whipped Cream: For adding on top! Use whipped topping if you prefer.
See the recipe card below for the exact quantities of each ingredient.
Substitutions and Variations
With these ingredient substitutions and variations, you can enjoy a gingerbread Christmas milkshake that suits your taste and dietary requirements.
- No gingersnaps? You can use graham crackers instead and add a half teaspoon of cinnamon, three-quarters teaspoon of ground ginger and a pinch of black pepper for the spices.
- Want to make a healthier version? Use frozen yogurt and replace with low fat milk.
- Dairy-Free: Use a non-dairy ice cream and swap the milk for almond milk, soy milk, or oat milk instead. Note that some milks may alter the flavor somewhat.
- Festive Garnishes: Make your gingerbread milkshake extra festive by serving with a small gingerbread cookie, cinnamon stick, chocolate chips, caramel chips, candied ginger, or a candy cane.
- Add Alcohol: Rye Whiskey, Bourbon, Dark Rum, Vanilla Vodka, or Brandy all add depth of flavor and warmth if you want a milkshake perfect for adults.
- Add Sauce: Add a drizzle of caramel sauce or chocolate sauce to your milkshake while blending or drizzle some on top of the whipped cream.
How to Make a Gingerbread Milkshake
Here's a look at the main steps for making the best gingerbread milkshake.
- Brush the rims with a light coating of molasses or dip the rim into molasses poured into a shallow bowl.
- Dip the molasses coated rims into the crushed gingersnap cookies to coat the rim of the glass.
- Combine the ice cream, milk, a cup of gingersnap cookies, molasses, cinnamon, ginger and vanilla in your blender.
- Blend together, alternating between low and medium speed until it reaches your desired consistency.
- Pour the milkshake into the cookie rimmed glasses.
- Top with whipped cream and sprinkle with extra gingersnap cookies, sprinkles and serve.
⭐️ Hint: Blend ingredients until smooth, and just combined but don't over-blend because it can cause the milkshake to become too thin or frothy.
If you love recipes like this, you may also enjoy this boozy Caramel Apple Milkshake.
Storage
- Refrigerator: It's not a good idea to store leftover milkshakes in the fridge as it will melt.
- Freezer: If you need to store leftover gingerbread milkshake, place it inside an airtight container and store in the freezer. When you're ready to enjoy it again and allow it to defrost slightly. When it's partially thawed, give it a good stir or blend for the best consistency.
What to Serve with a Christmas Milkshake
- Stuffed Gingerbread Cookies and Gingerbread Men are a timeless dessert that has been enjoyed for years. Serve them on the side or use them as a garnish!
- Serve your gingerbread milkshake with an assortment of Oreo Cheesecake Cookies, Sugar Cookie Bars, S'mores Sugar Cookies, or Churro Cookies.
- Our pumpkin spice bundt cake is always a hit, every holiday season and goes beautifully with this gingerbread milkshake.
Tips
Gingerbread milkshakes are a delightful treat, perfect for the holiday season. Here are some tips to make your gingerbread milkshake even more delicious:
- Using quality ice cream. It has a richer flavor and smoother texture.
- Chill your glasses in the freezer. This will keep your milkshake colder longer so it maintains its texture.
- Blend ingredients until they're smooth. Avoid over-blending, as it can cause the milkshake to become too thin or frothy.
- Milkshakes are usually rich and filling, so consider serving smaller portions, especially if you're offering other treats alongside.
FAQ
Do you have questions about making gingerbread milkshakes? Here are some I've received!
Yes, you can adjust them to your liking. If you want a stronger ginger flavor, you can increase the amount of ground ginger. Conversely, if you prefer a milder taste, you can reduce the ginger or cinnamon.
A blender is the easiest way to achieve the desired consistency for your milkshake, but if you don't have one, you can use a food processor, an immersion or stick blender to blend the ingredients until smooth.
Vanilla ice cream is recommended for the classic gingerbread flavor to really shine. But you can experiment with other flavors of ice cream, such as ginger or cinnamon, to add a unique twist to your milkshake.
Video
More Gingerbread Recipes
Do you like gingerbread? Here some recipes you may also like to try.
Ready to get cooking? Remember that you can print this recipe if you would like.
Gingerbread Milkshake
Equipment
- blender or immersion blender
- food processor or resealable bag and kitchen hammer or rolling pin to crush cookies
Ingredients
MILKSHAKE
- 3 cups vanilla ice cream
- ½ cup milk
- 1 cup gingersnap cookies crushed (About 8 cookies)
- 1 Tablespoon molasses
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
GARNISH
- 1 teaspoon molasses or use honey, corn syrup or simple syrup on the rim instead.
- ½ cup gingersnap cookies crushed
- whipped cream
- Sprinkles
Instructions
- Prepare the glasses by brushing the rims with a light coating of molasses. Alternatively, you can dip the rim in a shallow bowl.
- Dip the molasses coated rims and allow excess to drip off before dipping in gingersnaps. Next, dip into crushed gingersnap cookies to coat. Set aside.
- In a blender, combine the ice cream, milk, 1 cup gingersnap cookies, molasses, cinnamon, ginger and vanilla.
- Blend together, alternating between low and medium speed until desired consistency is reached.
- Pour into prepared glasses and top with whipped cream. Sprinkle with extra gingersnap cookies and serve.
Notes
- Using quality ice cream. It has a richer flavor and smoother texture.
- Chill your glasses in the freezer. This will keep your milkshake colder longer so it maintains its texture.
- Blend ingredients until they're smooth. Avoid over-blending, as it can cause the milkshake to become too thin or frothy.
- Milkshakes are usually rich and filling, so consider serving smaller portions, especially if you're offering other treats alongside.
Nutrition
Mandy says
This milkshake turned out great. My grandchildren loved making them and drinking them too. What a wonderful afternoon activity and snack. Thank you. Such a great idea.
Karin and Ken says
I’m so glad to hear you had so much fun and enjoyed this shake. Thank you for letting me know. You made my day. All the best. Karin