What are the differences between a regular milkshake and a specialty milkshake?
A regular milkshake is ice cream blended with milk and a simple flavor such as vanilla, chocolate or strawberry. A specialty milkshake is a menu version that adds unusual flavors, mix-ins or toppings (candy, cookies, cake, whipped cream), and the most extreme versions are called freak shakes. There is no legal definition, so names vary by restaurant and region.
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Regular vs specialty milkshake
A regular milkshake is the classic: ice cream and milk blended with syrup, extract or fruit. A specialty milkshake starts from the same base but is built around a signature flavor, extra mix-ins or elaborate toppings. Neither term has an official definition, so a menu’s wording is all you have.
| Regular milkshake | Specialty milkshake | |
|---|---|---|
| Base | Ice cream and milk | Same, sometimes richer or with other ingredients |
| Flavors | Vanilla, chocolate, strawberry | Seasonal, dessert-inspired, mix-in flavors |
| Toppings | Whipped cream, maybe a cherry | Candy, cookies, cake, sauces |
| Price/size | Standard | Often larger and pricier |
Related names you will see
- Malt: a milkshake with malted milk powder added.
- Frappe: in Massachusetts and other parts of New England a milkshake; chain coffee drinks use the name differently.
- Concrete: a very thick shake created at Ted Drewes in St. Louis, according to a family story, after a customer asked for the thickest shake possible and staff began leaving out the milk.
- Frosted: once a common name for a shake in New York and other regions; it faded after fast-food chains began calling them shakes.
- Freak shake: a thick shake covered in outsized add-ons, a trend widely linked to Australian cafes in the mid-2010s.
How to choose
If you want a simple, lighter-feeling drink, pick the regular. If you want a dessert, choose a specialty shake and share it. Specialty versions can be higher in sugar and calories, and menus may not list the numbers, so ask for the nutrition information if it matters to you.
Making them at home
The only real difference is what you add. Blend ice cream with a little milk for a regular shake, then add cookies, candy pieces or sauces for a specialty one, blending the hard mix-ins briefly so they stay chunky.
General information; regional names vary.
People also ask
What is a specialty milkshake?
A milkshake with unusual flavors or extra mix-ins and toppings beyond the classic vanilla, chocolate or strawberry.
Is a malt the same as a milkshake?
A malt is a milkshake with malted milk powder added.
What is a freak shake?
A very thick shake covered in large add-ons such as cake, candy and whipped cream.
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