What are the different brands of milkshakes?
Milkshakes are sold by fast-food chains, ice cream shops and as bottled ready-to-drink products. Well-known US names include McDonald's, Shake Shack, Baskin-Robbins, Wendy's, In-N-Out, Culver's and Dairy Queen. The main difference is the base: ice cream, soft serve or frozen custard. Menus change, so check the current one.
Free download
Milk and Dairy Storage Chart (PDF): How long milk, plant milks, cream, yogurt and kefir last, opened and unopened. 23 rows, each with its source.
Thank you
Your chart is ready
We use your email only for this download.Also free:
Home Bar Storage Chart (PDF)Juice, Soda and Water Storage Chart (PDF)Coffee, Tea and Hot Drinks Storage Chart (PDF)Drink Strength, Calories and Units Cheat Sheet (PDF)Want the full pack? About 10 printable sheets: a larger chart for each drink type, a “has it gone off?” checklist, date labels, a party planner and an inventory sheet.
In this article
What are the main types of milkshakes?
A milkshake is milk blended with ice cream, soft serve or frozen custard, plus flavoring. The base changes the texture more than the brand.
| Base | What it means |
|---|---|
| Ice cream | Hard-scooped ice cream blended with milk; thick and creamy. |
| Soft serve | Lighter, airier base; check whether a chain uses it. |
| Frozen custard | Ice cream style product made with egg yolk, denser and richer. |
Which chains sell milkshakes?
Widely known chains include the ones below. Some descriptions come from a Tasting Table roundup; we do not rank them.
- McDonald’s: a fast-food chain with a vanilla shake and other flavors; check its site for the base and flavors.
- Shake Shack: shakes made with its frozen custard, according to several food sites.
- Baskin-Robbins: an ice cream chain that also sells shakes; check its menu for the base.
- Culver’s: shakes use proprietary frozen custard.
- In-N-Out: shakes are described as made with real ice cream.
- Wendy’s: the Frosty, which Tasting Table says sits between soft serve and a milkshake.
- Chick-fil-A: the Ice Dream base, similar to ice cream but with less butterfat, per Tasting Table.
Other chains such as Dairy Queen, Five Guys (hand-spun from a vanilla base, per Tasting Table) and Sonic also sell shakes; ingredients are listed on each company’s website.
What to check before you buy
- Size: shakes vary widely, and large ones can have a lot of sugar and calories. Look for nutrition facts on the menu or website.
- Allergens: shakes contain milk and may contain egg, nuts or soy. Ask or check the allergen guide.
- Base: ask whether it is ice cream, soft serve or custard if texture matters to you.
- Seasonal flavors: they come and go, so do not expect them year-round.
Ready-to-drink and homemade
Bottled milkshakes in grocery stores vary by brand; read the label. A homemade shake needs only ice cream and milk blended until smooth.
People also ask
What is the difference between a milkshake and a smoothie?
A milkshake is made with ice cream or similar frozen dessert and milk; a smoothie is usually blended fruit with yogurt, juice or milk.
Do fast-food milkshakes contain real ice cream?
It depends on the chain. Some say ice cream (In-N-Out), others use custard (Culver's) or an ice cream-like base (Chick-fil-A). Check the company's ingredient list.
How can I find the calories in a milkshake?
Use the nutrition facts on the chain's website or menu, which are listed by size and flavor.
Sources
About · How we verify this · Editorial policy · Corrections
What would help you most next?
One tap. Anonymous. It helps us decide what to build.
Thank you. The free charts above are yours to keep.
