Copycat Chick-Fil-A Peppermint Milkshake

Even though the holidays are behind us, I just can’t get enough of this copycat Chick-Fil-A peppermint milkshake.

It’s sweet, refreshing, thick, creamy, and perfectly pretty in pink.

Chick-Fil-A Peppermint Shake

Featuring crushed candy canes, dark chocolate flecks, and plenty of creamy vanilla ice cream, this Chick-Fil-A peppermint milkshake recipe is a dream.

Not only is it a cinch to whip up, but it’s also made at a fraction of the cost.

I like to use vanilla ice cream because it means I can get something top quality. Plus, I can adjust the amount of peppermint that goes in.

As much as I enjoy peppermint ice cream, it has kind of a synthetic taste I don’t really care for. And you can’t change the amount of minty flavor.

That said, feel free to use peppermint ice cream instead of vanilla if you like!

In some cases, you won’t need the food coloring either because peppermint ice cream is often pink or red already.

As for the chocolate, I think dark works best because the shake is already pretty sweet. But you do you!

Ingredients:

This recipe is enough for 1-2 shakes, depending on how big your glasses are.

• Vanilla Ice Cream - it’s the base of the shake, so try to get something good quality
• Milk - use any milk you like
• Peppermint Extract - if you’ve never used it before, start with a small amount and taste the shake, then add more as needed
• Crushed Candy Canes - they add flavor and a nice texture to the drink
• Chopped Chocolate - use chocolate chips or chopped bars of chocolate. Either way, dark works best
• Red Food Coloring - this is optional, but I like the pink hue
• Whipped Cream for Garnish - again, it’s optional

Optional Modification - Use peppermint ice cream instead of vanilla.

How to Make the Best Chick-Fil-A Peppermint Milkshake:

1. Add the ingredients to a blender in the following order: milk, ice cream, peppermint extract, and food coloring (if using).
2. Blend until smooth and thick. Add more ice cream or milk as needed.
3. Add the chocolate and crushed candy canes, then blend/pulse until distributed.
4. Pour the milkshake into a glass and finish with whipped cream.

Vegan Chick-Fil-A Peppermint Milkshake

Like most milkshake recipes, it’s actually pretty easy to make this one vegan.

Yes, it’s loaded with ice cream and milk, but there are a ton of dairy-free ingredients available these days.

So, use the same amounts listed below, just make sure to get dairy-free ice cream and milk.

I like coconut milk because it’s thicker, though it does have a mild nutty taste.

However, the milkshake should still be nice and thick even if you use almond milk (for example), which is pretty thin. That’s because the ice cream is thick, and you can always add more if you need.

As for the whipped cream garnish, use whipped cold coconut cream.

Milkshake Consistency

If you make this recipe as it’s written, it’ll be pretty thick but perfectly slurpable.

Of course, since it contains crushed candy canes and chopped chocolate, it’s not completely smooth. It’s not grainy though, don’t worry.

If you like cookies and cream milkshakes, you’ll know what I mean.

Adjust the Texture

I like really thick milkshakes which means adding a bit of extra ice cream.

But if you want it thinner, just add a bit more milk, blend, then add more as needed.

Make it Smooth

Having said that, if you want it to be perfectly smooth, leave out the candy canes and chocolate. Then, replace them with extra peppermint extract and a tablespoon of cocoa powder or fudge sauce.

The cocoa/chocolate syrup will make the color slightly brown, but you’ll still get that hint of chocolate.

Why Is My Shake Lumpy?

If your shake is lumpy, chances are the ice cream was too cold when you started.

I know, I know - ice cream is frozen! But if you have older ice cream that’s been in the freezer for a while, it does get harder and starts to crystalize.

I recommend leaving it on the counter for 10-15 minutes before you start.