This recipe is super quick and simple, and even though it tastes great all year long, there's something so perfect about enjoying it during the warmer months! This gorgeous white milkshake is the perfect addition to the dog days of summer!
There's a lot of times when being an adult just isn't that fun. You've got bills to pay, errands to run, and a seemingly never-ending list of responsibilities that need to be juggled.
For me, there's certain recipes that help transport me back in time to simpler days of playing outside with my friends or sitting by the pool under the warm summer sun.
This delicious milkshake recipe brings me back to those carefree days at first sip – but the wonderful boozy kick also reminds me that being an adult isn't all that bad, either!
🥘 Ingredients
- Whole Milk
- Vanilla Ice Cream - Homemade or Store-Bought
- Cointreau
- Flavored Whipped Cream for Garnish
See the recipe card for quantities.
🔪 How To Make a Boozy Milkshake From Scratch
To start, add your milk, ice cream, and Cointreau to a blender and blend everything together until frothy. Pour the mixture into a serving glass and garnish with whipped cream.
Personally, I recommend my Orange Flavored Whipped Cream, which is a great compliment to the Cointreau you'll find in this milkshake recipe!
This particular recipe reminds me a little bit of an Orange Julius! If you're not a fan of the orange and vanilla combination, check out the variations section for more fun adult milkshake ideas!
Once assembled and topped with whipped cream, all there's left to do is grab a straw and enjoy this fun twist on a classic drink!
🍸 Substitutions
If you don't want to depart from the original recipe too much but don't have any Cointreau on hand, it can be substituted with Apricot Brandy.
🍨 Variations
For those of you who weren't a fan of Orange Julius growing up, there's still lots of boozy, adult milkshake options out there for you! If you've got something of a sweet tooth, how about swapping out the Cointreau for some vanilla vodka? It's the perfect compliment to my vodka-flavored whipped cream! It's also great with Irish cream!
If you're someone who prefers chocolate ice cream, you could try subbing that in with cream vodka. For the full "death by chocolate" effect, why not top it with some chocolate syrup and my divine chocolate-flavored whipped cream?
If you're more into strawberry milkshakes, I have a great recipe for one of those too! You could use strawberry ice cream or my strawberry simple syrup to give it that beautiful flavoring. All that's left to do is add in a splash of a fun, adult beverage! The strawberry flavored whipped cream is optional, but don't skip out on the fresh berry garnish!
There's lots of alcoholic milkshake variations out there, but there's are just a few of my favorites! If none of these are piquing your interest, try experimenting with your favorite ice cream placers and a complimentary alcoholic beverage!
🍽 Equipment
- Measuring Tools
- Blender
- Milkshake Glass
🌡 Storage & Top Tips
This recipe makes the perfect serving size for one, and because of the combination of vanilla and Cointreau, I recommend enjoying this right away. Unless you're planning to freeze it into popsicle molds, I don't recommend storing leftovers in the fridge.
This spiked milkshake is only sweetened by vanilla ice cream, and the intense orange flavor of Cointreau prevails. Perfectly refreshing for hot summer days, but beware, the alcohol is hidden but is a rip-snorter!
🙋🏻 FAQ
When milkshakes were first invented roughly 150 years ago, they were actually an alcoholic whisky drink that more closely resembled the traditional egg nog. Today, though, they're most commonly made with milk, ice cream, and syrups for flavoring.
If you want to make an adult milkshake that pays homage to the original recipe, you could try subbing Irish Whiskey or even an Irish Cream Liqueur into this recipe instead of the Cointreau, and topping with Irish cream!
A milkshake is made from milk, ice cream (and usually some syrup for flavoring), being blended together.
If you don't want to use ice cream in your milkshake, you could use just ice and a little extra milk in your recipe, but unless you're lactose intolerant, I wouldn't recommend it. Besides, there's plenty of dairy-free ice cream options on the market today! If you're out of ice cream and don't feel like heading out to the store for replenishments, it's worth a shot, but otherwise, I wouldn't recommend this substitution.
If you make this recipe, let me know how you liked it by ★★★★★ star rating it and leaving a comment below. This would be awesome! You can also sign up for our Newsletter or follow me on Pinterest or Instagram and share your creation with me. Just tag me @combinegoodflavors and hashtag #combinegoodflavors, so I don't miss it.
📖 Recipe
Boozy Cointreau Milkshake
Equipment
- Measuring Tools
- Blender
- Serving Glass
Ingredients
- ½ cups Whole Milk
- 1 scoop Vanilla ice cream
- 1 shot Cointreau
- Flavored whipped cream for garnish
Instructions
- Add ½ cups Whole Milk, 1 scoop Vanilla ice cream, and 1 shot Cointreau to a blender and blend until frothy.½ cups Whole Milk, 1 scoop Vanilla ice cream, 1 shot Cointreau
- Pour into a serving glass and garnish with Flavored whipped cream.Flavored whipped cream
- Serve with a straw.
Nutrition values are estimates only, using online calculators. Please verify using your own data.
⛑️ Food Safety
- Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
- Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
- Wash hands after touching raw meat
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended
- Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove
For further information, check Safe Food Handling - FDA.
Stephanie says
Oh la la! Another great adult drink recipe from this site! This boozy milkshake was just perfect for our patio gathering last night. The orange flavored whipped cream was delish atop this drink.
Nora says
That's wonderful to hear, Stephanie! I am so happy you liked it!
Andréa Janssen says
I love my homemade milkshakes, but now I've got a new favorite. This boozy milkshake came near to perfection. It was a great summer dessert!
Nora says
That is wonderful, Andrèa! I am so glad you liked it!
Nicole NK says
Is milkshake is so delicious, I have been making it every day!
Nora says
That is wonderful to hear, Nicole!
Nancy says
This milkshake had the perfect balance between booze vs milk. Really nice night cap
Nora says
Thank you, Nancy! So happy you liked it!
Helen says
The one thing wrong with this drink is that it drinks too easy! OMG So Good!! Betcha can't drink just one!
Nora says
Thank you, Helen! Yeah, it's really addictive. 😀