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Love Chick-fil-A’s Peppermint Milkshake? Now you can enjoy it at home anytime with this simple recipe! Made with creamy vanilla ice cream, peppermint bark, and crushed candy canes, this copycat version lets you skip the seasonal wait and savor the holiday favorite all year-round!
A Chick Fil A Fan Favorite
Who else waits all year for Chick Fil A to bring out their peppermint milkshakes? I know I’m not the only one! In my opinion, these milkshakes are the best ones they offer. The only problem is that they only offer it for a super limited amount of time. You won’t find it on the menu until mid-November and for someone who puts up Christmas the day after Halloween, that is just too long to wait. Another problem is that my kids have picked up on how good it is and now they all want their own shakes too, which if you are familiar with Chick-Fil-A prices, that can be a little spendy when you are ordering like five milkshakes at once. Thankfully this recipe tastes *exactly* like the shakes at Chick-Fil-A, which saves me money, time, and a little bit of sanity by not having to wait for its limited-time release each year!
Why Make Chick Fil A Peppermint Milkshakes at Home?
I think the better question here is: “Why not”? My top reasons for making these milkshakes at home are simple:
- I don’t have to drive to get one. Chick-Fil-A is a 25 minute drive for me and in the winter, on icy roads, that can take twice as long. Making it at home is way faster and I don’t have to put on makeup (ok, I probably wouldn’t put on makeup anyway, but still).
- I can enjoy it whenever I want. No waiting til mid-November to enjoy this treat! I can sit by the pool and sip on this milkshake in the middle of July if I feel like it.
- It saves me some serious cash. Ok maybe not serious cash, but it definitely saves a decent amount! Especially when there are four other people in my family wanting shakes too. That’s almost $40 in milkshakes! Making it at home just makes way more sense.
Ingredients for Peppermint Milkshakes
- Vanilla ice cream – I like to use straight-up vanilla ice cream. Not vanilla bean or French Vanilla. Anything besides plain vanilla throws off the taste.
- Whole milk – essential for the perfect consistancy
- Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Peppermint Bark – also essential, finely chopped
- Candy canes or peppermint candies – finely crushed
- Peppermint extract
- Red or pink food coloring – optional, for color
- Whipped cream and maraschino cherries – optional, for garnish
Getting the Right Peppermint Bark
I know for a fact that Chick-Fil-A uses peppermint bark in their milkshakes. Mostly because right on their website description they say they use “chips of peppermint bark”. This is a crucial ingredient to getting your milkshake just like Chick Fil A. A lot of recipes out there don’t include the peppermint bark, and they are all missing the mark. I like to use the Ghirardelli dark chocolate peppermint bark but you can also use the milk chocolate bark variety. It comes down to personal preference here and it won’t make a huge difference in your shake. You can also make your own peppermint bark using our recipe.
How to Make a Peppermint Milkshake
Once you unwrap the candy canes and peppermint bark, you have already done the most difficult part of this recipe. The rest is easy:
- Combine all ingredients and blend until smooth.
- Divide into cups or glasses and garnish with whipped cream and cherries.
- Enjoy your peppermint milkshake without everyone else trying to steal a sip (ok, I lied, this is the most difficult part).
Tips and Suggestions
Use high-quality ice cream. The better your ice cream, the better your shake will be.
Soften the ice cream. Allow ice cream to sit out and soften for a few minutes, this will make it easier to blend. Just don’t let it sit out too long, you still want it to hold its solid shape when scooped.
Make it more pepperminty. Is pepperminty an actual word? I am going to say “yes”. Anyway, add more peppermint extract if that’s your thing. Blend and then taste and add more if needed. I found that 1 tablespoon is just the right amount for me.
Substitute only if you have to. If you don’t have peppermint bark you can add more crushed candy canes and dark chocolate chips or shaved dark chocolate bar.
More Festive Drinks You Will Love
Homemade Peppermint Hot Chocolate
Easy Vegan Hot Chocolate
Pumpkin Spice Steamer
Candy Bar Hot Chocolate
Sparkling Cider
Unicorn Hot Chocolate
Non-Alcoholic Holiday Punch
Mexican Hot Chocolate
Chick Fil A Peppermint Milkshake
Equipment
- 1 Blender
Ingredients
- 2 cups vanilla ice cream
- ⅓ cup whole milk
- 6 squares Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Peppermint Bark (finely chopped)
- 3 tablespoons finely crushed candy canes or peppermint candy (about 1-2 candy canes)
- 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
- 1-2 drops red or pink food coloring (optional, for color)
- whipped cream (for garnish)
- 2 Maraschino cherries with stems (for garnish)
Instructions
- Combine ice cream, milk, chopped chocolate peppermint bark, crushed candy canes, peppermint extract, and food coloring (optional) in a blender and blend until smooth.
- Divide into cups and garnish with whipped cream and cherries.
