The Ultimate Creamy Oreo Milkshake Recipe
There is something undeniably nostalgic about the sound of a blender whirring to life, promising a frosty, sweet reward at the end. An Oreo milkshake isn’t just a drink; it is a ticket back to childhood summers and late-night diner runs. This recipe hits that perfect sweet spot between velvety smooth ice cream and the satisfying, buttery crunch of chocolate cookies. It is thick enough to make your straw work for it, but smooth enough to sip without frustration. Whether you are treating yourself after a long week or surprising the kids, this cookies and cream shake delivers pure comfort in a glass.
Why You’ll Love This
It is Ready in Minutes: You can go from craving to sipping in less than 10 minutes, making it the perfect quick indulgence.
Texture Perfection: By controlling how much you crush the cookies, you get that ideal balance of creamy vanilla base and delicious cookie chunks.
Minimal Ingredients: You likely have everything you need in your kitchen right now—no fancy syrups or obscure extracts required.
Fully Customizable: It serves as a blank canvas. You can easily tweak the thickness or sweetness to match your exact preference.
The Skeptic Who Asked for Seconds
I once made this for a friend who claims to have “grown out of” sweet treats. He usually sticks to black coffee and insists that desserts are too cloying for his palate. I handed him a small glass of this shake, mostly just to be polite while I enjoyed mine. He took one hesitant sip, raised his eyebrows, and didn’t put the glass down until it was empty. He admitted that the hit of vanilla extract and the slight saltiness from the cookie wafers cut through the sugar perfectly. Now, whenever he comes over for movie night, he asks if I have any Oreos in the pantry.
What Makes It Special
Whole Milk: Using full-fat milk ensures the shake tastes luxurious and rich rather than watery or icy.
Real Vanilla Extract: A splash of high-quality vanilla elevates the flavor profile, making it taste like a shake from an upscale scoop shop rather than a fast-food joint.
The Cookie Ratio: We use a generous amount of cookies to ensure every single sip is packed with that signature chocolate-wafer flavor.
Making It Happen
Start by taking your Oreo cookies and placing them into a sturdy, thick freezer bag. Seal it up tight to avoid a mess, and then grab a rolling pin. Gently pound the cookies until they are crushed. You want a mix of fine crumbs and small, gravel-sized chunks—this texture is what makes the final drink interesting.
Next, get your blender ready. A crucial trick is to pour the milk in first. This lubricates the blades and helps everything blend without getting stuck. Follow the milk with your scoops of vanilla ice cream and your bag of crushed Oreo crumbs.
Pulse the blender a few times to break up the hard ice cream, then switch to a steady blend. You are looking for a uniform color with speckles of chocolate throughout. If you are using the vanilla extract, toss it in now and give it one last quick whirl. If the mixture looks too thick to pour, splash in a tiny bit more milk; if it looks too thin, add another scoop of ice cream.
Finally, grab two tall glasses. Pour the thick mixture in, watching it settle. Top each glass with a mountain of whipped cream, a heavy drizzle of chocolate syrup, and a whole cookie for that professional finish.
You Must Know
Liquid First: Always add the milk to the blender canister before the ice cream. This prevents air pockets from forming around the blade and ensures a smoother blend.
Chill Your Glass: If you have time, place your serving glasses in the freezer for 15 minutes before making the shake. It keeps the drink frosty for much longer.
Don’t Over-Blend: Stop blending once the mixture is smooth. If you blend too long, the friction from the blades will melt the ice cream, resulting in a runny shake.
Serving Ideas
This shake is rich enough to be a dessert on its own, but it pairs beautifully with salty snacks to cut the sweetness. Try serving it alongside a bowl of hot, salty french fries or a classic cheeseburger for that retro diner vibe. For a dessert spread, it goes well with a warm fudge brownie.
Make It Different
The Mint Twist: Add a few drops of peppermint extract or blend in mint-flavored Oreos for a refreshing, cool treat.
Peanut Butter Lover: Add a tablespoon of creamy peanut butter into the blender for a salty, nutty depth that complements the chocolate perfectly.
Adults Only: Swap a portion of the milk for Irish cream liqueur or coffee liqueur to turn this into a boozy dessert cocktail.
Dairy-Free: Substitute the ice cream for a coconut or almond milk-based vanilla frozen dessert, and use oat milk and gluten-free chocolate sandwich cookies.
Storage and Recipe Tips
Milkshakes are strictly a “make and eat immediately” food. They do not store well in the fridge as the ice cream melts and the cookies turn to mush. However, if you simply cannot finish it, pour the leftovers into a popsicle mold and freeze it. You will have a delicious cookies and cream popsicle for later.
Success Tips
Quality Matters: Since there are so few ingredients, use a high-quality vanilla bean ice cream. The flavor difference is noticeable.
The Garnish: Don’t skip the whipped cream and extra cookie. Part of the joy of a milkshake is the visual appeal.
Straw Choice: Use a wide-gauge straw (often called a boba or smoothie straw) so the delicious cookie chunks don’t clog it up.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make this without a blender?
Yes, though it takes some elbow grease. Let the ice cream soften slightly, crush the cookies very finely in a bag, and whisk everything vigorously in a bowl until combined. It will be chunkier but still delicious.
Why is my milkshake too runny?
You likely added too much milk or blended it for too long. Add another scoop of ice cream or a few ice cubes to thicken it back up.
Can I use Golden Oreos instead?
Absolutely. Using Golden Oreos creates a “Vanilla Birthday Cake” flavor profile that is sweet and buttery.
Is this recipe safe for nut allergies?
Generally, standard Oreos do not contain nuts, but always check the packaging on the specific cookies and ice cream you buy to be safe.
How many calories are in this?
It is definitely a treat. While it varies by ice cream brand, a serving typically ranges between 400 and 600 calories.
Recipe Card
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 0 minutes
Total time: 5 minutes
Servings: 2
Category: Dessert, Drinks
Difficulty: Easy
Cuisine: American
Yield: 2 large glasses
Equipment
Blender
Rolling pin
Zip-top freezer bag
Tall glasses
Ingredients
8 Oreo cookies
2 cups vanilla ice cream
1 cup whole milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Whipped cream and chocolate syrup, for topping
Extra Oreo cookies for garnish, optional
Instructions
Place the Oreo cookies into a thick freezer bag. Gently pound with a rolling pin until crushed. You want a mix of crumbs and small chunks.
Add the milk to a blender first, followed by the vanilla ice cream and the crushed Oreo crumbs.
Pulse the blender a few times to break up the ice cream, then blend continuously until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Add the vanilla extract, if using, and blend for one more second.
Check the consistency. Adjust the shake with a splash more milk if it is too thick, or more ice cream if it is too thin.
Pour the milkshake immediately into two tall glasses.
Top with a generous dollop of whipped cream. Drizzle chocolate syrup over the whipped cream and add a whole Oreo for garnish.
Serve immediately with a straw and a spoon. Enjoy!
Notes
For a thicker “spoonable” shake, reduce the milk to 3/4 cup. For a thinner shake, increase milk to 1 1/4 cups.
Nutrition
Calories: 520kcal | Carbohydrates: 68g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 65mg | Sodium: 280mg | Sugar: 55g
