For those following a ketogenic lifestyle, the craving for a sweet, creamy milkshake can be a significant challenge. Traditional milkshakes are loaded with sugar and carbs, making them off-limits. However, with a few clever substitutions and keto-friendly ingredients, you can enjoy a delicious and satisfying keto milkshake without derailing your diet. This article explores various keto milkshake recipes, offering a range of flavors and customization options to suit every palate.
The Foundation: Keto Ice Cream and Creamy Base
The key to a great keto milkshake lies in the base ingredients. The two essential ingredients are keto ice cream and a creamy liquid.
Keto Ice Cream Options
Making your own keto ice cream is easier than you might think. A simple recipe involves just three ingredients and a mason jar. Vanilla ice cream serves as an excellent base, but you can also explore other basic flavors like chocolate or strawberry. Several brands of store-bought keto ice cream are also available, such as Rebel.
Creamy Liquid Alternatives
Heavy whipping cream is the traditional choice for a rich and decadent milkshake. However, you can substitute it with other keto-friendly options to adjust the flavor and consistency.
- Full-fat coconut milk: Offers a dairy-free alternative with a slightly tropical flavor. Roland's Organic Coconut Milk is particularly recommended for its creamy texture and mild flavor.
- Half and half: Provides a lighter option than heavy cream.
- Sugar-free milk: A readily available low-carb alternative.
- Almond milk: A very low-carb option, especially unsweetened varieties.
Customization: Mix-Ins and Toppings
The fun part of making a milkshake is customizing it with your favorite flavors and toppings. Stick to low-carb, sugar-free, and keto-friendly additions to keep your milkshake guilt-free.
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Mix-In Ideas
Add about 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup of your favorite mix-ins directly into the shake.
- Keto chocolate chips
- Pecans
- Unsweetened coconut flakes
- Cacao or unsweetened cocoa powder (for chocolate flavor)
Topping Suggestions
Garnish your milkshake with keto-friendly toppings for added flavor and visual appeal.
- Sugar-free chocolate syrup
- Keto whipped cream (flavored with sugar-free syrups if desired)
- Keto chocolate shavings
Recipe 1: Basic Keto Milkshake
This recipe provides a foundation for creating your own customized keto milkshake.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups keto ice cream (vanilla, chocolate, or strawberry)
- 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream (or alternative)
Instructions:
- Combine the keto ice cream and heavy whipping cream in a blender.
- Blend until smooth and creamy.
- Pour into a glass and garnish with your desired toppings.
Recipe 2: Chocolate Peanut Butter Keto Milkshake
This recipe combines the classic flavors of chocolate and peanut butter in a keto-friendly milkshake.
Ingredients:
- Keto-friendly ice cream
- Almond milk
- Chocolate
- Peanut butter
Instructions:
- Add all ingredients to a blender.
- Blend until smooth and creamy.
- Pour into a glass and serve immediately.
Recipe 3: Salted Caramel Keto Milkshake
This recipe features the sweet and salty flavors of caramel in a decadent keto milkshake.
Read also: Keto Calorie Counting: A Detailed Guide
Ingredients:
- Heavy cream
- Vanilla pudding
- Ice
- Almond milk
- Torani Sugar-Free Caramel Syrup
- Pinch of salt
Instructions:
- In a high-speed blender, combine heavy cream and vanilla pudding. Blend until thick, like whipped cream.
- Add ice, almond milk, Torani syrup, and salt to the blender.
- Blend until smooth and the ice is crushed.
- Taste and add more syrup if desired.
- Pour into a glass and top with sugar-free caramel whipped cream (optional).
Optional Caramel Whipped Cream:
- In a mixing bowl, whip heavy cream with sugar-free caramel syrup until light and fluffy.
- Spoon onto the milkshake.
Recipe 4: Sugar-Free Chocolate Milkshake
This recipe creates a thick, chocolatey, and frothy keto milkshake without heavy cream.
Ingredients:
- Unsweetened almond milk (or other nut milk, or coconut milk)
- Grass-fed collagen
- Cacao or cocoa powder
- Almond butter
- Protein powder (optional)
- Pinch of sea salt
- 3-4 ice cubes
- Powdered sweetener (optional)
Instructions:
- Place all ingredients in a high-speed blender.
- Blitz until smooth and frothy.
- Pour into a glass and enjoy immediately.
Recipe 5: Keto Cookies 'n Cream Milkshake
This recipe recreates the classic cookies 'n cream flavor in a keto-friendly milkshake.
Ingredients:
- Vanilla keto ice cream (or full-fat coconut milk, vanilla extract, sweetener, and ice)
- Milk of choice
- For the 'Oreo' Cookie Crumbs:
- Almond flour
- Cocoa
- Sweetener
- Butter
- Coffee (optional)
- Salt
Instructions:## For the 'Oreo' Cookie Crumbs:
- Lightly toast almond flour in a dry skillet over medium heat until golden and fragrant (2-4 minutes).
- Transfer toasted almond flour to a small bowl and mix in cocoa, sweetener, coffee (optional), and salt.
- Add in butter and mix until thoroughly combined.
- Place in the freezer while you make the milkshake.
For the Milkshake:
- Add the vanilla ice cream and milk of choice to a blender and run until just combined.
- Add half of the cookie crumb mixture and pulse for a few seconds (don't want to completely blend them in!).
- Mix in the remaining crumbs and enjoy right away!
For the 'No Ice Cream' Milkshake:
- Add all ingredients, aside from the ice, to a blender and run until smooth.
- Taste for sweetness, add the ice, and pulse until thick.
Tips and Considerations
- Adjust sweetness: Taste your milkshake and add more sweetener as needed.
- Adjust thickness: Use more or less liquid to achieve your desired consistency.
- Use a high-speed blender: A high-speed blender, such as a Vitamix or NutriBullet, will produce the smoothest results. If you don't have one, you can use a food processor, stand mixer, or hand mixer.
- Serve immediately: Milkshakes are best enjoyed fresh. If you make it ahead of time, it may melt in the fridge.
- Experiment with flavors: Don't be afraid to experiment with different flavors and mix-ins to create your own unique keto milkshake recipes.
- Dairy-free options: For a dairy-free milkshake, use full-fat coconut milk or other non-dairy milk alternatives.
- Add protein: Boost the protein content of your milkshake by adding protein powder.
- Add healthy fats: Incorporate avocado or almond butter for added healthy fats and creaminess.
- Consider adding ice: Add 3-4 ice cubes, depending on size. If you don't have a high speed blender such as a Vitamix, you may prefer to choose crushed ice instead.
Variations and Add-Ins
- Fruits: Add a handful of keto-friendly fruits like strawberries or blueberries.
- Greens: Add a handful of greens like spinach or kale for a healthy boost.
- Avocado: For more healthy fats, fibre and thickness, consider throwing in about ¼ - ½ avocado, depending on size.
- Maca Powder: I sometimes add 1-2 teaspoon. It adds a lovely earthy caramel taste.
- Cardamom: A great addition for colder days. I use the seeds of 1-2 cardamom pods.
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