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–+ servings
Photo of three black milkshakes topped with whipped cream and orange and black sprinkles to show how these milkshakes are perfect for Halloween. The milkshake is super black due to black cocoa and has a taste like oreo's.

Black Milkshake

Author Erin Dooner
Course Drinks
Cuisine American
Servings 2 milkshakes
Prep Time 4 minutes
Total Time 4 minutes
This black milkshake gets its Oreo-like flavor from black cocoa powder with no food coloring needed. Made with vanilla ice cream, it’s a fun and easy Halloween treat that can be made vegan or paleo.

Ingredients

Optional whipped cream topping and rim:

Milkshake ingredients:

  • 2 cups (475 ml) vanilla ice cream packed, see notes
  • up to 1/2 cup (60 to 120 ml) milk see notes
  • 3 tablespoons (26 grams) black cocoa powder plus more, if needed
  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • sprinkles optional

Instructions

If making whipped cream and rim:

  • Add the heavy cream to a bowl. Begin by whipping the cream at medium speed. Once it starts to thicken, increase the speed to high. Continue whipping until the peaks stand up straight. Place in the fridge while you make the milkshake.
    1/4 cup (60 ml) heavy cream
  • If you want to make a rim with black sanding sugar like I did – pour sanding sugar into a shallow bowl. Brush some maple syrup on the rim of your glass with a small pastry brush or dip the rim into a shallow dish of maple syrup. Immediately dip the rim of the glass into the sanding sugar. Tap to remove excess sugar and place in the freezer for a few minutes to help the sugar adhere better.

Make the milkshake:

  • Add the ice cream, black cocoa powder, maple syrup and vanilla to a blender. If your ice cream is dense or the blender needs help getting started, add 1/4 cup (60 ml) of the milk. Blend just until completely smooth, adding more milk a little at a time as needed, up to 1/2 cup (120 ml) total. Very light, airy ice cream may not need any milk. Taste and add more black cocoa, if desired. Note that the milkshake may look dark grey at first but gets very close to black the longer it sits.
    2 cups (475 ml) vanilla ice cream, up to 1/2 cup (60 to 120 ml) milk, 3 tablespoons (26 grams) black cocoa powder, 2 tablespoons maple syrup, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • Top with the whipped cream and add sprinkles, if desired.

Notes

  • For the milk, you can use any type except canned coconut milk. I use unsweetened cashew milk for a paleo or vegan version, but any compliant milk would work. For a vegan version, use vegan whipped cream and sprinkles or omit them. For paleo, omit the whipped cream and sprinkles unless using compliant alternatives. When I made this recipe with store-bought vegan ice cream, I didn’t need any milk at all because the ice cream was very airy and not dense. When I used homemade ice cream, I needed 1/2 cup (120 ml) of milk.
  • The recipe yields 2 1/2 cups (591 ml) when using dense, high-quality ice cream and 1/2 cup (120 ml) of milk. When I made this with ice cream that had a lot of air in it, I didn't need any milk and the yield was only around 1 1/3 cups (307 ml).
  • The nutrition information provided is calculated as a courtesy and is only an estimate. I am not a licensed nutritionist or dietitian. For the most accurate nutritional data, consult a professional or use your preferred calculator.

Nutrition

Calories: 475kcalCarbohydrates: 52gProtein: 8gFat: 27gSaturated Fat: 17gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 95mgSodium: 129mgPotassium: 502mgFiber: 4gSugar: 43gVitamin A: 1042IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 258mgIron: 1mgNet Carbs: 48
Tried this recipe?Tag me today! Mention @texanerin or tag #texanerin! Thanks. 🖤