Pumpkin Pie Milkshake

CATEGORIES: Ice Cream and Frozen Treats, Sara, Thanksgiving and Fall Flavors
author photo BY
Sara Wells

Are you ready for a serious confession?

I don’t like pumpkin pie.

 

That may come as a surprise since I’m obsessed with things like this and this and this. Also a surprise when considering that this time of year, I spend about 85% of my available brain power trying to discover new ways to incorporate pumpkin flavor into everyday foods. See, while there’s something about mushy orange pie that kick starts my gag reflex, there’s also something entirely intoxicating about the combination of warm spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves, all strung together with sweet brown sugar and delicate pumpkin in just about anything else.

So the other day when my 4 year old and I were looking for a pre-bedtime treat, I reached in to grab the vanilla ice cream and knocked my frozen pumpkin puree off the shelf. One look at my kiddo and his cute little mouth covered in graham cracker crumbs and I knew exactly what we were about to create. That was a week ago. We’ve had these shakes about 6 times since. So yeah, just about every day. Go ahead, call the diet police. I dare you.

I purposely made this to serve 2 generous servings.  I also made it to fit perfectly into my Blendtec Twister jar (which is smaller than a normal size blender jar) so you could certainly double it in a larger, high-powered blender.  If you have a Blendtec, the Twister Jar works exceptionally well for things like this!

(If you’re wondering about my specific Blender, it’s the Blendec Designer Series 625, which comes in that awesome sea foam color)

In the jar of your blender, combine a little milk with some pumpkin puree, brown sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.

Whip that up and then add in the vanilla ice cream.  Now.  It’s important to use good ice cream here.  I’m not talking about expensive ice cream, just good ice cream.  I call for Vanilla Bean ice cream because that tends to be the closest to a good quality homemade vanilla without a lot of extra fake-y flavors.  My go-to is Breyers Vanilla Bean.  Try to stay away from any vanilla ice creams that are that bright yellow-ish color.  Breyers is one of the few with only a few ingredients and that’s always a good sign!  I actually bought Walmart’s Great Value brand for this batch and I couldn’t believe how close it was to Breyers.  Sure enough, when I looked at the ingredient list there were only a few ingredients (mostly milk, cream, sugar, and vanilla) and it was only a few bucks.  So those are both great choices.

I also get my ice cream out a few minutes ahead of time so it’s just a little bit soft.  That tends to lead to the perfect consistency. 


Whip it up and it morphs into the most amazing smooth, soft serve consistency.  


A note about blenders: Here’s the problem with making thick, diner style milkshakes at home: A lot of times you have to add so much milk to the thing to get the blender to process that it turns into a milk-slushie instead. Or you have to blend and plunge, blend and plunge, etc. You know the drill, right? So if you have any trouble with your blender, I would recommend blending everything but the ice cream first and then mashing it into the ice cream by hand (well, with a hand. Holding a fork or spoon 🙂 If your scooped ice cream sits out at room temp while you measure the other things and get them all ready, then by the time you mash it all together it should be a good consistency and it will turn out like a nice soft-serve at the end.  If you want it thinner, to drink with a big straw, just add a little milk or cream until you reach the right consistency.

 

Sprinkle with crushed graham cracker crumbs before serving. It tastes just like DQ’s Pumkin Pie Blizzard!

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Pumpkin Pie Milkshake

  • Author: Our Best Bites
  • Prep Time: 10
  • Total Time: 10
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Description

Quick and easy frozen treat using real pumpkin and warm spices. The perfect autumn dessert!

Scale

Ingredients

  • 1/3 C pumpkin puree, canned or homemade
  • 2–4 tablespoons milk or cream (more if needed), divided
  • 1/4 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/16 teaspoon cloves (just use a 1/8 t measure and fill it half way, or do a large pinch)
  • 1/16 t nutmeg
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 2 C vanilla bean ice cream (I like Breyers)
  • 1–2 graham crackers

Instructions

  1. Set ice cream out at room temperature.
  2. In the jar of a blender, or bowl, combine pumpkin, 2 tablespoons milk or cream, vanilla, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and brown sugar. Blend or whisk to combine. Add ice cream and process (or smash by hand) to combine. Pour into glasses and top with crumbled graham crackers.

Notes

  • Optional: after blending milkshake, stir in by hand chunks of graham crackers, baked pie crust, or chunks of shortbread cookies.
  • Tip on Blending: Here’s the problem with making thick, diner style milkshakes at home: A lot of times you have to add so much milk to the thing to get the blender to process that it turns into a milk-slushie instead. Or you have to blend and plunge, blend and plunge, etc. You know the drill, right? So if you have any trouble with your blender, I would recommend blending everything but the ice cream first and then mashing it into the ice cream by hand (well, with a hand. Holding a fork or spoon 🙂 If your scooped ice cream sits out at room temp while you measure the other things and get them all ready, then by the time you mash it all together it should be a good consistency and it will turn out like a nice soft-serve at the end. If you want it thinner, to drink with a big straw, just add a little milk or cream until you reach the right consistency.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 2

119 comments

  1. I have to be the first to comment! This looks amazing! I cannot wait to try it. If it were not midnight and I didn't think it would wake my family up, I probably would. So, I wait for tomorrow and this delicious drink!

    Reply

  2. OMG, I am drooling! I LOVE pumpkin pie. The funny thing is, one of my MOST FAVORITE treats is from Cold Stone- a pumpkin pie in the sky shake. Now I can make it at home for a fraction of the price. Yummmmm! Thank you so much for sharing. I will have to buy some vanilla ice cream and try this TODAY!!

    Reply

  3. Wow! It's 6 am when I am reading this and now I want one for breakfast! Pumpkin Milkshake, pumpkin late – who will every know the difference? Will be trying this soon! Thanks for sharing.

    Reply

  12. I JUST had a pumpkin spice and cream Frappucino at Starbucks (because I had a gift card) and I thought- really? $5 for Pumpkin shake?? Can't I make this myself?! But I was too scared to play with pumpkin – I wasn't sure if it is safe to eat without being baked… but duh, it has already been cooked!! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!! You have NO idea how just saved my budget this month! $5 a day on a shake? Now I can go on your diet for sooo much cheaper!!

    Reply

  15. Yes, I'll be giving this a try! I'm pretty certian I have everything I need! Thanks for sharing!

    Btw, you're on a roll! 🙂
    ~ingrid

    Reply

  16. Oh yeah! That pumpkin better be back on the shelves soon… I've been too afraid to even touch the last two cans we have at home! I think some pumpkin bread and this milkshake warrants opening a can though! And we've already got the vanilla ice cream in the freezer. Yum. 🙂

    Reply

  20. Found pumpkin at the store today. Hooray, I even bought a pie pumpkin to try making my own puree. I have to add, I love your blog, and my husband thanks you.

    Reply

  22. Yowsa… this sounds seriously bad (as in bad for my diet). Why do you do this to me? I thought you guys loved me?!?!?!?! I am NOT feeling the love over here folks.

    Where do I send my payments for the milkshake diet?

    I want my pumpkin milkshake blankey.

    Reply

  23. I'd join your diet revolution =) My kids have been begging me for one of those on the wall toothpaste dispensers. They claim it will keep the bathroom counter clean. Plus, I'd get all the yummy pumpkin pie milkshakes I could handle. What more could a pregnant mom of 4(soon to be 5) want =)
    Can't wait to try this ASAP. It looks so yummy!

    Reply

  24. Sara,
    Thank you for your lovely comment on my blog…You really made my day girl.I really enjoy your blog and trying out your recipes…I have had great success with them but I am awful at taking pictures.I too don't like pumpkin pie. Guess it is because I use to make 14 at a time and they were gone in 2 days.God bless you and your grandmother should blog.You meet such interesting people (like you). Hugs
    Sue

    Reply

  25. Okay the only thing that could make this better for me would be to swirl in a few mini chocolate chips. Pumpkin and chocolate are a perfect combination. I can't wait to find pumpkin in my grocery store (they have been out, as you said, the past 2 weeks).

    Reply

  30. Okay so as I looked at the ingredients I noticed you had vanilla extract sitting with the ingredients but I dont see it on the list. Is this necessary and does it make it taste any better?? My husband and I are SO excited to try this tonight while we watch biggest loser via internet (haha)

    Reply

  39. Yea for fall! I love pumpkin. I can't wait to try this. I was lucky to find canned pumpkin at the store this week, so I bought a bunch (sorry, I take the easy way out, but it was cool to see how you can make your own). Now I just have to get some ice cream…

    Reply

  41. OMG!!! I just made this and it was amazing. I will eat this way to much. I made my own pumpkin as per your instructions. I love it even better than the canned. By the way, I hate pumpkin pie also. I didn't even take the time to get my vita-mix out. I just did it all in a bowl with a spoon. Yum Yum!!

    Reply

  42. I made these last night!! OH MY GoodNess! So Good!! And so easy! My kids Loved it too and was slurping them up!!! Thanks for a new fall tradition! 🙂

    Reply

  45. I really like the sound of a pumpkin pie milkshake! I just finished roasting my first pumpkin of the season and I now have 6 cups of pumpkin puree. My place is kind of warm from having the oven on for so long and a milkshake would be perfect right now.

    Reply

  46. We have also had these milkshakes for days. You have to use up the pumpkin mix right? So, every time we open the fridge and see it there we just have to add it to the meal!

    Reply

  50. I made this tonight after several nights of thinking about making it. I never should have waiting, it is amazing! It is the perfect cure for a pumpkin pie craving. And now that I have a whole can of pumpkin opened and ready to use I can join the pumpkin pie milkshake diet.

    Thanks for the recipe! =)

    Reply

  52. This is so addicting … I crave it and figured out how to have it for every meal … I just took out the ice cream, added a scoop of protein powder, extra milk and ice … 2xday 🙂

    Reply

  54. We've made this several times, and today I was craving it again since we had some leftover pumpkin puree in the fridge. However, we only had butter pecan ice cream. I used that and it was so good! I loved having all the pecan chunks in it.

    Reply

  56. Ah-ha. I think I saw this somewhere else and I dont' think she gave you credit. In fact, pumpkin is on my grocery list specifically to try this based on the other girl's blog. I am happy that I now know who to really thank.

    Reply

  57. Okay, I went back and she did give you credit so it was just my poor reading comprehension skills. No blog infringement.

    Reply

  59. We just tried this recipe tonight. Delicious! Such a great fall treat and a nice alternative to pumpkin pie which I'm sure we'll have plenty of over the next week! Thanks for posting!

    Reply

  61. I am going to try this, but I think I'm going to get the canned pumpkin that already has the spices in it, it's not because I'm super lazy (which I am by the way), but my son needs a pumpkin shake recipe for cooking class and I figured that would be easier than him messing with the seasonings. Ill let ya know how it tastes!!

    Reply

  63. Have you heard of TCBY? Its a yogurt shop (The Country's Best Yogurt) in the Midwest and each fall they used to make a pumpkin pie shake w/ frozen yogurt!! This is exactly the SAME thing… I have now died and gone to heaven! Pumpkin heaven… When we lived in Nebraska I could hardly wait until fall rolled around for the pumpkin pie frozen yogurt. When the season was over, I was crushed! Now I can have it year round!!! Woo hoo!!! Thanks for saving the day… (yes I made this already but only had this weird vanilla/lemon swirled ice cream… it was too die for!!!! mmmm mmm mmm!!!!)

    Reply

  64. Wow, this looks AMAZING!! Going to try a ice-creamless, sugar free version for special diet needs reasons… should still be somewhat of a treat!! thanks for the idea!

    Reply

  66. Sara, I don't like pumpkin pie, either! I always get weird looks when I say that. My husband loves pumpkin pie and I love ice cream, so this treat is a wonderful compromise! Thanks, I'll be adding this to my meal planner for the week.

    Reply

  67. This milkshake is absolutely amazing!!! The kids and I just had it……so, so tasty. Too bad for the husband, he's at work and there isn't a single spoonful left. Darn, looks like I'll have to make more.

    Reply

  69. Thanks SO much for this amazingly yummeroma milkshake.
    We are a fam living overseas and I really really miss all the pumpkin filled coffee shops and to be totally honest even the pumpkin milkshakes at Mac Donalds WOW I should be shoved off the food blogs for that one! 🙂 ANYWHO was soo good to be able to make some of the good 'ol American goodness here in the South Pacific. 🙂
    Cheers!
    Gretchen

    Reply

  70. I hate pumpkin pie too. It's just… gross. My sister found a new recipe though. It's like pumpkin pie but has cream cheese in it and a yummy brown sugary nut layer on the bottom. I actually really like it. You should try it next time you need pumpkin pie. 🙂
    http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=10000000364650
    Oh, and these shakes look SOOOO good.
    I just barely found your blog and love it. I've been totally looking at all of your recipes.

    Reply

  71. I am DYING for one of these shakes but don't have any cloves. Can I use pumpking pie spice instead since it is just all those things mixed together? I am just not sure how much to add . . .

    Reply

  75. This is an awesome recipe! I love pumpkin pie shakes, but have never made one at home. Thanks! I followed your directions to mix everything before adding ice cream and it worked a lot better. Perfect consistency!
    I'm using my leftover graham cracker crumbs to make Reeces tomorrow.

    Reply

  78. Just had my wisdom teeth pulled out, so have been looking for some liquid food inspiration for the next few days. Think this one might work a treat 🙂 Thanks Team!

    Reply

  80. My husband is out canyoneering this weekend so after a day of single-mommy-ing it, I treated myself to this tonight. I just sent a text to my husband and told him that I would give up food for an entire day just so that I could consume of much of this delight as I can fit into my belly! Holy Cow! It was incredible! We have relocated to Arizona from Idaho and one thing I miss around the holidays is pumpkin milk shakes from Arctic Circle…well not anymore! This is just as good! Thanks for the amazing recipe!

    Reply

  82. This is the 5th or 6th recipe I’ve tried from your blog, and I have not been disappointed, but this one I had to leave a comment for… WOW! AMAZING!! I will keep coming back for more great ideas 🙂

    Reply

  83. This looks incredible! I love all things pumpkin and just received a blender as a wedding shower gift, so I can’t wait to make this. Thanks! 🙂

    Reply

  84. This was DELICIOUS! And perfect for today (low 80’s, but dying for fall)! I like my milkshakes pretty thick, so I actually made mine using my kitchenaid with whisk attachment–worked like a charm! I also used graham cracker crumbs mixed with sugar and melted butter (my fave). Thanks so much for sharing!

    Reply

  85. Yum! I think we will have to try this! My family has a deep love for milkshakes and we usually go out and buy the pumpkin ones when they are in season. Making my own will save some money and be more convenient! Thanks for the recipe 🙂

    Reply

  86. I made your super easy pumpkin muffins last night and let my husband take all but 2 to work to feed the coworkers… I think pumpkin pie milkshakes may be in order now, since I need my pumpkin fill too!

    Reply

  87. To make a breakfast smoothie…
    Freeze pumpkin, omit ice cream, add a bit more milk and any scoop of protein powder. I use visalus sweet cream. Next once it is blended and creamy from frozen pumpkin i add target brand pumpkin oatmeal dry right into the shake. It will need a few mins to sodten so you can add to milk before blending if you would like. Trust me when I tell you, you will never want to eat anything else ever again. And if you watch what kind of milk you use and count up cal, this is a ww point friendly shake.
    If u don’t like protein powder, skip it. But the visalus is tasty.

    Reply

  89. This is such a tasty drink. I just had jaw surgery and am on 100% liquid diet and things get bland very quickly but I think I will be incoorperating this alot over the next six weeks, just wish I knew about it the first time i had this surgery. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply

  91. Thank you for yet more pumpkin-y goodness and for keeping this on your sidebar this time of year. Wanted to let you know your first two links in the post where the sentence reads ‘…obsessed with things like this and this and this…’ are broken. So curious what they were, is it fixable?

    Reply

  93. Thanks so much for this recipe. I have steered clear of Dairy Queen this fall because I have this recipe now thanks to you. I love it more than any of the pumpkin shakes I have bought and it can be made at the convenience of my own home. My new favorite treat!

    Reply

  96. These are delicious! I loved it, my husband loved it, and our 15 month old loved it so much that he cried when his little glass was empty! Thanks for the recipe!

    Reply

  98. I just made these tonight. While it was delicious, I still have to play around with the recipe. My first batch was too liquidy, then my second batch was too pumpkiny. I’m greatly satisfied though. I’ll keep you updated on my next batch. 🙂

    Reply

  99. We are in the process of trying your shake and let us just say… WE LOVE IT! By golly, it is just so dang good. Kudos on this spectacular shake. I would totally go on the pumpkin diet and receive the soap dispenser! Thanks again! 🙂

    Reply

  103. I made this today and it was fantastic! First I made a bunch of pumpkin puree using a recipe I found on the Pioneer Woman’s page.. I froze at least 8 bags of puree and have a ton more little pumpkins still to do.. and to think i used to pay 1.69 for 1 can.. and the fresh is so much better!
    Can’t wait to try it out on the kids later.

    Reply

  104. This. Is. Amazing. The perfect size to share with the husband. We topped ours with alcohol infused caramel whipped cream. Thank you so much, I’m in heaven!

    Reply

  106. sounds wonderful. they have these at sonic and they do put the graham crackers
    in the shake as well as on the top and it it super yummy that way. Can’t wait to try. You saved me from coming up with a recipe myself this coming weekend.

    Reply

  108. I just made this a little while ago and finished it, and I am surprised! I expected it to be good, but I didn’t expect it to be THIS good! I’m so glad I found this recipe..I like the fact that you list out the individual spices, rather than just list “pumpkin pie” spice like I’ve seen on some other blogs (I don’t keep pumpkin pie spice on hand since I usually just make the spice blend as I need it). Thanks for the recipe, it was a great afternoon treat for me! 🙂

    Reply

  109. I am eating this right now and it is delicious, however I feel like I did something wrong because this didnt really even make enough for two regular sized milkshakes, let alone with a bit extra! I will have to double the recipe next time I guess!

    Reply

  114. Yum! I just drank this milkshake in 2.4 seconds. DELISH! Thank you so much for this recipe! I topped mine with Sweetzels Spiced Wafers (a gingersnap, basically…) It’s a Philadelphia thing… 😉

    Reply

  116. Curse you! I am supposed to be eating healthy and this looks so good.
    I just made a “healthy” version based on what I had on hand. You will laugh because the ingredients were off the wall yet it still tasted like pumpkin pie:

    1 cup frozen passionfruit…I think. It was something cubed and orange that I probably got from Bountiful Baskets and forgot to label.
    1 frozen banana
    1 chopped apple, skin on
    1 tbs fresh ginger
    2 cups milk
    cinnamon, cloves and allspice
    1 cup oats since it was still too runny

    Your version has got to be much much better but I was able to at least get rid of my craving 😉

    Reply

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