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!
Pumpkin Pie Milkshake
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
- Set ice cream out at room temperature.
- 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.
Questions & Reviews
YUM!!! sounds delicious!!! Great site!!
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!
Thanks for having our backs Barb!
Okay, I went back and she did give you credit so it was just my poor reading comprehension skills. No blog infringement.
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.
Em- I bet that's super good! I made it the other day with apple pie ice cream and it was pretty good too!
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.
Holman Family- I love it!! That would definitely be more acceptable for breakfast, lol I'll have to try it that way too- thanks for sharing!
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 🙂
So yummy! I am going to have to limit how often I can make this 🙂 I blended in the graham cracker and loved it. Thanks for posting this!!
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! =)
OMG yummmo! I am soooo trying this this week or next!!
THANK YOU!!!!!!!!
OH MY GOODNESS!!! This milkshake sounds AMAZING!!!!!
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!
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.
This looks TO DIE FOR!!!!!!!!!
I love it – it looks so indulgent but when I look at the ingredients, it's really not that bad! You should submit this to Recipe4Living.com!
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! 🙂
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!!
Loving this idea! Thanks.
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…
Thanks for the tip on making thicker milkshakes. I thought it was just me…I'd better go apologize to the blender now.
I would love one of these milkshakes! I bet it would be good with crumbled ginger snaps, too!
I am so making this tonight! 🙂 yum!
I woke up this morning smelling pumpkin bread! Unfortunately, it was all in my head. I need to go shopping 🙂
MMMMMMMMMMMM,…I am drooling too!
What a yummie & lovely milk shake!!
Oh Yum!! I love Pumpkin anything. Thanks for sharing the recipe! Can't wait to try it! 🙂
Heh. Good description of size ;o)
Oh good eye Shelise! Thanks! Yes, I put in 1/4 tea