I thought I was clever making regular milkshakes until my kids discovered s’mores milkshakes at a diner last summer. Suddenly, my vanilla and chocolate creations seemed pretty boring in comparison.
The thing is, s’mores milkshakes sound fancy, but they’re actually easier to make than you’d think. You don’t need a campfire or perfectly toasted marshmallows. Just toss some graham crackers, chocolate, and marshmallow fluff into your blender with ice cream, and you’ve got that campfire taste without leaving your kitchen.
Why You’ll Love This S’mores Milkshake
- Quick and easy treat – This milkshake comes together in just 15 minutes, making it perfect for when you’re craving something sweet without the wait.
- All the s’mores flavors without the campfire – You get that classic combination of chocolate, marshmallow, and graham crackers in every sip, no outdoor cooking required.
- Fun for the whole family – Kids and adults alike will love this nostalgic treat that brings back memories of summer nights around the fire.
- Simple ingredients – Everything you need is probably already in your pantry or easily found at any grocery store.
- Perfect summer dessert – When it’s too hot to make actual s’mores, this cool and creamy milkshake gives you all the satisfaction in a refreshing way.
What Kind of Ice Cream Should I Use?
For the best s’mores milkshake, you’ll want to use a good quality vanilla ice cream as your base. Premium brands tend to work better because they’re creamier and blend more smoothly, giving you that perfect milkshake consistency. You can definitely use store brands too – just make sure it’s real ice cream and not frozen dairy dessert, which won’t blend as well. If you’re feeling adventurous, you could try using chocolate or even cookies and cream ice cream instead of vanilla, though vanilla really lets all those s’mores flavors shine through.
Options for Substitutions
This s’mores milkshake is pretty forgiving when it comes to swaps – here’s what you can change up:
- Vanilla ice cream: Chocolate ice cream works great too, or try cookies and cream for extra texture. You can even use frozen yogurt if you want a lighter version, though it won’t be quite as thick.
- Hershey’s chocolate spread: Regular chocolate syrup, Nutella, or even melted chocolate chips mixed with a little milk will do the trick. Hot fudge sauce works too – just let it cool first.
- Marshmallow cream: If you don’t have marshmallow cream, you can melt about 8-10 regular marshmallows with a splash of milk in the microwave until smooth.
- Graham crackers: Honey graham crackers, cinnamon graham crackers, or even digestive biscuits can step in. Crush them up the same way for both the milkshake and garnish.
- Jet-Puffed Mallow Bits: Regular mini marshmallows work fine, or you can chop up larger marshmallows into small pieces. They won’t be as crunchy but still taste great.
- Hershey’s chocolate bars: Any milk chocolate bar will work – break it into chunks or use chocolate chips if that’s what you have on hand.
Watch Out for These Mistakes While Making
The biggest mistake when making s’mores milkshakes is adding too much liquid at once, which can turn your thick, creamy shake into a thin, disappointing drink – start with just the ice cream and chocolate spread, then add marshmallow cream gradually until you reach the perfect consistency.
Another common error is not crushing the graham crackers finely enough, leaving you with large chunks that can clog your straw or create an uneven texture throughout the shake.
To get the best flavor balance, taste as you go and adjust the chocolate-to-marshmallow ratio since different brands vary in sweetness, and don’t forget to chill your glasses beforehand to keep everything nice and cold.
For the smoothest results, let your ice cream soften slightly at room temperature for about 5 minutes before blending, which prevents your blender from working too hard and ensures everything mixes evenly.
What to Serve With S’mores Milkshake?
This s’mores milkshake is pretty much a dessert all on its own, but it pairs really well with some warm chocolate chip cookies or brownies if you want to go all out on the sweet treats. Since it’s so rich and indulgent, I like serving it alongside some fresh berries like strawberries or raspberries to cut through all that creamy goodness. You could also set out some extra graham crackers for dipping, or even make it a fun dessert bar by offering different toppings like whipped cream, crushed cookies, or more mini marshmallows. It’s the perfect treat to share at summer barbecues or movie nights when you want something that feels like a special occasion.
Storage Instructions
Keep Cold: This s’mores milkshake is best enjoyed right away while it’s thick and creamy. If you need to save some for later, pop it in the freezer in a covered container for up to 2 hours. Any longer and it’ll turn into more of a frozen treat than a milkshake!
Make Ahead: You can prep all your toppings and mix-ins ahead of time to make assembly super quick. Store the graham cracker crumbs, mini chocolate chips, and mallow bits in separate containers at room temperature for up to a week. Just blend everything together when you’re ready to serve.
Serve Again: If your milkshake gets too thick after sitting, just let it soften for a few minutes at room temperature and give it a good stir. You might need to add a splash of milk and blend it again to get that perfect creamy consistency back.
| Preparation Time | 10-15 minutes |
| Cooking Time | 5-10 minutes |
| Total Time | 15-25 minutes |
| Level of Difficulty | Easy |
Estimated Nutrition
Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):
- Calories: 3000-3400
- Protein: 30-40 g
- Fat: 150-180 g
- Carbohydrates: 400-450 g
Ingredients
For the milkshake base:
- 3 cups vanilla ice cream
- 1/2 cup chocolate spread or syrup (such as hershey’s)
- 1/2 cup marshmallow creme
- 3 whole graham cracker sheets, broken into pieces
- 1/2 cup hershey’s chocolate bars, chopped
For the toppings:
- 4 large marshmallows, toasted
- 4 tbsp crunchy mini marshmallow bits
- 4 tbsp crushed graham crackers
- 4 tbsp small chocolate chips
Step 1: Toast the Marshmallows
- 4 large marshmallows, toasted
Toast 4 large marshmallows over a stove burner, grill, or using a kitchen torch until golden and slightly melted.
Once done, set the toasted marshmallows aside to use as a topping later.
Step 2: Mix the Ice Cream Base
- 3 cups vanilla ice cream
- 1/2 cup chocolate spread or syrup (such as Hershey’s)
- 1/2 cup marshmallow creme
- 3 whole graham cracker sheets, broken into pieces
- 1/2 cup Hershey’s chocolate bars, chopped
In a large mixing bowl or using a stand mixer (a blender also works), combine the vanilla ice cream, chocolate spread or syrup, marshmallow creme, broken graham cracker sheets, and chopped chocolate bars.
Mix on medium speed until all ingredients are well incorporated and the mixture is thick but pourable.
I like to chill my mixing bowl first to help keep the ice cream from melting too fast while mixing!
Step 3: Assemble and Top the S’mores Sundaes
- crunchy mini marshmallow bits
- crushed graham crackers
- small chocolate chips
- toasted marshmallows from Step 1
Evenly divide the ice cream mixture from Step 2 into serving glasses.
Top each sundae with a generous sprinkle of crunchy mini marshmallow bits, crushed graham crackers, and small chocolate chips.
Finish by placing a toasted marshmallow from Step 1 on top of each sundae.
Serve immediately and enjoy!
For a special touch, I sometimes drizzle a little extra chocolate syrup on top.
