Peach Milkshake

Enjoy this sweet summertime dessert at peak peach season.

Peach Milkshake
Photo: Jennifer Causey; Food Styling: Loren Wood; Prop Styling: Christine Keely
Active Time:
15 mins
Total Time:
15 mins
Servings:
2

Peach season each year is as short as it is delicious, and there's nothing quite like a rich, creamy peach milkshake made with fresh peaches to usher in those early days of summer. Made with fresh peaches, creamy vanilla ice cream, and rich, cold, milk, it's everything we love about a fruity and refreshing sundae, but drinkable.

While Chik-fil-A makes a peach milkshake that does indeed hit the spot, this alternative may be even better, and doesn't even require getting dressed or gassing up the car.

The fresh summer peaches are an integral part of this recipe, and whether they come from the local farmers' market or your own garden, peak peaches are essential.

Peach Milkshake Ingredients

This peach milkshake is as simple as it is delicious. All you need is fresh ripe peaches, whole milk, vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, and caramel sauce, to top it all off.

If you are avoiding dairy, any plant-based milk and ice cream would work beautifully to replace the whole milk and vanilla ice cream, and the caramel sauce can easily be replaced if you prefer another flavor, such as fresh mint or even some cinnamon.

While fresh peaches are great if they are in season, frozen or canned would be just fine if that's all you have available.

How to Prep Peaches

If the peaches are firm but ripe, the easiest way to peel them is to grab a vegetable peeler and just treat it like you'd treat a potato or carrot. However, if they are very juicy and ripe, this can lead to a mess.

In that case, just toss the peaches in boiling water for a few seconds. This will make it way easier to separate the or the skin from the juicy inner fruit without a mess. If not using fresh peaches, frozen are just fine. Just dip them in a bit of lemon juice and sugar before blending.

As for pitting, the easiest way is to slice the peach and cut around the pit. Then, just gently remove it with your fingers. In many cases, it'll fall right out!

Can You Use Frozen Peaches in a Milkshake?

Absolutely! If fresh peaches are not in season or are not readily available, there's no reason to give up on that milkshake craving. The peach season isn't a very long one, and it's way better to use frozen peaches than fresh peaches that don't have their best flavor.

You might want to thaw the peaches overnight in the fridge before using them in this recipe, so that you don't end up with excess water and mushy peaches. And don't throw those frozen peaches in the microwave to thaw, ever. That'll just destroy flavor and create a mess!

How to Make Peach Milkshake

This peach milkshake is so easy to make, you'll never go to that fast food takeout window again. Just peel and pit the peaches, and then toss in the blender with milk until pureed. When it's the smooth consistency you were hoping for, you'll add your ice cream and a bit more milk to the blender. Then, it's ready to serve!

How Do You Thicken a Homemade Milkshake?

You want a milkshake that is thin enough to drink through a straw but also has that rich, ice-cream like quality that milkshakes are loved for. The easiest way to thicken a milkshake that feels too thin or runny is to just add a bit more ice cream. If it feels too thick, you can do the reverse and add more milk.

It may take some trial and error, but you'll find your perfect peach milkshake consistency that is thin enough to drink but thick enough to not feel runny or watery.

How to Serve Peach Milkshake

These peach milkshakes are best enjoyed immediately after making so as to have the ideal thickness and consistency. Pour into a glass and have some fun with it. Perhaps garnish with a fresh peach slice and top with some fresh whipped cream.

Editorial contributions by Aly Walansky.

Ingredients

  • 3 medium-size fresh ripe peaches (about 1 lb. total), rinsed well

  • ¾ cup whole milk, divided, plus more if desired

  • 1 pint premium vanilla ice cream (such as Häagen-Dazs or Blue Bell)

  • Whipped cream, if desired

  • Caramel sauce, if desired

Directions

  1. Peel and pit peaches. Puree peaches and ¼ cup of the milk in a blender on high until smooth, about 1 minute.

  2. Add ice cream and remaining ½ cup milk to blender. Pulse until mostly smooth, about 10 (1-second) pulses, adding more milk, if needed, until desired consistency is reached.

  3. Pour into 2 glasses; top with whipped cream and caramel sauce, if desired. Serve immediately.

Related Articles