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A pistachio milkshake recipe made with vanilla ice cream, crushed pistachios, pistachio flavoring, and homemade or store-bought caramel sauce. The best pistachio caramel shake, and a summertime must for any pistachio lover!
Why Make This Pistachio Milkshake Recipe?
Last summer, one of London’s big coffee shop chains began plastering their windows with posters advertising their new caramel pistachio frappé. I’d never thought much about combining caramel and pistachio in a recipe, but the more I thought about it (and the more I passed by those posters on my way to and from the tube!) the more I wanted to give it a try. After all, I’ve always loved adding pistachios to my bakes, and I adore all things caramel, so why not put the two together?
This caramel pistachio milkshake does exactly that. My easy recipe features homemade caramel sauce and pistachio flavoring, along with vanilla ice cream, whole milk, a few drops of green food coloring, and plenty of whipped cream and crushed pistachios on top. The result? A cold and creamy beverage with salty, sweet, and nutty notes in every single sip.
Pistachio Milkshake Recipe Ingredients
To make this pistachio milkshake, you’ll need the following ingredients:
- Vanilla Ice Cream – Choose a good-tasting vanilla ice cream, or use homemade vanilla ice cream. For easy blending, allow the ice cream to soften at room temperature for 10-15 minutes before mixing up your shake.
- Whole Milk – Whole milk makes the creamiest milkshake, but semi-skimmed or skimmed milk will work, too.
- Pistachio Flavoring – I like this pistachio flavoring from LorAnn Oils.
- Caramel Sauce – You can use a store-bought caramel sauce, or make your own from scratch.
- Gel Food Coloring – I tinted my shake with Chefmaster’s Leaf Green; you can also use their Mint Green or Neon Brite Green gel, or omit the food coloring altogether for a natural-looking shake.
- Toppings and Garnishes – I used homemade whipped cream, caramel sauce, and crushed pistachios. For more topping and garnish ideas, see my suggestions below.
Special Equipment
- Blender – You’ll need a standard kitchen blender to mix the ice cream, milk, and caramel sauce. If you don’t have a blender you can make this recipe using a hand blender. Simply combine the milkshake ingredients in a large jug, and blend.
- Piping Bag – If starting with homemade caramel sauce rather than bottled, I suggest scooping it into a disposable piping bag for easy drizzling.
- Serving Glass – A tall parfait glass (accompanied by a long spoon, of course!) works nicely for serving homemade milkshakes. If you don’t have a parfait glass, serve your milkshake in a standard drinking glass or a mason jar.
Garnishing and Serving Your Pistachio Shake
I topped my pistachio shake with whipped cream, homemade caramel sauce, and crushed pistachios, but feel free to express your creativity. Instead of homemade, try canned whipped cream. (Coconut whipped cream will work, too!) Replace the caramel with strawberry, butterscotch, or pistachio sauce; or sea salt caramel for a salty-sweet contrast.
Some other topping ideas? Scatter the whipped cream with green sprinkles or homemade sprinkles. Add a stemmed maraschino cherry for a classic “sundae shoppe” finish. Serve with pistachio biscotti or a pistachio cookie, or crush a few cookies and sprinkle on top.
Make-Ahead and Storage Suggestions
You can prepare the homemade caramel sauce up to two weeks in advance. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to use.
Milkshakes melt quickly! Don’t blend and assemble your shake until just prior to serving.
Other milkshake recipes you might enjoy:
Chocolate Raspberry Milkshake
Peppermint Milkshake
And if you do make these, or any of my recipes, don’t forget to tag me @bastecutfold or use the hashtag #bastecutfold on Instagram. I always love to see what you’re making!
Print
Caramel Pistachio Milkshake Recipe
- Total Time5 minutes
- Yield1-2 servings 1x
Ingredients
4 large scoops vanilla ice cream, store bought or homemade
80 milliliters whole milk (1/3 cup)
1/4 teaspoon pistachio flavoring
1 drop green gel food coloring (optional)
1 tablespoon salted caramel sauce (store bought or homemade), plus more to garnish
Whipped cream, salted caramel sauce, and crushed pistachios, to garnish
Instructions
In a blender, combine vanilla ice cream, milk, pistachio flavoring, and green gel food coloring.
Blend until smooth and creamy.
Spoon 1-2 tablespoons salted caramel sauce in the bottom of a tall parfait glass.
Top with half of the pistachio milkshake.
Spoon 1-2 tablespoons salted caramel sauce.
Top with remaining milkshake.
Garnish with whipped cream, crushed pistachios, and a drizzle of salted caramel sauce.
Pour into a tall parfait glass, or 2 smaller glasses. Serve immediately.
Notes
If you don’t have a blender, you can make this recipe using a hand blender (this is my preferred method!) Combine the ingredients in a large jug, and blend as outlined above.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Ice Cream and Frozen Desserts
- Method: Blender
