Copycat Chick-fil-A Peppermint Milkshake

If you wait longly for the return of Chick-fil-A's Peppermint Chip Milkshake every fall, we feel you. And we wait right with you. But sometimes, you crave that creamy, decadent, and refreshing milkshake, say, in the middle of July. So how do you get it?

You make your own copycat Chick-fil-A peppermint milkshake, of course. With creamy vanilla ice cream, peppermint candies, and both semisweet chocolate chips and white chocolate chips, this milkshake is like no other. It might not come with a side of chicken nuggets or chicken minis, but we think it's every bit as delicious and slurpable.

Learn how to make a copycat Chick-fil-A peppermint milkshake, and get your fix no matter the date on the calendar.

Tips for the Best Peppermint Milkshakes

As our Test Kitchen pros developed and tested this recipe, they offered their tips for getting the best milkshake very time you bring out the blender:

• Don't over-blend: You will have ice cream soup instead of a milkshake
• Avoid a mess: Crushing the mints in a bag keeps them contained and avoids them flying everywhere.
• Swap ice creams: Use peppermint ice cream instead of vanilla and extract if it's available.
• Switch out holiday candies: Use chopped peppermint bark instead of a mix of chips if you have it available.
• Layer liquids in blender. Add the ice cream and milk to the blender first so that the blades can more easily mix up the milkshake.

Ingredients for Copycat Chick-fil-A Peppermint Milkshakes

If you keep these ingredients on hand, you can have this milkshake any time of the year.

• Candy canes or peppermint candies: Candy canes are only available around Christmas, so get get that peppermint flavor with startlight mints if you don't have the holiday candy.
• Vanilla ice cream: Splurging on premium ice cream (like Häagen Dazs) pays off beautifully in this milkshake by making the drink extra thick and creamy, but any vanilla ice cream will do. If it's the holidays, use peppermint ice cream instead for extra peppermint-y flavor.
• Milk: We call for whole milk or richer half-and-half, but if you only have 2% or skim milk, that's fine.
• Semisweet chocolate chips and white chocolate chips: Thin flecks of chocolate are swirled throughout the milkshake. If you only have a bar of chocolate, just chop it up before adding to the blender.
• Peppermint extract: If you want more peppermint flavor, increase extract to 1/2 teaspoon.
  

How To Make Peppermint Milkshakes

Get out your blender. A peppermint milkshake requires just a few steps and a few minutes before you can have your first sip. The full recipe is further below with step-by-step images.

• Step 1. Crush mints or candy canes. Place them in a ziplock bag or on a cutting board, and use a heavy mallet or pan to crush the candy. Set aside some crushed candy for the top of the milkshakes.
• Step 2. Add ingredients to a blender, with liquids and ice cream first. Process for a few seconds until the milkshake is thick, and all the chocolate chips and peppermint are finely chopped.
• Step 3. Pour milkshake into glasses, and top with mints.

How To Store Peppermint Milkshakes

You can leave a milkshake in the fridge for a few minutes if you're coming back to it soon. Otherwise, you should stick it in the freezer. A milkshake in the fridge will melt quickly.

If you want to come back to finish the milkshake later, you can store in the freezer, covered with storage wrap for a day or two. Give it a few minutes to thaw and soften at room temperature, and you can scoop it like ice cream, or put it back in the blender to make into a milkshake again.

Other Favorite Holiday Drinks

Don't miss out on the seasonal drinks while you're enjoying this delicious milkshake:

• Peppermint Martini
  
• Non-Alcoholic Eggnog
• Coffee Punch
• Christmas Cactus Cocktails
• White Christmas Mimosas