Bourbon Milkshake with Hot Fudge
Love being a kid again? How about the best of both worlds? Then try this Bourbon Milkshake with Hot Fudge…it’s grownup and it’s divine!
When I first published this recipe several years ago I remember asking myself if this Bourbon Milkshake with Hot Fudge belonged in Friday Cocktails and I could not come up with definitive criteria that negated it; after all it does include bourbon right?
That must make it qualify as a ‘cocktail’ so the answer was easy…why yes, yes it does!
Every year I regale against my peers who are ready for Fall in the middle of summer. It is a summer month and I want to see summer food and drink…how about you? I’m not over ice cream, bbq chicken, watermelon, and more ice cream; especially a grownup milkshake like this.
I know they’re trying to prepare better for the onslaught of traffic in winter months but I just can’t go there.
This blog has always been more about my personal journey with food and cocktails we love than making sure I had something timed just right for holiday blog traffic 6 months down the road. Nope I’ve never made a turkey in the summer either. 🙂
I remember as kids that we used to have three whole months off for summer vacation but now schools are starting before the middle of August and that just seems wrong. I won’t let that influence my summer doggone it, and we’re having ice cream and hot fudge and bourbon!
We’ve had a nice mild summer in Colorado and it’s been a welcome relief. My grass that was burned up a bit in May is happier than it’s been all summer and my flowers and herbs are going nuts.
Plus we had some rain last week; not exactly monsoon season but a couple of days when a storm would roll across the sky in late afternoon. Sometimes they’ve been quick and are a nice refresher; others have overstayed their welcome and kept at it for a few hours.
I can hear the thunder rumbling outside right now even as I type this post. Where my friends in other parts of the country might be saying, ‘please no more,’ my lament is the total opposite, ‘please yes bring it!’
Colorado is arid and we never get enough moisture but still, I couldn’t help it. I’m not at ENOUGH ALREADY… and tomorrow is supposed to be sunny again, so typical of Colorado, thank goodness!
I want those warm summer days when this cocktail will hit all major senses. Sure I’ll take the rain…it can often be too hard to come by in Colorado, but I will have a side of this Bourbon Milkshake with Hot Fudge Sauce…you should too!
I love bourbon and this was a fun way to imbibe one of my favorites. It’s like a kid treat but only for adults and it made for a magical moment in my book. The ingredient list for this treat is short, nothing fancy. It includes:
- Vanilla Ice Cream
- Milk
- Bourbon
- Vanilla Flavoring
- Hot Fudge
- Whipped Cream
- Maraschino Cherries
It really is as simple as drizzling hot fudge along the inside of a glass, combining vanilla ice cream, milk, bourbon, and vanilla in a blender and then topping it all with whipped cream, chocolate shavings and a maraschino cherry. Ah…decadent and delicious! Need a kid version or a mocktail for a friend? Easy, just skip the bourbon; still delicious!
The weather might have been a bit wetter and cooler than I would have liked when I served it, but my testers uttered nary a word of dismay…they gulped them down with a fervor that could only reiterate my own thoughts, more akin to ‘Yes, Yes, YES.’
I made my favorite recipe for the Hot Fudge Sauce but if that’s not your thing, don’t let that stop you; use a store bought product you love. It’s that combination of ice cream, vanilla, fudge and BOURBON that makes this so special.
I am picky about my whipped cream, always preferring to whip it myself from heavy cream and add a little bit of vanilla and powdered sugar. But in a pinch, and I’ve had them, I’ll buy a can of the products that are real cream with real sugar that have been pressurized.
The only caveat I have with them is serve the can alongside the milkshake, that product will not keep its shape and will become cream in a heartbeat so I like to add a little bit more after I get through my first couple of bites. Please don’t use Cool Whip. Please?
While I love a brand of maraschino cherries that are not died, something about a bourbon and hot fudge ice cream treat calls for the bright red orbs, don’t you agree? They are the perfect topping for this summer (but I will eat it anytime) treat!
More of Our Favorite Ice Cream Treats
Boozy Favorites
- Boozy Salted Caramel Milkshake
- Chocolate Gelato with Bourbon and Chocolate Chips
- Gin and Strawberry Milkshake
- Spiked Thin Mint Shake
- Broncos Orange Crush Cocktail
- Adult Mocha Shake with Strawberries
Beer Float and Milkshakes
- Guinness Float with Irish Cream Liqueur
- Guinness Vanilla Malted Milkshake
- Guinness Vanilla Malted Milkshake
Favorite Ice Creams (plus a luscious Hot Fudge Sauce)
- Old-Fashioned Butter Brickle Ice Cream
- Black Forest Ice Cream Sundaes
- Blueberry Mojito Ice Cream
- Chocolate Chunk Coconut Ice Cream
- Orange Creamsicle Cocktail
- Strawberry Ricotta Gelato Fizz
Sauces/Toppings
PIN IT! ‘Bourbon Milkshake with Hot Fudge’
Bourbon Milkshake with Hot Fudge
Ingredients
For the Whipped Cream
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon bourbon
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
For the Milkshake
- 2 cups vanilla ice cream
- ¾ cup milk whole is best but I’ve used 2% too and no one ever said no
- 2 ounces bourbon
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
To Finish the Milkshake
- 6 – 8 tablespoons Hot Fudge Sauce
- Maraschino cherries
- Cocoa Nibs or Sprinkles
Instructions
To Make the Whipped Cream (See Notes)
- Whip together heavy cream, powdered sugar, bourbon and vanilla until soft peaks form. Keep in refrigerator until ready to assemble.
For the Milkshake Mixture
- Blend together the ice cream, milk, vanilla, and bourbon in a blender.
To Assemble
- Pour a couple of Tbsp of the hot fudge sauce around the inside edge of glass; fill glass with the milkshake mixture and finish with a dollop of whipped cream.
- Sprinkle with cocoa nibs or colored jimmies; add a cherry on the top and serve with a straw.
I love, love fudge and this hot fudge milkshake looks so easy to make. will try it tomorrow.
Good to see this resurface! There are quite a few ice cream drinks out there, so this certainly qualifies as a Friday Cocktail. Not much rain here, but decent temperatures and humidity for August in St. Louis, so life is good.:-)
We go months without rain and then when it comes it’s incessant…we might call it monsoon season but it’s a dry climate type monsoon…doesn’t take much for us to think it’s a LOT of water.
I just love this one…my old photos did not do it justice. I’m finding the need to replace those is creating most of my reboots! 🙂
OMGoodness boozy milkshake. So comforting! Barb, remember? You introduce me to Marker’s Mark .
I can’t wait to try this! This may be a ridiculous question but for the Hot Fudge sauce, is the 1 tbsp of vanilla- vanilla extract? I have two different kinds of vanilla, one being a less intense form of vanilla then vanilla extract. THANK YOU! 🙂
Yes it is so do use the vanilla extract. This is so decadent and I want one. 🙂
Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes!! That just about sums it up perfectly!!
And I say ditto to your enthusiastic yes’s!
I kinda want to make this for breakfast. Is that so wrong?
How could that be wrong. It does have milk in it right? 🙂
Me compliments to the bartender and photographer – fantastic, it looks so delicious!
Thank you very much…that would be me and me. 🙂
love this can’t wait to try it..i make homemade kaula going to try it thanks for sharing
Hope you love it too; I also love vodka shakes…I’ll mix vanilla ice cream with a grape or orange soda and add some vodka. YUM!
Holy god, get this in my mouth…
Heck ya this is totally okay to share on Friday….or any day for that matter! Bourbon in a milkshake sounds pretty fantastic!!! You know I love cooking/baking making cocktails with booze….so I would love to enjoy this lovely treat! Hugs, Terra
Thanks for your approval; she said after downing more than her fair share. 🙂
This looks breathtaking !
The combination is so perfect
Thank you!
I’ve never had bourbon in a milkshake, and now of course I’m going to have to try this! A local restaurant does root beer floats using moonshine – I haven’t tried one, but it’s a fun idea. Good post – thanks.
This looks so good, gorgeous photos! We too are hindered with a long winter and slow to arrive Spring. We seemed to turn a corner last week with some lovely Spring days then the temperature dropped by 10 degrees!
Whoa! That’s my kind of milkshake! This looks amazing and I’m happy that it’s “just” warm enough for you to finally make it. I can’t imagine living in a place that was still getting snow. I don’t mind winter but about 2 months in I’m already yearning for the mild warmth of spring. I wouldn’t survive in Colorado 😉 Here in New Jersey it is warm already so now I’ll definitely be making this!
If you were ever in Colorado in the summer you would know why we tolerate the late snows. The most amazing summer weather…typically never above 90 and even better? No humidity. No sweating while standing outside, flies buzzing and mosquitoes humidity. We eat almost every meal outdoors as a result…it’s for that weather that I’ll take a bit more snow! Try it, you would like it! 🙂
This looks so delicious. Although it is already summer here in Alabama, I cannot wait to try it 🙂
Your photos are stunning and your recipes sound delectable. We would love for you to share them at thefeastingeye.com. The Feasting Eye is still a bit new, but I think you will like what you see :-).
Spring here is not the best either I’m afraid and we’re hoping that a more pleasant Summer makes up for it.
The wet, dull and rainy days (and nights) would be a lot easier to take sipping on a few of these *adult* shakes. Very lovely Barb.
Milkshakes are among my favorite treats and I’ve never seen one as dressed up as this one. Usually I just sneak a few sips of the kids’ shakes but now I can make one that is truly my own. Thanks, Bourbon Queen!!
I think I’m in love. serious. love.