How to make a perfectly thick and creamy homemade caramel apple milkshake that tastes like dessert and fuels like breakfast! Whether it’s a crisp fall afternoon or a hot summer day, this is an easy, delicious and refreshing frozen dessert that you can make any time of the year with just a few ingredients and a blender.
It just doesn’t get any better than an ice cold milkshake on a blazing hot summer day. I’m talking about homemade vanilla milkshakes, homemade chocolate milkshakes, strawberry milkshakes or even this tropical pineapple milkshake. As you can tell, I’ve been on a bit of a homemade milkshake kick lately, and my family is loving it; recently I even learned how to make a milkshake without a blender!
With fall coming up, I’ve been craving all the cinnamon-spiced treats. I know most people wouldn’t think of ice cream as a fall dessert, but in our neck of the woods, it’s really not uncommon to have the occasional autumn afternoon with some lingering summer heat. That’s where this caramel apple milkshake really shines– It’s a refreshing frozen dessert with a touch of fall spiced flavor!
Ingredients & Substitutions Notes
- Apples – Since we’re cooking the apples anyways, you can use pretty much any apple you want for this recipe. If you like a sweeter apple, think about Gala, Honeycrisp, Red Delicious or Fuji apples. If you prefer a tart apple, you might go for something like a Granny Smith!
- Brown Sugar – Light brown sugar really brings out the sweet cinnamon-apple flavor in this milkshake!
- Cinnamon – Where there is apple, there’s usually cinnamon. Ground cinnamon gives this recipe a touch of the apple spice flavor we all know and love.
- Vanilla Ice Cream – Any old vanilla ice cream will work just fine for this recipe. Of course, you can make homemade vanilla ice cream as well!
- Whole Milk – Whole milk gives a homemade milkshake its thick and creamy texture, and it usually gives a richer, more wholesome flavor. But you can also use 2% milk or even skim milk if that’s all you have on hand.
- Caramel Sauce – I like to top my apple milkshake off with caramel sauce to make it a caramel apple milkshake. So good!
How to Make a Caramel Apple Milkshake at Home
Before getting started, you’ll need to use a small paring knife to peel and slice 2 large apples into about 16 slices each. I also like to place my milkshake glasses in the freezer so that they’re nice and cold to prevent my milkshake from melting after it’s poured.
How to Cook the Apples
- Start by adding the sliced apples, brown sugar, cinnamon and water to a medium saucepan over medium-low heat on the stovetop.
- Cook the apples down ’til softened, about 10 minutes. Stir often to avoid scorching the pan.
Use a large colander to drain the water out of the apples, and then let them cool for about 15 minutes before moving on to the next step.
Making an Apple Milkshake
- Once the apples are cool, add the milk, ice cream, and cooked apples to your blender.
- Blend until everything is broken down and smooth, about 30 seconds on high speed.
If you like your milkshake a little bit thicker, add some more ice cream and blend again. If it’s too thick, just add some milk to thin it down. You get the picture!
How to Serve a Caramel Apple Milkshake
- Now that your apple milkshake is ready to serve, you’re ready to pour it into your cold milkshake glasses, and top it off with a big dollop of homemade whipped cream.
- Then drizzle on a little caramel sauce. Yum!
That’s it! Your homemade caramel apple milkshake is ready to serve. This is the perfect apple-flavored treat for any time of the year!
Expert Tips and Recipe FAQ’s
Yes. To make a dairy free caramel apple milkshake, start by swapping out the vanilla ice cream for a dairy free vanilla ice cream. Next, you’ll need to use a dairy free milk substitute. I recommend almond milk, cashew milk, or oat milk. Then be sure to use a dairy free caramel sauce. Otherwise, just be sure to check all your ingredient labels over to ensure that everything is truly dairy free!
While as a blender makes everything easier, you don’t need it to make a milkshake. Alternatively, you can dump all of the ingredients into a jar, screw on the lid, and then shake everything together ’til well combined.
Unfortunately, milkshakes don’t last long, so I recommend only making this recipe for immediate consumption. That said, it is definitely possible to cook the apples ahead of time. Just store them in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days in the refrigerator, or you can freeze them in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to 3 months. Then just pull them out and toss them into your caramel apple shake whenever those sweet tooth cravings hit!
Optional Add-Ins and Variations
- Don’t be afraid to add other fruit that go good with apples, like bananas, mangos, strawberries, blueberries or raspberries. Be creative!
- Instead of fresh apples, add a slice of apple crisp to make this an apple pie milkshake!
- Other possible add-ins include oats, nuts (like sliced almonds, chopped pecans or chopped walnuts), graham cracker crumbs or apple pie spice.
More Easy Apple Desserts
- Microwave Apples or Baked Cinnamon Apples
- Slow Cooker Baked Apples
- CrockPot Apple Dump Cake
- Caramel Apple Pecan Dump Cake
- Cream Cheese Caramel Apple Dip
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Caramel Apple Milkshake
Ingredients
- 2 Apples sliced
- 1 tablespoon Light Brown Sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons Water
- 3 cups Vanilla Ice Cream
- 2/3 cup Whole Milk
- 2 tablespoons Caramel Sauce for topping
Instructions
- Before getting started, use a small paring knife to peel and slice 2 large apples into about 16 slices each. Then place your milkshake glasses in the freezer so that they're nice and cold for the apple milkshake.
- Start by adding the sliced apples, brown sugar, cinnamon and water to a medium saucepan over medium-low heat on the stovetop.
- Cook the apples down 'til softened, about 10 minutes. Stir often to avoid scorching the pan.
- Use a large colander to drain the water out of the apples, and then let them cool for about 15 minutes before moving on to the next step.
- Once the apples are cool, add the milk, ice cream, and cooked apples to your blender.
- Blend until everything is broken down and smooth, about 30 seconds on high speed.*
- When it has reached the desired consistency, pour your apple shake into your cold milkshake glasses. Top it off with a big dollop of homemade whipped cream, and drizzle on a little caramel sauce. Yum!
