Ingredients
Scale
- 1¼ cups sweet cherries, pitted (fresh or frozen)
- 2½ cups premium vanilla ice cream (about 5 scoops), slightly softened
- ¾ cup whole milk (adjust for desired thickness)
- 2-3 tablespoons sugar or honey (adjust based on cherry sweetness)
- ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ⅛-¼ teaspoon almond extract (optional but highly recommended)
- Pinch of salt (enhances sweetness)
For Serving (Optional):
- Whipped cream
- Fresh cherries or maraschino cherries for garnish
- Chocolate shavings
- Cherry syrup drizzle
Instructions
- Prepare Cherries – If using fresh cherries, wash them and remove stems and pits using a cherry pitter or small knife. If using frozen cherries, they’re ready to use straight from the freezer! For the thickest shake, freeze fresh cherries for 1-2 hours before making the shake.
- Soften Ice Cream Slightly – Remove vanilla ice cream from the freezer and let it sit at room temperature for 3-5 minutes. It should be soft enough to scoop easily but still very cold and firm, not melting or drippy. This makes blending easier and prevents straining your blender motor.
- Add Ingredients to Blender in Order – Layer strategically for best blending: milk first (helps blender blades move freely), then pitted cherries, slightly softened ice cream scoops, 2 tablespoons sugar (add more after tasting), vanilla extract, almond extract if using, and a pinch of salt.
- Start Blending on Low Speed – Secure the blender lid tightly. Start on the lowest speed setting for 10-15 seconds to break down the cherries and begin combining everything. This prevents cherry chunks from flying around and protects your motor.
- Increase to Medium-High Speed – Once ingredients start moving and combining, gradually increase to medium-high speed. Blend for 30-45 seconds until the mixture is smooth and creamy with a uniform pink color. You can blend until completely smooth or leave tiny cherry specks for texture – your choice! Use your blender’s tamper if you have one.
- Stop and Scrape Down Sides – Turn off the blender and use a spatula to scrape down any ingredients stuck to the sides. This ensures everything blends evenly and you get that gorgeous uniform pink color.
- Blend Again Briefly – Give it one more 10-15 second blend for perfect smoothness.
- Check Consistency – Your shake should be thick and creamy but still pourable – like soft-serve consistency. If it’s too thick and won’t blend, add 2-3 tablespoons more milk and pulse briefly. If it’s too thin, add another scoop of ice cream or a handful more frozen cherries.
- Taste and Adjust Sweetness – This is crucial! Give it a taste. If it needs more sweetness (depends on cherry ripeness), add another tablespoon of sugar and blend for 10 seconds. If cherry flavor needs brightening, add ⅛ teaspoon more almond extract or a squeeze of lemon juice. If it’s perfect, stop here!
- Serve Immediately – Pour into tall, chilled glasses (pre-chilling glasses in the freezer for 10 minutes keeps shakes colder longer). The beautiful pink color looks stunning! Top with whipped cream and a fresh cherry if desired. Serve with a straw or spoon and enjoy immediately while perfectly cold and thick!
Notes
- Cherry Type: Sweet cherries create the best flavor. Bing cherries are excellent. Tart cherries work but need more sweetener.
- Frozen vs. Fresh: Frozen cherries create thicker texture and are convenient year-round. Fresh cherries have peak flavor in summer.
- Sweetness: Cherry sweetness varies dramatically. Always taste before adding all the sugar!
- Almond Extract: This is optional but really enhances cherry flavor. Start with just ⅛ teaspoon – it’s potent!
- Smooth vs. Chunky: Blend longer for perfectly smooth, or less for texture with tiny cherry bits.
- Color: Natural pink color depends on cherry variety. Some cherries create deeper pink than others.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Beverage
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 milkshake (approximately 14 oz)
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 54g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 60g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 8g
- Cholesterol: 65mg