Most of you will have tasted a milkshake at some point in your life, but what about an ice blended drink? Well, most likely you will have tried both, since they have very similar characteristics, ingredients, and are both very popular. So, what exactly are the differences between milkshakes and ice blended drinks? In this article, we’ll explore the nuances between frosty frappuccinos and classic milkshakes, so you can help make the perfect choice for your taste buds!
Ice Blended vs Milkshake
Both ice blended drinks and milkshakes have gained immense popularity across various settings – from cozy cafes to bustling fast-food joints. To put it simply, the main difference between the two choices of drink are the ratios of ice and milk (or water). Whilst milkshakes are known to have a lot of milk (hence the name), ice blended drinks have less milk and more ice. With the addition of more ice, you will find the ice blended drinks being much colder, more slushy, and more icy.
However, these are not the only differences! Continue reading, and we’ll delve deeper into the world of ice blended and milkshakes to find out what truly sets these two apart:
What is an Ice Blended Drink?
An ice blended drink, sometimes referred to as a ‘frappé’, is a delightful fusion of ice and flavoring, perfect for quenching your thirst on a hot day. You’ll commonly these in cafés around the world, particularly in Starbucks, where you can find the iconic Starbucks Frappuccino blended beverages. To make drinks like these, a heavy duty blender is usually needed to crush the ice. Here’s a closer look at what goes into these icy treats:
Ingredients for Ice Blended:
- Ice: The foundation of any ice blended drink, ice provides the refreshing chill that makes these beverages so appealing. The addition of ice is what gives this drink a characteristic similar to a slushy.
- Milk (or Milk Alternatives): Much like milkshakes, creamy fresh milk or non-dairy alternatives (such as almond milk or oat milk) are usually added to give it body and richness. Additionally, water can be added or used instead of milk to create a less creamy drink (more commonly for fruity varieties).
- Flavorings: In order to give the ice blended or frappe drink its flavor, ingredients like syrups, premix powders, or natural flavor extracts will be added to contribute to the taste. Things like MIX-LAH premix powders, coffee syrups, fruity extracts, or chocolate flavoring.
- Optional Coffee or Tea: Lastly, it’s not uncommon to see ice blended drinks incorporate coffee or tea for an extra kick. Imagine a frosty mocha or an ice blended matcha latte! Just combine some instant coffee with a splash of hot water to make an espresso flavouring (or use an espresso machine). Likewise, just add cold strong tea.
Ice Blended Texture and Consistency:
- Smooth and Frosty: Ice blended drinks have a smooth texture, thanks to the blended ice and other ingredients. Imagine sipping through a straw and feeling the icy coolness against your palate.
- Slight Crunch: The ice particles provide a subtle crunch, adding to the refreshing sensation. It’s like a frosty hug for your taste buds.
- Thicker Than Regular Drinks: Ice blended drinks are thicker than your typical beverage. They’re substantial enough to feel satisfying but not as dense as a milkshake.
- Balanced Creaminess: Lastly, the combination of milk (or milk alternatives) and ice ensures a harmonious balance – not too thin, not too thick.
Some Ice Blended Examples:
Here are a few particularly common examples of ice blended drinks, likely to be alongside milkshakes on your local café menu:
- Frappuccinos: These popular coffee-based ice blended drinks combine espresso, milk, ice, and flavorings. Variations include caramel frappuccinos or mocha frappes.
- Fruit Smoothies with Ice: Blending fresh or frozen fruits with ice and milk creates vibrant and nutritious ice blended drinks.
- Creative Ice Blended Teas: Imagine a fruity iced tea with crushed ice – a delightful twist on traditional tea.
What is a Milkshake?
As for milkshakes, I’m sure most of you know what they are! Milkshakes are a classic indulgence that transports us back to nostalgic diner days. Traditionally with ice cream, you’re in for a sweet and creamy delight! For those of you who are less familiar with what a milkshake is, let’s break down the components:
Ingredients for Milkshakes:
- Ice Cream (or Premix Powders): Traditionally, creamy ice cream forms the heart of a milkshake. You can use classic vanilla, chocolate, or other exciting flavors. However, these days, it’s common to see cafés and restaurants using quality premix powders such as MIX-LAH premix powders.
- Milk: Whole milk or other milk varieties blend with the ice cream or premix powder to create a thick, luscious consistency. You can also use the addition of condensed milk for sweetness to avoid sugar!
- Flavorings: Chocolate syrup, vanilla extract, or strawberry puree – these flavorings (amongst many other) define the milkshake’s taste even more!
- Optional Syrups, Fruits, and more: Some milkshakes get an extra boost from syrups (like caramel or hazelnut) or chunks of fresh fruit. Additionally, you can find cookies like Oreos or Ferrero Rocher’s being blended to add extra flavour and texture to cookie-based varieties.
Milkshake Texture and Consistency:
- Creamy and Rich: Milkshakes are the epitome of creaminess. The ice cream base creates a luxurious texture that coats your mouth.
- Velvety Smooth: As you sip, the milkshake glides effortlessly, leaving a delightful coating on your palate.
- Thick and Decadent: Milkshakes are notably thicker than most beverages. They’re so rich that you might need a spoon to fully appreciate them.
- Satisfyingly Dense: The density of a milkshake makes it a dessert-worthy treat. It’s like sipping a dessert through a straw.
Some popular milkshake examples:
- Vanilla Milkshake: A timeless favorite, the vanilla milkshake combines vanilla ice cream, milk, and a touch of vanilla extract.
- Chocolate Milkshake: Rich and chocolatey, this milkshake features chocolate ice cream and milk, topped with whipped cream.
- Strawberry Milkshake: Made with strawberry ice cream or fresh strawberries, this pink delight is a hit with berry lovers.
- Cookie Cream Milkshake: Another classic, often made with vanilla and added cookies, or even cookie cream ice cream.
Preparation Methods
As you can see, both ice blended drinks (frappes) and milkshakes have some big similarities, asides from the quantity of ice. You’ll also be surprised to know that the preparation methods are closely related too! Usually, they both use a blender to mix the ingredients together. However, there are a few important differences to consider:
How to Make an Ice Blended Drink
1. Equipment Needed: Blender
- A blender is essential for creating smooth and consistent ice blended drinks. It’s also important to note, ice blended drinks require a significant amount of ice to be crushed. Because of this, you will need a blender capable of crushing ice, otherwise the blades could break!
Try our selection of Hoffmans Commercial Blenders for bustling café environments!
2. Steps Involved:
- Step 1: Add Ice
- Firstly, place a generous amount of ice cubes into your glass (or the blender). A good rule of thumb is to use your serving cup and fill it completely with ice (for one serving). In fact, adding ice first is important as it can help avoid other ingredients getting stuck to the bottom of the blades.
- Step 2: Pour in Milk
- Secondly, pour in your full cream milk/water (or a non-dairy alternative) over the ice and flavorings. It’s up to you how much you want to use, depending on what sort of consistency you want. An easy method I like to use involves filling your serving glass with milk/water to about 80% full (with this ice already in the glass). Then, pour the glass fill of ice and milk into your blender.
- Step 3: Add your flavourings
- Now you can add your flavourings to the blender. Use flavourings such as coffee concentrate, fruit puree, tea, and so on. If you are using premix powder, add about 3 scoops (50g) for a 16oz cup.
- Step 4: Blend Until Smooth
- Blend everything together until you achieve a frosty, well-mixed consistency. Make sure there is no big bits of ice!
- Step 5: Serve and Enjoy
- Finally, pour your ice blended drink into a glass and savor the refreshing flavors. You can then add your toppings, such as whipped cream and syrups.
How to Make a Milkshake
1. Equipment Needed: Blender, shaker, or Milkshake Machine
- Like before, you can use a blender, or a dedicated milkshake machine for this creamy delight.
- Additionally, you may also use a metal or plastic shaker.
2. Steps Involved:
- Step 1: Scoop Ice Cream or add premix
- Start by scooping your favorite ice cream (or using premix powders) into the blender, milkshake machine, or shaker. The more you put, the thicker and tastier is will be! If using premix powder such as MIX-LAH, you can add a small bit of ice too (should be about 20% ice, 80% milk).
- Step 2: Add Milk and Flavorings
- Pour in milk (whole milk works best) to create the desired consistency. You can add condensed milk for even more sweetness and velvet texture.
- Add flavorings like chocolate syrup, vanilla extract, or strawberry puree, fruit pieces. You can even try adding things like Orea biscuits for added texture and flavors. For this recipe we add mango slices, mango premix, and vanilla ice cream.
- Step 3: Blend Until Thick and Creamy
- Blend everything together until the mixture becomes thick and velvety.
- Step 4: Serve and Garnish
- Pour your milkshake into a tall glass.
- Top with whipped cream, sprinkles, or a cherry for that classic touch. For this recipe we added mango slices, to match the mango flavoured milkshake.
- Insert a straw and enjoy!
Toppings and Customization
Once you have found the perfect balance of ingredients and measurements, you can now move on to the finalé! For me, this is arguably the most fun part; adding your own touch of colour and flavor. With the help of toppings and customisation, you can transform your ice blended milkshakes from being an amateur homemade treat to a barista level masterpiece! Here are some of our top tips for toppings and more:
1. Whipped Cream
The begin with, probably the most commonly used topping of all; whipped cream. This is a staple topping for eye-catching creaminess! Not only does it look and taste great, it is also quick and convenient. You can also make your own homemade whipped cream for an even better taste and aesthetic!
2. Ice Cream
If you think whipped cream is too overrated, you need to try ice cream instead! Try adding a dollop of ice cream on top for an indulgent and creamy addition to many drinks. With this topping, you can either choose to eat it, or let it slowly melt into your drink, making it creamier as you sip!
3. Syrups & Sauces
Another must-have ingredient to give your ice blended milkshakes added flavour and colour is syrup or sauce. There are many types of syrup and sauces, but some of the most popular would be strawberry, chocolate, and caramel. However, you can also experiment other things like making hot fudge or making homemade caramel sauce.
Aside from flavouring, there are 2 things you can try with syrups and sauces:
- Squirt some syrup around the inside wall of the cup to give it a nice aesthetic
- Drizzle syrups or sauce over the top of your whipped cream.
Learn how to make your own flavoured syrups at home for coffees, teas, milkshakes, and more!
4. Biscuits, chocolates & Wafers
Additionally, adding biscuits or wafers to the topping can make your ice blended or milkshakes much more eye-catching and indulgent. Not only this, for cafés, it adds value, making customers feel like their money was well spent. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
- Use classic treats like Oreos, Kit Kats, Lotus Biscoff, pretzels, etc.
- Use wafer rolls/tubes for a makeshift edible straw.
- You could also try crumbling biscuits on top. Like crumbed Oreos, or crumbled digestives.
5. Fruits & Boba Pearls
Particularly for fruity variations, adding fruit can bring some extra flavour and colour to your drinks. For example, slice mangoes, strawberries, berries, cherries, etc. Moreover, the addition of boba pearls can give your drinks a unique visual appeal! Why not try:
- Adding sliced fruits on top of whipped cream or on the rim of cups.
- Adding fruits to the blender stage for extra texture and stronger flavours.
6. Cheese Foam
This one sounds odd, but believe me, it is one of the best topping you can choose to make your beverage look delicious. Cheese foam looks similar to whipped cream, but much more thick, creamy, and indulgent. It is very quick to make (find out how to make it here), and can make your ice blended milkshakes stand out from the crowd! Perfect for making dessert inspired recipes such as strawberry or blueberry cheesecake ice blended drinks.
7. Others
The possibilities are endless! There are so many other types of topping to choose from, so get experimenting! Here are some popular choices:
- Chocolate chips, M&Ms, Smarties, Multicoloured Hundreds & Thousands, chocolate rice, sweets, Marshmallows, chocolate sprinkles, cinnamon powder, etc.
Nutritional Considerations
Finally, the last point to cover in this article is the nutritional considerations of both ice blended and milkshakes. There’s no denying that these drinks are not the healthiest! However, there are ways you can make them healthier, like reducing sugar, and increasing healthy ingredients like fruits. Moreover, there’s also some calorific differences depending on which type of frosty beverage you choose. Here is a quick run-down:
Ice Blended Nutritional Considerations:
- Caloric Content:
- Lower in Calories: Ice blended drinks are generally lower in calories compared to milkshakes. The use of ice, milk alternatives, and natural flavorings contributes to their lighter profile.
- Watch for Added Sugars: Be cautious of flavored syrups or sweeteners that can sneak in extra calories. Opt for natural fruit flavors whenever possible.
- Nutritional Value:
- Vitamins and Minerals: Ice blended drinks provide vitamins (from fruits) and minerals (from milk or alternatives). However, their primary benefit lies in hydration and refreshment rather than being a significant source of nutrients.
- Fiber: The intact fiber from blended fruits helps you feel full and satisfied, aiding in weight management.
- Dietary Considerations:
- Customizable: You can tailor ice blended drinks to suit dietary needs. Use non-dairy milk, choose low-calorie sweeteners, and add protein powder if desired.
- Hydration: Ice blended drinks contribute to your daily fluid intake, keeping you hydrated.
Milkshake Nutricional Considerations:
- Caloric Content:
- Indulgent Treat: Milkshakes are more indulgent due to their rich ingredients. Ice cream, milk, and sweet flavorings contribute to their higher calorie content.
- Sugar and Fat: Be aware that milkshakes can be high in sugar and fat, which may not align with daily nutritional goals.
- Nutritional Value:
- Calcium and Protein: Milkshakes provide calcium and protein from the milk and ice cream. However, they lack the diverse nutrient profile found in whole foods.
- Vitamins and Minerals: Milkshakes are not typically rich in vitamins or minerals.
- Health Considerations:
- Moderation: Enjoy milkshakes occasionally as a treat rather than a daily beverage.
- Potential Health Risks: Frequent consumption of high-sugar milkshakes could contribute to health issues like obesity or type 2 diabetes.
Conclusion
In the battle of ice blended drinks vs. milkshakes, the choice ultimately rests on your preferences. Craving something thick and creamy? Go for a milkshake. Need a lighter, customizable option? An ice blended drink is your go-to. Whatever you choose, the possibilities are endless with a blender at your disposal – get experimenting and chuck in whatever tickles your fancy! Feel free to share your favorite recipes with us fellow beverage enthusiasts! 🥂🍨
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