This Pineapple Milkshake is made with fresh pineapple, creamy vanilla ice cream, and a splash of pineapple juice. It’s icy cold, refreshing, and a great way to cool off on a hot summer day.
When the Texas heat hits hard, there’s nothing better than cooling off with a cold, creamy, tropical-flavored sweet treat. And, this pineapple shake is guaranteed to satisfy your cravings. You can even add a touch more tropical flavor to your day with this key lime icebox cake.
Pineapple is an excellent dessert for summer because it’s naturally sweet, super juicy, and just bursting with that tropical, sunshine flavor. It’s light, refreshing, and works well with all kinds of warm-weather treats, such as pineapple upside-down cake.
Jump to:
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Simple ingredients: Made with just two ingredients, so it’s crazy easy to whip up.
- Cold and refreshing: Creamy, smooth, and perfectly sweet without being too heavy.
- Tropical flavor: Packed with fresh pineapple flavor that tastes like a beach vacation.
- Great for cookouts: This creamy shake pairs perfectly with grilled chicken sliders or burgers on your next grill night.
Ingredients
- Fresh pineapple: When picking a pineapple at the market, try to pluck a leaf from the crown; if it comes out easily, the pineapple is ripe and ready to use.
- Ice cream: Breyers is my go-to brand of ice cream, but any high-quality vanilla ice cream will do.
- Pineapple juice: You can make fresh pineapple juice by blending chunks of pineapple until smooth and then straining it. Canned would also work in this recipe, but fresh really gives the best flavor. You can also use a little coconut water in place of some of the pineapple juice.
See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.
Variations
- Coconut flavor: Add a splash of coconut milk or a scoop of coconut ice cream for a creamy piña colada flavored shake.
- Strawberry flavor: If you love the flavors of strawberries like in this strawberry peach smoothie, add a handful of fresh or frozen strawberries for a fruity twist and a vibrant color.
- Add some heat: Add a pinch of chili powder or a dash of Tajín for a sweet and spicy kick. It’s unexpected but so good!
- Add other fruits: Add a handful of berries or other fruits like peaches, mangoes, and bananas.
How to Make a Pineapple Milkshake
If you’ve ever wondered how to make a pineapple shake, it’s honestly as easy as it gets. So, grab your blender and let’s get to it.
- Step 1: Cut and core the pineapple. Use a pineapple corer to cut the pineapple into slices.
- Step 2: Blend the shake. Add half the pineapple slices, ice cream, and pineapple juice to the blender and blend until smooth. Pour into glasses and repeat with remaining ingredients.
Enjoy with a fresh batch of blueberry lemon cake cookies for the ultimate afternoon treat!
Expert Tips
- Taste and tweak: Every pineapple’s a little different, so give it a taste after blending. Need more sweetness? Add a drizzle of honey.
- Chill your ingredients: Cold pineapple and cold juice blend smoother, keeping your shake nice and frosty.
- Add juice slowly: Start with a small amount of pineapple juice and add more as needed. Too much, too fast, and you’ll have pineapple soup instead of a shake.
- Make it easy: If you have a coring and slicing tool, things are much simpler.
Serving Suggestions
- Turn this pineapple milkshake recipe into a complete meal by serving it alongside these BBQ Hawaiian sliders and bow tie pasta salad.
- It also makes a great addition to a party alongside a salty snack such as Chex Mix bars with pretzels.
- For an extra festive touch, garnish your shake with a pineapple slice, dollop of whipped cream, and a maraschino cherry on top.
Pineapple Shake Recipe FAQ
Yes, any type of blender will work. Keep in mind that if you don’t have a high-powered blender, it will take longer to achieve a smooth shake.
Technically, yes! Frozen pineapple can be used, and there is no need to thaw it first. However, fresh pineapple gives the best flavor to the shake.
Honestly? Milkshakes are best fresh. But if you have extra, pour it into a freezer-safe container and freeze it. When you’re ready to enjoy it again, let it soften a bit and blend it back to life!
Try This Milkshake With Fresh Pineapple Today
This super tasty, super easy pineapple milkshake is fully homemade, so full of flavor, and so easy to make. With just a couple of ingredients and a few minutes, you’ll have a tropical milkshake that is so refreshing on a hot summer day. Whether you serve it for parties or an afternoon treat on a hot day, I know you and your guests will love it. Give it a try, and I’m sure you’ll find yourself making it again and again.
More Summer Dessert Recipes
Try this Frosted Lemonade and this Blueberry Frosted Lemonade from Great Grub, Delicious Treats. They’re both made with fresh fruit and ice cream, making them the perfect drink to make on the hottest summer days.
If you try this recipe and love it, please be sure to leave a 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating below and comment! You can also pin it to save it for later. Also, you can follow us on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Remember to “like” or “follow” us on all social media.
Pineapple Milkshake
Ingredients
- 1 fresh pineapple
- 1.5 quarts vanilla ice cream, we used Breyers
- ¼ cup fresh pineapple juice
Instructions
- Cut the top off the pineapple.
- Using a pineapple corer and slicer tool (or cut by hand), core out pineapple and place pineapple slices on a cutting board.
- Using a Vitamix® or blender, add ½ the pineapple slices, ½ the ice cream and ½ the fresh pineapple juice. Blend together until smooth and pour into glasses.
- Repeat with the remaining pineapple, ice cream and pineapple juice then enjoy!
Notes
- Storage: Milkshakes are best enjoyed fresh, but if you end up with leftovers, freeze them in an airtight container and then re-blend them before enjoying.
- Keep your drink cold: For an extra-cold treat, pop your glasses in the freezer for 10 to 15 minutes before serving.
- Check for ripeness: To check for ripeness, try pulling a leaf from the top. If it slips out easily, it’s ready to eat.
