Tropical Fruit Milkshake
This tropical fruit milkshake is thick, creamy, and packed with bright tropical flavor. It blends into a smooth, refreshing treat in just minutes, making it perfect for a hot afternoon, an easy dessert, or whenever you’re craving a homemade milkshake with a taste of the tropics.
Icy cold tropical flavors in a glass
Few frozen treats are as refreshing on a hot summer day as a thick, creamy tropical fruit milkshake. I’ve been making milkshakes since the 1980s, including nearly two decades, blending a dozen or more of them on almost every shift, while serving tables at a busy restaurant.
We featured plenty of milkshake flavors in that restaurant over the years, but never one made with tropical fruit. I always thought that was a missed opportunity, so I created this recipe myself. One taste is all it takes to understand why tropical fruit belongs in a rich, creamy milkshake.
Bring together just a few simple ingredients, blend for a couple of minutes, and you’ll have an icy cold homemade treat that you’ll find yourself making over and over again all summer long.
If you enjoy making frozen drinks at home, give my blueberry cheesecake milkshake, classic ice cream float, and homemade pumpkin smoothie a try next.
Recipe ingredients
- Vanilla Ice Cream: Any vanilla ice cream works well in this recipe, but I recommend a vanilla bean variety for the best flavor. The richer vanilla profile pairs beautifully with tropical fruit, creating a more flavorful milkshake.
- Tropical Fruit: This recipe uses frozen pineapple and mango because they compliment each other exceptionally well, delivering a true taste of the tropics in every glass. You can easily substitute or combine your favorite frozen tropical fruits, but always use frozen fruit to keep the milkshake thick and icy cold.
- Whole Milk: Whole milk is the best choice when making a rich, creamy milkshake. Its higher fat content creates a smoother texture and fuller body than lower-fat milk.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
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How to make a tropical fruit milkshake
Step 1: Add the vanilla ice cream, frozen pineapple, frozen mango, and whole milk to a blender. Blend until the fruit is fully broken down and the milkshake is completely smooth, stopping to scrape down the sides of the blender if needed.
Step 2: Pour into a serving glass. If desired, top with whipped cream and a maraschino cherry. Serve immediately while icy cold.
Top tips
- Use Fully Frozen Fruit: Frozen pineapple and mango produce the thickest, creamiest milkshake. If using fresh fruit, freeze it completely before blending to avoid a thin consistency.
- Blend Only Until Smooth: Stop blending as soon as the fruit is fully incorporated. Overblending creates heat, which softens the ice cream and thins the milkshake.
- Chill Your Serving Glass: A chilled glass helps keep the milkshake thick and icy cold longer, especially on warm days.
- Scale the Recipe Easily: This recipe makes a small serving that’s perfect for one person. Simply double or triple the ingredients when serving additional people while keeping the ingredient ratios the same.
- Adjust the Consistency: If the milkshake is thicker than you’d like, blend in a small splash of milk at the end rather than adding extra milk at the beginning. This gives you better control over the final texture.
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If you loved this beverage recipe, give these other great beverage recipes a try too!
Chai Milkshake Recipe
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Best French Press Iced Coffee Recipe
How To Make Fruit Kvass
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Tropical Fruit Milkshake
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup vanilla ice cream
- 1/3 cup frozen pineapple
- 1/3 cup frozen mango
- 1/4 cup whole milk
- whipped cream optional
- maraschino cherry optional
Instructions
- Add the vanilla ice cream, frozen pineapple, frozen mango, and whole milk to a blender.
- Blend until smooth and creamy, stopping to scrape the sides of the blender in necessary.
- Pour the milkshake into a serving glass.
- Garnish with whipped cream and a maraschino cherry, if desired. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Use fully frozen pineapple and mango for the thickest, creamiest milkshake.
- Blend only until smooth to keep the milkshake thick and cold.
- The recipe can be doubled or tripled without any other adjustments.
- Serve immediately after blending for the best texture and consistency.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
