Birthday Cake Milkshake

The Birthday Cake Milkshake is a decadent and joyful treat that captures the essence of a celebration in a glass. It blends creamy vanilla ice cream with milk and actual cake mix to achieve an authentic cake batter flavor. Rainbow sprinkles are mixed in and used as a garnish, adding a delightful crunch and a vibrant explosion of color. This makes it a perfect dessert for birthdays, parties, or any occasion calling for a fun and indulgent sweet.
Birthday Cake Milkshake

Preparation

Preparation time: 5 minutes

Preparation time
Difficulty

Drink Classification

The Birthday Cake Milkshake is categorized as a milkshake, a sweet, cold beverage made from ice cream and milk. It squarely falls into the dessert drink category, often enjoyed as a standalone treat rather than with a meal. Its rich and celebratory nature makes it a popular choice for special occasions.

Serving

This non-alcoholic drink is served cold in a large, tall milkshake glass, often elaborately decorated with a frosting and sprinkle rim. It's a substantial, thick shake designed to be an indulgent dessert.
Serving size
Approximately 450 ml / 15 oz
Alcohol content
0% ABV
Alcohol strength
Serving temperature
Cold
Glass type
Milkshake Glass
Glass treatment
Rim the glass with frosting and sprinkles

Backstory

This milkshake is a modern creation, born from the "gourmet" or "freakshake" trend where classic milkshakes are elevated with extravagant toppings and novel flavors. Inspired by the popular birthday cake or Funfetti flavor profile found in everything from cookies to ice cream, it brings the nostalgic joy of a birthday party into a sippable, indulgent form. Its popularity soared with the rise of visually appealing food on social media platforms.
Origin
The Birthday Cake Milkshake is a contemporary American invention, likely emerging in the 2010s. It doesn't have a single creator but evolved from the creative dessert culture in diners and ice cream parlors across the United States, fueled by social media trends for over-the-top "freakshakes."

Birthday Cake Milkshake

This drink is often called a Funfetti Milkshake because of the colorful rainbow sprinkles mixed in, which resemble Funfetti cake. It's also known as a Cake Batter Milkshake, as it uses dry cake mix to achieve an authentic, sweet cake batter flavor. These names highlight its festive and dessert-like qualities.
Original name
Birthday Cake Milkshake
Alternative names
  • Funfetti Milkshake
  • Cake Batter Milkshake

Characteristics overview

This milkshake has a prominent sweet cake batter and vanilla flavor, with a thick, creamy, and smooth texture. Its festive appearance, an off-white base speckled with rainbow colors, makes it a celebratory treat for any time of year.
Flavor
Sweet, Cake batter, Vanilla, Creamy, Buttery
Aroma
Vanilla, Sweet, Buttery, Sugary
Taste balance
Sweet
Aftertaste
Creamy, Sweet, Lingering vanilla
Fizziness
None
Color appearance
Creamy white, Off-white, Speckled with rainbow colors
Texture
Thick, Creamy, Smooth, Slightly gritty
Seasonality
All-season, Indulgent, Celebratory

Flavor intensity & Experience

The flavor is intensely sweet and exceptionally creamy, with zero alcohol or carbonation. It's a rich and decadent dessert drink where the cake batter taste is the dominant characteristic.
Sweetness
Saltiness
Sourness
Bitterness
Spiciness
Fruitiness
Creaminess
Carbonation

Ingredients

The core ingredients are vanilla ice cream and milk, with dry yellow or Funfetti cake mix providing the signature flavor. Vanilla extract boosts the taste, while rainbow sprinkles add color, crunch, and fun.
  • Vanilla Ice Cream3 large scoops (about 1.5 cups / 350 ml)
    Good quality, full-fat vanilla ice cream works best for a creamy texture.
  • Whole Milk1/2 cup / 120 ml
    Adjust quantity for desired thickness. Plant-based milk can be substituted.
  • Yellow or Funfetti Cake Mix3 tablespoons (dry mix)
    Ensure the mix is safe for raw consumption (heat-treated flour). Funfetti mix includes sprinkles.
  • Vanilla Extract1/2 teaspoon
    Enhances the vanilla and cake flavors.
  • Rainbow Sprinkles2 tablespoons, plus more for garnish
    Use jimmies or nonpareils. Some are mixed in, some are for garnish.
  • Whipped CreamFor topping(optional)
    A classic milkshake topping for extra creaminess and visual appeal.
  • Vanilla Frosting1-2 tablespoons(optional)
    Used to coat the rim of the glass to help sprinkles stick.

Ice type

  • None

Mixing equipments

A standard kitchen blender is the only essential piece of equipment needed for this recipe. It ensures all ingredients are thoroughly mixed to a smooth, thick consistency.
  • Blender: For combining all ingredients into a smooth shake.

Instructions

Simply prepare a sprinkle-rimmed glass, then blend the ice cream, milk, cake mix, and vanilla until smooth. Briefly pulse in sprinkles, pour into the glass, and finish with whipped cream and more festive garnishes.
1. Prepare the glass: If desired, spread a thin layer of vanilla frosting around the outer rim of a tall milkshake glass. Roll the rim in a shallow dish of rainbow sprinkles until coated. Place the glass in the freezer to chill while you prepare the shake.
2. Combine main ingredients: In the carafe of a blender, add the vanilla ice cream, milk, dry cake mix, and vanilla extract.
3. Blend: Secure the lid and blend on high speed for 30-45 seconds, or until the mixture is completely smooth and creamy. Adjust with a splash more milk if too thick, or another small scoop of ice cream if too thin.
4. Add sprinkles: Add 2 tablespoons of rainbow sprinkles to the blender. Pulse 2-3 times for just a second each time to incorporate them without fully pulverizing them.
5. Pour and Garnish: Retrieve the chilled glass from the freezer and pour the milkshake into it. Top with a generous swirl of whipped cream, another dash of rainbow sprinkles, and a maraschino cherry if using.
6. Serve immediately: Serve right away with a wide straw and a long spoon for the best taste and texture.

Garnishing

For the full festive effect, rim the glass with frosting and sprinkles before filling. Top the finished shake with a mountain of whipped cream, an extra shower of sprinkles, and a cherry.
  • Frosting and Sprinkles Rim: Spread frosting on the outer rim of the glass and roll in sprinkles.
  • Whipped Cream: Add a generous swirl on top of the milkshake.
  • Rainbow Sprinkles: Scatter more sprinkles over the whipped cream.
  • Maraschino Cherry: Place one cherry on top of the whipped cream as a final touch.

Dietary Information

This milkshake is vegetarian and caffeine-free, but it contains dairy and gluten. Depending on the cake mix and ice cream used, it may also contain eggs, soy, or traces of nuts; always check ingredient labels for allergens.
✕ Contains alcohol
✓ Caffeine-free
✕ Dairy-free
✕ Egg-free
✕ Soy-free
✕ Nut-free
✕ Gluten-free
✕ Vegan-friendly
✓ Vegetarian-friendly

Nutrition information

This is a highly indulgent dessert drink, extremely high in calories, carbohydrates, and sugar. It's best reserved for special occasions as a decadent treat.
Calories
Averagely 750 kcal / 3140 kJ
Calories level
Carbohydrates
Averagely 110 g
Carbohydrate level
Sugar
Averagely 95 g
Sugar level

Occasions

This milkshake is the perfect centerpiece for a birthday party or any celebration that needs a touch of fun. It serves as a fantastic indulgent dessert or a special sweet treat for kids and adults alike.
  • Birthday Party
  • Celebration
  • Dessert
  • Kids' Party
  • Sweet Treat

Pairing suggestions

The intense sweetness of the Birthday Cake Milkshake pairs wonderfully with salty foods like french fries or pretzels, which provide a welcome savory contrast. It can also be enjoyed with simple cookies that won't compete with its powerful flavor. As a full meal replacement for the very indulgent, it can be paired with classic party food like a burger.
  • Salty French Fries
  • Pretzels
  • Plain shortbread or sugar cookies
  • A simple burger or hot dog

A Party in a Glass: The Birthday Cake Milkshake

The Birthday Cake Milkshake is the ultimate celebratory drink, blending creamy vanilla ice cream with the unmistakable flavor of cake batter and the joyful crunch of rainbow sprinkles. It's a visually stunning and delicious treat that brings the fun of a birthday party into a single glass. Easy to make and endlessly customizable with different flavors or dietary swaps, this non-alcoholic "freakshake" is perfect for anyone with a sweet tooth looking for a fun, indulgent dessert.

Variations

Red Velvet Cake Milkshake

Uses red velvet cake mix and a tablespoon of cream cheese frosting in the blend to mimic the classic cake's flavor.

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