Salted Caramel Popcorn Milkshake

The Salted Caramel Popcorn Milkshake is an indulgent treat that brings the movie theater experience right to your glass. It blends rich vanilla ice cream with milk, sweet caramel sauce, and actual buttered popcorn for a unique texture and flavor. The result is a thick, creamy, and satisfying drink with a delightful sweet-and-salty profile that is both nostalgic and delicious.
Salted Caramel Popcorn Milkshake

Preparation

Preparation time: 10 minutes

Preparation time
Difficulty

Drink Classification

This beverage is classified as a milkshake, a sweet, cold drink typically made from milk, ice cream, and flavorings. It falls into the broader category of dessert drinks, enjoyed as a treat or an indulgent end to a meal.

Serving

Serve this large, cold milkshake in a classic milkshake glass with an optional caramel drizzle inside for visual appeal. It is completely alcohol-free, making it suitable for all ages.
Serving size
Approximately 450 ml / 15 oz
Alcohol content
0% ABV
Alcohol strength
Serving temperature
Cold
Glass type
Milkshake Glass
Glass treatment
Drizzle caramel sauce inside the glass before pouring

Backstory

Inspired by the quintessential movie-going snack combination, this milkshake was created to capture the joy of cinema in a sippable form. It's a modern invention, gaining popularity in trendy diners and dessert shops. The idea was to blend the comforting flavors of a caramel popcorn bucket into a single, decadent beverage experience.
Origin
This is a contemporary recipe, likely originating in the United States in the early 21st century. It follows the trend of gourmet and creative milkshakes, elevating a classic dessert with popular confectionery flavors.

Salted Caramel Popcorn Milkshake

This drink is sometimes referred to as a "Caramel Popcorn Shake" for simplicity, or a "Movie Night Milkshake" due to its inspiration from classic cinema snacks. All names point to the same delicious combination of popcorn, caramel, and creamy ice cream.
Original name
Salted Caramel Popcorn Milkshake
Alternative names
  • Caramel Popcorn Shake
  • Movie Night Milkshake

Characteristics overview

This milkshake boasts a delightful sweet and salty flavor profile with strong notes of caramel and buttery popcorn. Its texture is thick and creamy, offering a satisfying and indulgent experience suitable for any time of the year.
Flavor
Sweet, Salty, Caramel, Buttery, Creamy, Vanilla, Popcorn
Aroma
Caramel, Popcorn, Vanilla, Sweet
Taste balance
Sweet, Salty
Aftertaste
Sweet, Creamy, Lingering Caramel
Fizziness
None
Color appearance
Creamy White, Off-white, Golden swirls from caramel
Texture
Thick, Creamy, Smooth with small crunchy popcorn bits
Seasonality
Indulgent, All-season

Flavor intensity & Experience

This is a very sweet and creamy, non-alcoholic drink with a noticeable saltiness to balance the flavors. It is a still beverage with no fizziness, fruitiness, or bitterness.
Sweetness
Saltiness
Sourness
Bitterness
Spiciness
Fruitiness
Creaminess
Carbonation

Ingredients

This recipe requires vanilla ice cream and milk as its base, flavored with caramel sauce and actual buttered popcorn. A pinch of salt enhances the flavor, while whipped cream serves as an optional garnish.
  • Vanilla Ice Cream3 large scoops (about 1.5 cups)
    A good quality, full-fat vanilla ice cream works best for a creamy texture.
  • Milk120 ml / 4 oz
    Whole milk is recommended for richness, but any milk will work. Adjust quantity for desired thickness.
  • Caramel Sauce60 ml / 2 oz, plus extra for garnish
    A thick caramel sauce provides the best flavor.
  • Buttered and Salted Popcorn1 cup, plus extra for garnish
    Use freshly popped popcorn for the best flavor and texture.
  • Pinch of Salt1 pinch(optional)
    Enhances the salty-sweet contrast, especially if the popcorn is lightly salted.
  • Whipped CreamFor garnish(optional)
    Optional, for topping.

Ice type

  • None

Mixing equipments

The primary piece of equipment needed is a blender to thoroughly mix the ice cream, milk, popcorn, and caramel sauce into a smooth, thick shake.
  • Blender for combining all ingredients until smooth.

Instructions

The process is simple: prepare the glass with a caramel drizzle, then blend the ice cream, milk, caramel sauce, and popcorn until smooth. Pour into the prepared glass and top with whipped cream, more caramel, and popcorn before serving.
1. Prepare the serving glass by drizzling caramel sauce along the inside walls in a spiral pattern. Place the glass in the freezer to chill while you prepare the shake.
2. In a blender, combine the vanilla ice cream, milk, 60 ml (2 oz) of caramel sauce, and 1 cup of popcorn. Add a pinch of salt if using.
3. Blend on high speed until the mixture is smooth and creamy. The popcorn should be well incorporated, leaving only tiny flecks. Adjust milk for desired consistency.
4. Retrieve the chilled glass from the freezer and pour the milkshake mixture into it.
5. Top with a generous swirl of whipped cream, an extra drizzle of caramel sauce, and a handful of fresh popcorn.
6. Serve immediately with a wide straw and a long spoon.

Garnishing

Garnish lavishly with a swirl of whipped cream, a drizzle of caramel sauce, and a few pieces of fresh popcorn to hint at the flavors within. The garnish adds visual appeal and texture.
  • Whipped cream, a generous swirl on top
  • Caramel sauce, drizzled over the whipped cream and popcorn
  • Popcorn, a handful of fresh pieces placed on top

Dietary Information

This milkshake is vegetarian, alcohol-free, and caffeine-free, but it is not vegan or dairy-free. It may contain soy depending on the ice cream and caramel sauce used, but is generally nut-free and gluten-free.
✕ 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 drink, with a very high calorie, carbohydrate, and sugar content per serving. It is best enjoyed as an occasional treat.
Calories
Approximately 750 kcal / 3138 kJ
Calories level
Carbohydrates
Approximately 95g
Carbohydrate level
Sugar
Approximately 80g
Sugar level

Occasions

This milkshake is perfect as a decadent dessert, a special treat for a movie night at home, or a fun addition to a party menu. It's an ultimate comfort drink for anyone with a sweet tooth.
  • Dessert
  • Movie Night
  • Party
  • Comfort Food

Pairing suggestions

This rich milkshake pairs wonderfully with classic savory American diner food like burgers and salty fries. Its sweet and salty character also complements other snacks like pretzels or simply another bowl of popcorn.
  • Salty Fries
  • Gourmet Burger
  • More Popcorn
  • Pretzels

Salted Caramel Popcorn Milkshake: A Sip of the Cinema

The Salted Caramel Popcorn Milkshake is the ultimate decadent treat, perfectly capturing the essence of movie night in a glass. It's a sweet, salty, and creamy alcohol-free beverage that blends vanilla ice cream with rich caramel and buttery popcorn. Easy to prepare and visually appealing, this milkshake is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser for all ages, perfect for celebrations or a cozy night in.

Similar Milkshakes

Biscoff Cookie Butter Milkshake

Another indulgent milkshake that uses a specific treat (Biscoff cookies/spread) blended into a vanilla ice cream base, offering a spiced-caramel flavor profile.

Salted Caramel Pretzel Milkshake

Uses salted pretzels instead of popcorn to achieve a similar sweet-and-salty, crunchy-creamy dynamic.

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