Imagine sipping on a creamy, festive treat that tastes like a holiday hug in a glass—that’s exactly what this Peppermint Bark Milkshake Recipe delivers. It’s a perfect blend of cool peppermint, rich chocolate, and smooth vanilla that brightens any chilly day. Trust me, once you try it, you’ll keep coming back for more!

The image shows a tall glass filled with a creamy light pink milkshake that has small dark bits mixed inside. At the bottom, there is a layer of crushed dark chocolate or cookie crumbs. On top, there is a swirl of white whipped cream with small dark chocolate sprinkles. A red and white striped candy cane is hanging on the side of the glass. The glass is placed on a white plate with a small silver spoon. The background has a white marbled texture, with some red Christmas ornaments and a bottle blurred in the background. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Peppermint Bark Milkshake Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Peppermint Bark Milkshake Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Peppermint Bark Milkshake Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

This peppermint bark milkshake is one of those magical recipes I keep in my back pocket every holiday season—and honestly, sometimes year-round when I crave that festive vibe. It's quick, easy, and nails that nostalgic peppermint-chocolate combo without any fuss.

Deliciously Festive: Combines smooth vanilla ice cream with crisp candy cane bites and chocolate chips for a dessert you won’t forget.
Simple & Quick: From freezer to glass in just about 5 minutes—perfect for last-minute holiday guests or an indulgent treat.
Customizable Sweetness: Adjust the milk for a thicker or thinner shake depending on your mood and texture preference.
Perfect for Sharing: Makes two large shakes, so you can easily treat yourself and a friend or loved one.

A tall clear glass filled with a light pink creamy drink showing a textured bottom layer of dark bits. The drink is topped with a swirl of white whipped cream sprinkled with small dark flakes. A red and white striped candy cane is hooked on the rim of the glass. The glass sits on a white plate with a small silver spoon, placed on a white marbled surface. In the background, there is a second glass with the same drink and whipped cream with a silver straw inside, and a small jar of milk. Scattered around are red round ornaments, small peppermint candies, and chocolate chips. The woman's hand is holding the glass in the foreground. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

Each ingredient plays a key role here. I like to use good quality vanilla ice cream because it creates that creamy base without overpowering peppermint’s freshness. Plus, crushed candy canes add that satisfying crunch and just the right pop of minty flavor.

Flat lay of a small mound of smooth vanilla ice cream scoops, a simple white ceramic bowl filled with fresh cold milk, two whole bright red-and-white striped candy canes, a small white bowl of shiny mini semisweet chocolate chips, a generous swirl of fluffy whipped cream in a white bowl, a few extra whole candy canes scattered beside the bowls, and a small white bowl containing dark chocolate sprinkles, all arranged with perfect symmetry and balanced proportions, placed on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Vanilla Ice Cream: Use a rich, high-quality brand for the creamiest milkshake texture and best vanilla flavor.
Milk: Adjust the milk amount based on how thick or thin you want the shake—whole milk gives a richer taste.
Candy Canes: Freshly crushed for that authentic peppermint crunch; you can also swap for peppermint extract if needed.
Mini Semisweet Chocolate Chips: Adds little bursts of chocolate that melt slightly into the shake for extra indulgence.
Whipped Cream, Candy Canes & Chocolate Sprinkles: These garnishes take the presentation and flavor to the next level—don’t skip them!

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

I love tweaking this Peppermint Bark Milkshake Recipe depending on the occasion or what I have on hand. Sometimes I sneak in a splash of coffee for an adult twist or swap out the candy canes for crushed peppermint candies to try different textures.

Dairy-Free Version: Use coconut or almond milk and a dairy-free vanilla ice cream, and it still tastes amazing!
Extra Chocolatey: Add a tablespoon of chocolate syrup before blending for a richer chocolate layer.
Minty Boost: If you love peppermint, a drop or two of peppermint extract can intensify the flavor.
Party Size: Double or triple the batch for gatherings—you know everyone will ask for seconds.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Peppermint Bark Milkshake Recipe

Step 1: Blend the Ice Cream and Milk

Start by scooping your vanilla ice cream and pouring the milk into your blender. I usually blend for about 30 seconds until it’s smooth and creamy. If you want your shake a bit thinner, just add another half cup of milk—easy! But don’t overblend or it gets too thin.

Step 2: Add Candy Canes and Chocolate Chips

Next, toss in the crushed candy canes and mini chocolate chips. I like pulsing the blender in short bursts—about 10 to 15 seconds—so the candy breaks just enough to spread evenly without turning into powder. That way you get delightful chunks of peppermint with every sip.

Step 3: Serve and Garnish

Pour your milkshake into fun glasses and finish with a generous swirl of whipped cream. Crumble a few extra candy canes and sprinkle some chocolate chips or sprinkles on top for that fancy, festive look. It’s those little touches that make it feel extra special.

Top Tip

You want your milkshake to be an experience — not just a quick blend and go. Through trial and error, I found these little tricks really elevate the Peppermint Bark Milkshake Recipe:

Crush Candy Canes by Hand: Crushing candy canes manually lets you control the chunk size, adding more texture and freshness than pre-packaged crushed peppermint.
Pulse Instead of Blend: When adding candy and chips, pulse rather than blending continuously to avoid turning the candy into dust.
Chill Your Glasses: Putting your serving glasses in the freezer before pouring keeps the milkshake cold and tasty longer.
Balance Sweetness: Taste as you go—if your ice cream is very sweet, you might lean towards less candy cane; adjust to your own favorite level of mintiness.

How to Serve Peppermint Bark Milkshake Recipe

peppermint bark milkshake - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I love topping the peppermint bark milkshake with a fluffy cloud of whipped cream, then adding a mini candy cane for that extra peppermint kick and a sprinkle of dark chocolate chips or even some festive chocolate sprinkles. It looks pretty and tastes fabulous—trust me, your guests will be wowed.

Side Dishes

Pairing this with something warm like gingerbread cookies or fluffy shortbread rounds balances the cold minty shake perfectly. I sometimes serve it alongside a batch of homemade brownies to ramp up that chocolate magic.

Creative Ways to Present

For a holiday party, I’ve served this milkshake in vintage mason jars with red and white striped straws. You can rim the glasses with crushed candy canes for extra flair, or even drizzle chocolate syrup inside the glass before pouring the shake for a fun swirl effect.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

If you happen to have leftovers (which is rare in my house!), store the milkshake in an airtight container in the fridge and give it a quick stir before drinking. Keep in mind, the texture will change as the ice cream melts, so I recommend enjoying it fresh if you can.

Freezing

While I don’t usually freeze the whole milkshake, you can freeze the blended base without the candy canes and chips to enjoy another day. Just thaw slightly and mix in fresh peppermint pieces before serving for optimal texture.

Reheating

This dessert is best served cold, so reheating isn’t really a thing here—but if it melts too much, just give it a quick whisk and pop it back in the freezer for about 10 minutes to refresh the texture before enjoying again.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use other flavors of ice cream in this Peppermint Bark Milkshake Recipe?

Absolutely! While vanilla gives the best base for that classic peppermint bark flavor, you can experiment with chocolate or even mint chocolate chip ice cream for a twist. Just be mindful of balancing peppermint intensity.

What if I don't have candy canes?

You can substitute candy canes with peppermint candies or use a teaspoon of peppermint extract to get the same minty flavor. Just add slowly to taste, as extracts are potent!

Is this milkshake suitable for kids?

Yes, this recipe contains no alcohol and is perfect for kids and adults alike. Just be sure to supervise if the candy cane pieces are large to avoid choking hazards.

How can I make this dairy-free?

Swapping the vanilla ice cream for a dairy-free version and using almond or coconut milk works great. Just ensure the ice cream is creamy enough to blend well for that classic milkshake texture.

Final Thoughts

I’ll be honest—this Peppermint Bark Milkshake Recipe feels like a little festive celebration in every sip, and I love that it’s so quick to make, too. Whether you’re whipping it up for yourself during a quiet moment or sharing with friends and family, it’s a cozy treat that always brings smiles. I hope you enjoy making and drinking it as much as I do!