Grinch Milkshake

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This Grinch Milkshake is such a fun little Christmas treat, and it only takes about 10 minutes to make. It’s a simple vanilla milkshake turned bright Grinch green, complete with a sprinkle-covered rim, whipped cream, and a cherry on top.

This would be so cute for a Grinch movie night with the kids, or you could make them as a fun dessert during Christmas break. You don’t need anything fancy for the actual milkshake, either. Vanilla ice cream, milk, and green food coloring do all the work.

An Easy Grinch Treat

There are a lot of elaborate Grinch treats out there, but sometimes simple is better, especially during December when we’re already doing approximately 700 other things.

For these milkshakes, I kept the flavor vanilla and focused on making them look like the Grinch. Neon green gel food coloring gives you that really bright green color that makes the whole thing feel very Grinchy.

The sprinkle rim is optional, but I think it’s worth the extra minute or two. It makes the finished milkshake look much more fun without adding any real work.

Ingredients

You’ll need:

• 5-6 scoops vanilla ice cream
• 1 1/2-2 cups milk
• Neon green gel food coloring

For the rim and toppings:

• Frosting
• Green sprinkles
• Whipped cream
• Maraschino cherries

Gel food coloring works especially well here because you can get a much brighter green without adding a ton of liquid to your milkshake.

How to Make a Grinch Milkshake

Start by decorating your glasses. Spread a little frosting around the rim of each glass, then dip the rim into green sprinkles. You can do this before making the milkshake so your glasses are ready to go as soon as you’re done blending.

Add the vanilla ice cream and milk to your blender and blend until smooth.

Next, add a generous amount of neon green gel food coloring and blend again until the color is evenly mixed throughout the shake. You can always add a little more if your first round isn’t quite Grinch-green enough.

Check the consistency before pouring. If your milkshake is thinner than you’d like, blend in another scoop of ice cream. If it’s too thick to pour easily, add a small splash of milk.

Pour the milkshake into your prepared glasses and top each one with whipped cream, and a maraschino cherry.

Getting the Milkshake Consistency Just Right

The amount of milk you’ll need can vary depending on your ice cream and how thick you like your milkshakes.

I recommend starting closer to 1 1/2 cups of milk rather than pouring in the full 2 cups right away. It’s much easier to thin out a thick milkshake than it is to fix one that’s gotten too runny.

Add more milk a little at a time until it’s just right.

Fun Ideas for Serving Them

These would be perfect for a Grinch movie night. Make the milkshakes right before the movie starts and serve them with popcorn or a couple of Grinch-themed Christmas treats.

You could also set out the toppings and let everyone decorate their own. Red and green sprinkles, whipped cream, cherries, and even little heart sprinkles would all be cute.

For younger kids, you can make smaller portions instead of filling an entire milkshake glass. This recipe makes about two regular-sized milkshakes, but you could easily divide it into several smaller servings.

Grinch Milkshake FAQs

What flavor is a Grinch milkshake?

This Grinch milkshake is vanilla flavored. The bright green color comes from neon green gel food coloring, so you get that fun Grinch look without changing the flavor of the milkshake.

What food coloring is best for a Grinch milkshake?

I like neon green gel food coloring because it gives the milkshake a really bright Grinch-green color without adding much extra liquid. Start with a smaller amount, blend, and add more until you’re happy with the color.

Can I make Grinch milkshakes without food coloring?

You can leave out the food coloring, but of course you won’t get that signature Grinch green. If you want to avoid artificial food coloring, you could try a natural green food coloring instead. Just keep in mind that the final color may be a little different.

How do I make a thicker milkshake?

Start with less milk and add more only as needed. If you’ve already blended your milkshake and it’s too thin, add another scoop or two of vanilla ice cream and blend again. For a thinner shake, add milk a splash at a time.

Can I make Grinch milkshakes ahead of time?

Milkshakes are definitely best made right before serving. You can decorate the rims of your glasses ahead of time, though. Then all you have to do is blend the milkshake, pour, and add the whipped cream and toppings when you’re ready to serve.

What can I use for the Grinch’s heart?

We love the maraschino cherry for this, but you could also use jumbo heart sprinkles like we’ve used for some of our other grinch treats.

This Grinch Milkshake is such an easy way to make a Christmas movie night or afternoon treat a little more fun. The actual milkshake only takes a few minutes to blend, and the green sprinkle rim and festive toppings are what really make it feel special.

Add a cherry or little red heart on top, turn on How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and you’ve got a fun Grinch treat the kids will love.

More Grinch Treats

If you’re planning a whole Grinch-themed day, I’ve gathered all of my favorite Grinch recipes and ideas in one place, including drinks, sweet treats, cookies, and more fun ideas for Christmas.

For another cozy Grinch drink, try my Grinch Hot Chocolate. It’s bright green, topped with plenty of whipped cream and festive sprinkles, and especially fun for a Christmas movie night.

My Grinch Popcorn is another really easy movie-night treat. It’s sweet, festive, and perfect for snacking on while you watch your favorite Grinch movie.

If you’re making drinks for a crowd, my Grinch Punch is a better option than making individual milkshakes. It’s an easy green Christmas punch that works really well for Grinch parties and holiday get-togethers.

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