Easy Donut Milkshake Recipe with Cake Donuts

This easy Donut Milkshake Recipe blends vanilla ice cream, milk, and actual frosted cake donuts into one thick, creamy dessert shake. The donuts are crumbled right into the blender, so you get real cake-donut flavor in every sip—not just a vanilla milkshake with a donut sitting on top.

It takes only a few minutes and three main ingredients to make. Start with less milk for an extra-thick shake, then add a little more until it reaches the consistency you like. Finish each glass with a miniature frosted donut for a fun bakery-style dessert.

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Why You’ll Love This Donut Milkshake

This is the kind of dessert that looks impressive without requiring much work. Instead of simply garnishing a vanilla milkshake with a donut, we blend crumbled cake donuts directly into the shake. They add sweetness, bakery flavor, and a little extra body to the ice cream.

• Only three main ingredients: Vanilla ice cream, milk, and miniature cake donuts.
• Ready in minutes: Crumble, blend, pour, and serve.
• Real donut flavor: The donuts are actually blended into the milkshake.
• Easy to customize: Change the donuts, ice cream flavor, or toppings to create your own version.
• Fun presentation: Add another miniature donut on top for a milkshake that feels like a special occasion.

Watch How to Make This Easy Donut Milkshake

See how quickly this donut milkshake recipe comes together with vanilla ice cream, milk, and frosted cake donuts. The video walks you through crumbling the donuts, blending the shake, adjusting the consistency, and topping each glass with a mini donut for a thick, creamy dessert that’s ready in about 5 minutes.

Donut Milkshake Ingredients

You only need a handful of ingredients for this recipe:

• 4 miniature frosted cake donuts: Cake donuts blend especially well because their soft, crumbly texture mixes easily into the ice cream.
• 3 cups vanilla ice cream: Use an ice cream you enjoy eating on its own because its flavor forms the base of the shake.
• 2/3 to 3/4 cup milk: Begin with 2/3 cup. Add more only if you want a thinner milkshake.
• Additional miniature frosted cake donuts: Optional, but highly recommended if you want the dramatic donut-on-top presentation.

How to Make a Donut Milkshake

1. Crumble the donuts. Coarsely crumble four miniature frosted cake donuts. They do not need to be finely crushed because the blender will do the rest.
2. Blend the milkshake. Add the vanilla ice cream and 2/3 cup milk to a blender. Blend briefly until creamy.
3. Add the donuts. Add the crumbled cake donuts and pulse just until they are incorporated into the shake.
4. Check the consistency. If the milkshake is thicker than you prefer, add the remaining milk a little at a time and blend briefly.
5. Serve immediately. Divide among four glasses and garnish with additional miniature donuts, if desired.

How Thick Should a Donut Milkshake Be?

A good donut milkshake should be thick enough to feel rich and creamy but still thin enough to drink through a wide straw.

The easiest way to control the texture is to start with 2/3 cup milk instead of adding the full 3/4 cup immediately. You can always add another splash of milk, but you cannot easily remove it once the shake becomes too thin.

If your milkshake is too thin, add another scoop of vanilla ice cream and blend briefly. If it is too thick, add milk one tablespoon at a time.

What Are the Best Donuts for a Milkshake?

Cake donuts are my first choice for this recipe. Their crumbly texture blends smoothly into the ice cream while adding plenty of classic donut flavor.

You can also experiment with other varieties:

• Frosted cake donuts: The original recipe and a great all-around choice.
• Plain cake donuts: Less sweet and especially good if you plan to add toppings.
• Chocolate cake donuts: An easy way to turn this into a chocolate donut milkshake.
• Glazed donuts: They work, although the texture will be slightly different from a cake donut.

If you’d rather start from scratch, try my homemade chocolate donuts and turn the extras into an unforgettable milkshake.

How to Make a Milkshake with a Donut on Top

If you found this recipe because you were looking for a milkshake with a donut on top, the garnish couldn’t be easier.

Pour the finished shake into a tall glass, leaving enough space at the top so it doesn’t overflow. Rest a miniature donut across the rim of the glass or slide it carefully onto a sturdy straw just before serving.

You can leave it there or add whipped cream, sprinkles, chocolate syrup, or homemade caramel sauce for an even more over-the-top dessert.

Donut Milkshake Variations

Chocolate Donut Milkshake

Use chocolate ice cream and chocolate cake donuts. A drizzle of chocolate syrup makes this one especially decadent.

Coffee and Donut Milkshake

For a coffee-and-donuts spin, replace a small portion of the milk with cooled strong coffee or espresso. Vanilla or chocolate ice cream both work well.

Strawberry Donut Milkshake

Use strawberry ice cream with vanilla or glazed cake donuts. Top with colorful sprinkles for an easy birthday-style shake.

Birthday Cake Donut Milkshake

Use frosted donuts with sprinkles and add a small spoonful of extra sprinkles after blending. Pulse only once or twice so the colors don’t completely disappear into the shake.

Expert Tips for the Best Donut Milkshake

• Let very hard ice cream soften briefly. A few minutes on the counter makes it easier to blend without adding unnecessary milk.
• Don’t overblend the donuts. Pulse them in after the ice cream and milk are already creamy. You want them incorporated without blending the shake longer than necessary.
• Add milk gradually. This is the easiest way to keep the milkshake thick.
• Serve immediately. A freshly blended milkshake has a much better texture than one that has been allowed to melt and then refrozen.
• Use wide straws. Because the shake contains actual donut crumbs, a wider straw makes it easier to drink.

Turn It Into a Donut Milkshake Bar

For birthdays, sleepovers, movie nights, or casual get-togethers, you can turn this simple recipe into a make-your-own milkshake bar.

Blend the basic milkshake and let everyone choose toppings such as sprinkles, chocolate chips, crushed cookies, whipped cream, chocolate sauce, caramel sauce, or homemade marshmallows.

Keep the donuts separate until serving so they stay fresh and don’t become soggy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you put donuts in a milkshake?

Yes. That’s what gives this donut milkshake its bakery-style flavor. Crumble the donuts and pulse them into the ice cream and milk after the shake is mostly blended.

Can I use regular-sized donuts?

Yes. Miniature donuts make the measurements and garnish especially convenient, but regular donuts work too. Because donut sizes vary considerably, start with less than you think you need, blend, and add more to taste.

Can I use glazed donuts instead of cake donuts?

Yes. Glazed donuts will make a tasty milkshake, although cake donuts provide a slightly thicker, more crumbly texture when blended.

How do I make a thicker donut milkshake?

Start with the smaller amount of milk and add more only when necessary. If you’ve already made the shake too thin, blend in another scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Can I make this donut milkshake dairy-free?

Yes. Use your favorite dairy-free vanilla frozen dessert and an unsweetened nondairy milk. You’ll also want to check that the donuts you choose fit your dietary needs.

Can I make a donut milkshake ahead of time?

A milkshake is best made immediately before serving. You can crumble the donuts and prepare your toppings ahead of time, then blend the ice cream, milk, and donuts when you’re ready to serve.

Can I freeze leftover donut milkshake?

You can freeze leftovers, but the texture won’t be exactly the same after thawing. For the best milkshake experience, make only what you plan to serve immediately.

Readers Also Make

If creamy frozen desserts are your thing, try my Easy Vanilla Milkshake or this Toasted Marshmallow Milkshake.

Perfect With

A drizzle of easy homemade caramel sauce turns the basic donut shake into an even richer dessert. Add it inside the glass before pouring in the milkshake or drizzle it over the top just before serving.

Related Posts

For another unexpected sweet-and-savory shake, check out my Bacon Milkshake. You can also make a batch of homemade chocolate donuts and save a few for blending.

Next Recipe to Try

Next, try the Toasted Marshmallow Milkshake for another easy frozen dessert with big nostalgic flavor.