It's Milkshake Season
When it comes to craveability, texture creates interesting mouthfeel that’s just as critical as flavor. Think crispy fried chicken. Or crunchy potato chips.
And now … milkshakes.
No, not the classic thick blend of ice cream, milk and flavored syrup. Today’s next-level textured milkshakes are spoon-worthy, full-fledged desserts. When rich, creamy milk and ice cream from Shamrock Farms® are loaded chock-full of delicious inclusions – candy, cake, pie, doughnuts and various other pastries, as well as cereal and even bacon – they deliver the ultimate in decadent indulgence.
Adding texture to shakes affords an easy way to expand and add variety to dessert menus. Plus, they’re something consumers can’t or don’t want to prepare for themselves at home. And textured shakes offer a growth opportunity – standard milkshakes are on 31% of chain menus and 7.6% of independent operators’ menus*.
There’s room for more milkshakes on menus everywhere and signature textured shakes offer the kind of differentiation that builds sales, generates buzz and enhances perceived value – which allows you to charge a premium price.
Consider the many opportunities textured milkshakes offer:
Cross-Utilization
Blend hunks of those delectable cakes you serve from Brickfire Bakery® into fancy milkshakes. Customers who love both red velvet cake and milkshakes won’t have to choose — and they’ll love you for it.
Reduce Waste
Don’t toss out day-old desserts; give them new life as a textured milkshake ingredient.
Create Seasonal LTOs
Pie is an especially popular add-in for textured milkshakes. Think blueberry-pie milkshakes for the summer; apple-pie milkshakes for the fall. Crumble gingerbread or peppermint bark into milkshakes for the holidays.
Go "swavory"
Sweet-savory is a popular flavor profile these days — think chocolate-covered potato chips. For your swavory milkshakes, blend chopped bacon from Prairie Creek® or everything-bagel seasoning from Katy’s Kitchen® into milkshakes. Garnish with a chocolate-covered pretzel to amplify the effect.
Embrace Snacking Opportunities
Portability automatically makes milkshakes an ideal snack for flex-diners on the go. Adding textural elements makes milkshakes satisfying enough to tide diners over until their next meal. Serve these milkshakes in leakproof, sustainable cups from ProPak®.
Popular Textured-Milkshake Inclusions
Trending mix-ins include:
- Graham cracker crumbs
- Cookies
- Cookie dough
- Candy – from bars, peanut-butter cups, chocolate candies, etc.
- Cake
- Doughnut holes
- Sugarcone pieces
- Cereal (Corn Flakes, Cinnamon Toast Crunch®, etc.)
- Coarsely ground pepper and other spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, orange zest, tajin, etc.)
*Source: Datassential, 2022
Share this Post
Get Rewarded Like Never Before
Get more great menu ideas and great savings on items you already purchase. Enjoy exclusive offers, rebates and promotions, and the chance to win great prizes, including trips to some amazing destinations with Shamrock Rewards.
Continue Reading
LET’S OPTIMIZE YOUR OPERATIONS
Check out our resources to help give your menu edge, make your kitchen more efficient and put our team of experts to work for you.
MyShamrock
Your online portal to place orders, track your deliveries and access your transaction history.
Profit Calculator
Maximize profitability with this simple, powerful tool that helps calculate your operation’s break-even point and more.
Menu Resources
Exclusive to our customers, an easy way to manage purchase tracking, inventory and menu costs.
Talk food to us.
Our team of seasoned professionals is ready to help you choose the right products for your business, and put our deep knowledge of the industry to work for you.