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31 Homemade Soda Shop Malts, Shakes, Floats, and Sundaes for a Classic Summer Experience

Summer is the season when many people start dreaming about visiting local ice cream shops (or “shoppes,” depending on where you live) for milkshakes, ice cream sundaes, malts, ice cream sodas, and banana splits. But we’re here to tell you that homemade is best! Like Ice Cream Pizza, and Frozen Hot Chocolate!

While some of these recipes require an ice cream machine, many don’t. Check out these 31 chilly, frozen treats, including the BEST homemade whipped cream, salted caramel sauce, hot fudge sauce, and other add-ons. We’ve even included some adult, spirited beverages too!

Ice Cream Soda

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Photo credit: Dédé Wilson.

Let’s break it down. You need ice cream of course, some soda, milk or cream, and for our purposes some chocolate sauce and some fruit. We show you how easy it is to make the fancy, lacy chocolate squiggles. Get the recipe for Ice Cream Soda.

Classic Hot Fudge

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Photo credit: Dédé Wilson.

This is a classic Hot Fudge, thick and a bit chewy. Makes a great host gift and our version is lactose-free as well. Get the Hot Fudge recipe.

Ice Cream Cupcakes

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Photo credit: Melissa Sperka.

These cute as a button Ice Cream Cupcakes are certain to be a hit with kids of all ages. It’s the best of both worlds featuring cake and ice cream all served in an edible bowl! Get the recipe for Ice Cream Cupcakes.

Ice Cream Pizza

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Photo credit: Brenda Score.

This Ice Cream Pizza recipe is an easy copycat of the classic Dairy Queen Treatzza Pizza! It has an amazing chewy-crisp Oreo cookie base that’s topped with creamy vanilla ice cream, then garnished with hot fudge and M&Ms. It’s a fun, delicious frozen ice cream treat that everyone will love! Get the recipe for Ice Cream Pizza.

Roasted Strawberry Basil Milkshake

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Photo credit: Gina Matsoukas.

This roasted strawberry basil milkshake with a pistachio cacao nib crumble is a grown up and healthier version of the classic treat. Perfect For Valentine’s Day! Get the recipe.

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Photo credit: Gina Matsoukas.

This chocolate chip cookie milkshake is made with maple pecan gluten-free cookies, coconut milk and cashew butter for a creamy cookie dough tasting treat! Get the recipe.

Frozen Hot Chocolate

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Photo credit: Dédé Wilson.

Sound like an oxymoron? Frozen Hot Chocolate came to fame at NYC restaurant Serendipity, which opened in 1954. Envision a slushy, chocolate drink, rich yet icy, topped with whipped cream. Our version is lactose-free, too. Get the Frozen Hot Chocolate recipe.

Dark Chocolate Waffle Ice Cream Sandwiches

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Photo credit: Dédé Wilson.

You do need a heart shaped waffle-maker for these cute waffles, but you can of course use a regular waffle maker. But just think about this: chocolate waffles sandwiches around lactose-free vanilla ice cream. Whatever shape they are in, YES PLEASE! Get the Dark Chocolate Waffles recipe.

Mocha Vodka Frappuccino

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Photo credit: Dédé Wilson.

Part dessert, part beverage, this coffee/chocolate combo (hence “mocha”) is a refreshing icy cold drink. You can make it without the vodka, too! Get the Mocha Vodka Frappuccino recipe.

Toasted Marshmallow Milkshake

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Photo credit: Nicole Gaffney.

These toasted marshmallow milkshakes are absolutely INSANE! So easy to make but they taste like nothing you’ve ever had before. Sweet, toasty, ice cold perfection. Get the recipe for Toasted Marshmallow Milkshake.

Sparkling Blueberry Ice Cream Float

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Photo credit: xoxoBella.

Cool and refreshing, this sparkling blueberry ice cream float recipe is sure to impress you. With a combination of blueberries, lemon, bourbon vanilla ice cream and a touch of lemon and lime, this will please your palate. It’s great for the kids as well as the grownups, and it’s easy to make. If you are looking for a frozen or fresh blueberry recipe idea, this is one to try. This sparkling blueberry float is always a summer drink hit! Get the recipe for Sparkling Blueberry Ice Cream Float.

Salted Caramel Sauce

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Photo credit: Dédé Wilson.

Salted Caramel Sauce belongs on all of your ice cream shop creations. Sweet, with that crave-able burnt sugar flavor and thick texture. Get the recipe for Salted Caramel Sauce.

Caramelized Banana Split

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Photo credit: Lori Yates.

Take a classic dessert to the next level with this Caramelized Banana Split recipe. With simple directions to caramelize bananas in the oven, this treat is easy enough for a weeknight. Get the recipe for Caramelized Banana Split.

Shamrock Shake – Irish Cream Milkshake

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Photo credit: xoxoBella.

This shamrock shake is something pretty special! It is a St. Patrick’s shake made with Bailey’s, topped with Irish Cream infused whipped cream and crowned with some magically delicious marshmallows. You will love this Irish Cream milkshake! It is perfect for all your St. Patty’s day celebrations. Get the recipe for Shamrock Shake – Irish Cream Milkshake.

Easy Brownie Sundae Waffle Bowls

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Photo credit: xoxoBella.

These easy brownie sundae waffle bowls are so simple to make using boxed brownie mix. They are a waffle sundae and look just as good as any restaurant dessert baked in a waffle bowl. They boast brownies, waffles and ice cream in every bite. This ice cream sundae is always a crowd pleaser! Get the recipe for Easy Brownie Sundae Waffle Bowls.

NY Egg Cream

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Photo credit: Lisa Sokolowski.

There are a few things that are classic New York. Bacon, egg, and cheese on a roll. Pizza. Bagels. Times Square on New Year’s. Broadway. Soda shops. Egg creams. If you’ve never lived in New York, or had a relative who lived in New York, you may not even know about an egg cream. Which is a complete misnomer, by the way. There’s no egg in it. Or cream. So, what is a New York Egg Cream? A New York Egg Cream is a drink with three ingredients: milk, seltzer, and chocolate syrup. Get the recipe for NY Egg Cream.

The BEST Homemade Whipped Cream

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Photo credit: Dédé Wilson.

Softly whipped fresh dairy cream is a silky thing of beauty. Perfect for topping so many ice ream shop treats! Get the recipe for The BEST Homemade Whipped Cream.

Shamrock Shake

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Photo credit: Brenda Score.

The Shamrock Shake is a fun, classic St. Patrick’s Day treat. This homemade ice cream drink is creamy and refreshing with mint flavor – and you can make it at home with only 3 ingredients, in just a few minutes, any time of year! Get the recipe for Shamrock Shake.

Chocolate Shell

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Photo credit: Dédé Wilson.

This classic sauce hardens when it hits the cold ice cream. We love the contrast in textures between the sauce and the ice creamGet the Chocolate Shell recipe.

All-American Chocolate Malt Milkshake

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Photo credit: Sara Wellensiek

So, for your 4th of July celebrations, why not serve up some delicious chocolate malt milkshakes with a patriotic flair?! The kids will love them and adults will love the childhood nostalgia they bring! Here’s the easy recipe. Get the recipe for All-American Chocolate Malt Milkshake.

Rolled Ice Cream

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Photo credit: Lindsay Marie.

Our 4-ingredient vanilla rolled ice cream recipe makes the perfect base for tons of different toppings from fruit to candy and everything in between! Get the recipe for Rolled Ice Cream.

Lemon Strawberry Prosecco Sorbet Float

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Photo credit: Karyn Granrud.

Summertime is the perfect time to enjoy something sweet and bubbly. Lemon Strawberry Prosecco Sorbet Float is just delicious. Of course, it’s not only something you can have in the summertime, it’s a drink you can enjoy all the time. Get the recipe for Lemon Strawberry Prosecco Sorbet Float.

Amaretto Hot Chocolate Floats

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Photo credit: Karyn Granrud.

These Amaretto Hot Chocolate Floats are perfect for any night. Made with real Amaretto ice cream and real Hot Chocolate, it’s a decadent dessert. Get the recipe for Amaretto Hot Chocolate Floats.

Strawberry Banana Milkshake

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Photo credit: Tara Noland.

This classic Strawberry Banana Milkshake is a perfect treat for the summer months on a hot day. Only a few ingredients are needed to make this nostalgic drink! It will be a keeper to have again and again. You could have this at any time of the year too. Get the recipe for Strawberry Banana Milkshake.

Coconut Whipped Cream

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Photo credit: Dédé Wilson.

If you are looking for a non-dairy whipped cream, this Coconut Whipped Cream is perfect! Get the recipe for Coconut Whipped Cream.

S’mores Milkshake

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Photo credit: Tara Noland.

Have you seen these crazy out-of-the-box milkshakes yet? We have recently gone over to the divine side of life in trying these!! I thought for summer a S’mores Milkshake would be not only fun but a delicious treat for everyone to share. Get the recipe for S’mores Milkshake.

Twix Milkshake

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Photo credit: Marion Myers.

My Twix Milkshake is a rich, chocolaty, frozen treat perfect for National Ice Cream Month. It is very thick like a Frosty and full of TWIX® Ice Cream Minis. The TWIX® Ice Cream Minis add a touch of caramel for a delicious twist on a chocolate milkshake. Get the recipe for Twix Milkshakes.

Brownie Ice Cream Sandwiches

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Photo credit: Sheri Silver.

These brownie ice cream sandwiches were a truly happy accident. When setting out to make these brownie ice cream sundaes I realized that I only needed a half batch of batter (to yield twelve brownies). I decided to make all of the batter and create these ice cream sandwiches from the leftover half (winning!). Get the recipe for Brownie Ice Cream Sandwiches.

Salted Caramel Cookie Monster Milkshake

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Photo credit: Heather Figura King.

Have you all seen the Monster Milkshake craze? I mean some of these milkshakes are out of control. I’ve seen milkshakes stacked with a double bacon cheeseburger. I’ve seen milkshakes stacked with a short stack of pancakes and fruit. I’ve even seen the milkshake piled sky high with different candies. I’ll be honest; I think some of them are over the top extreme and not something anyone could eat. Get the recipe for Salted Caramel Cookie Monster Milkshake.

Mermaid Milkshakes

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Photo credit: Heather Figura King.

Guys! I am so excited to share this recipe with you. I had envisioned it in my head but wasn’t sure if it was going to turn out how it looked in my head but I’m happy to say it turned out even better! Today I’m sharing Mermaid Milkshakes that are super fun, colorful, and delicious. Get the recipe for Mermaid Milkshakes.

Turtle Ice Cream Pie

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Photo credit: Melissa Sperka.

This decadent Turtle Ice Cream Pie is the epitome of indulgence. It features layers of caramel ice cream, toasted pecans, dulce de leche and hot fudge. Garnished with a dollop of whipped cream and turtle candy, it’s the ultimate fusion dessert. Get the recipe for Turtle Ice Cream Pie.

57 Ways To Use Strawberries That You Have Never Thought Of

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Photo credit: Valentina Warne.

We love strawberries. We will eat them out of hand as a snack, slice into a fruit salad, dip them in chocolate (of course), and every year we make strawberry shortcake, but this berry is so versatile, for both sweet and savory dishes. Click to read: 57 Ways To Use Strawberries That You Have Never Thought Of

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Author

  • Dede Wilson

    Dédé Wilson is a journalist with over 17 cookbooks to her name and is the co-founder and managing partner of the digital media partnership Shift Works Partners LLC, currently publishing through two online media brands, FODMAP Everyday® and The Queen Zone.

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