Copycat Patriotic Freakshake Recipe
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.
Celebrate July 4th with my Freakshake recipe! A vanilla-flavored milkshake is decorated with red and blue food coloring and then paired with fluffy Cool Whip to bring you a seriously patriotic loaded milkshake. Top with red, white, and blue candy decorations, and serve with a sparkler for extra pizzazz!
Freakshake
If you’ve been looking for the ultimate 4th of July beverage for all ages, you’ve got to make this patriotic freakshake recipe!
The first time I heard about freakshakes I knew I had to try one. Some may call them excessive or indulgent… I say, that’s exactly what I look for in a dessert!!
I love making themed food and drinks for parties. I even have a Holidays section up on the site so that you can peruse all of the options for your own celebrations! This recipe is for sure in my Patriotic Holidays collection.
Whether you make them for the Fourth of July or Memorial Day, my red white and blue freakshakes are sure to be a hit!
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Vanilla Ice Cream – The base of all good milkshake recipes is, of course, some ice cream!
I’m using vanilla — remember that we’re using food coloring to create the different colored layers, so it’s important to start with a neutral-colored base like vanilla. - Sweetened Condensed Milk – Also needed for the actual milkshake portion of your shake!
Sweetened condensed milk adds even more flavor and sweetness without a ton of added sugar needed. - White Chocolate Creamer – My secret ingredient for super creamy results! I love the white chocolate flavoring too. It complements everything else so well.
- Food Coloring – Grab some red and blue food coloring to create those red and blue stripes.
- Cool Whip – I use this to create a barrier between the stripes so the colors don’t bleed. It also adds a nice, light, and fluffy touch to the milkshakes.
- Candy Melts & Sprinkles – I use these to decorate the glasses.
Melt down the candy and cover the rim of each glass, then add the sprinkles… just like when you salt the rims for margaritas! - Toppings – They don’t call this a loaded milkshake for nothin’! I add marshmallows, red and blue sanding sugar, Twizzlers, and a Bomb Pop on top of each shake.
The presentation is just incredible, plus the taste is off the chart!
Tips and Tricks to Make Perfect Freakshakes
- Freezing helps the rim decorations set.
After you’ve covered the entire rim with the melted candy melts and added your sprinkles, place it in the freezer to chill while you make the different layers.
Not only will this help the candy and sprinkles set, but it also does double duty by chilling the glass before you add the multi-colored layers to it!
- Make the red and blue portions separately.
You may be tempted to make one big batch of vanilla milkshakes, and then separate it to create the stripes.
I suggest you make the red layer, add it to the chilled glass, return it to the freezer, then make the blue layer! You’ll have more control over the consistency for the best taste and texture!
Plus, letting the other layers chill while you make the next one will prevent them from bleeding into each other.
- Use sanding sugar to “dye” the marshmallows.
I prefer to use sanding sugar to add color to the marshmallows instead of food dye!
All you need to do is dip in water, roll in sugar, and add to the cake pop stick. It’s soo much easier than using food coloring, plus you’ll get even more texture with the sugar.
- Top with a sparkler for an extra patriotic look.
Grab some sparklers and add one to each loaded milkshake to celebrate the Fourth of July with some pizzazz.
Just make sure to be careful if you plan on serving these to children. No one wants to poke an eye out or get burned!
Prep Ahead
- Divide the ice cream, condensed milk, and creamer
- Chill the glasses
What You’ll Need For This Recipe
- Blender – A high-powered blender is a must in every kitchen!
- Piping Bag and 1M Tip – To add the Cool Whip
- Cake Pop Sticks – For the marshmallows!
- Chilled Glasses – Helps keep the freakshakes cold.
- Blue Paper Straws – For sipping in style.
Serving Suggestions
You’ll want to serve your shake immediately! If you plan on making these for a crowd, be sure to double or triple it — as written, my recipe will give you one loaded milkshake.
I will most definitely be featuring these at my Fourth of July party. I’ll be serving all of my favorite backyard barbecue fixings, plus this Patriotic Tri Color Pasta Salad!
Festive summer berry icebox cake and Red White and Blue Cheesecake Salad are some other options, and Triple Berry Parfait is so easy!
Homemade Red White and Blue Ice Cream and Firecracker Cake will be my other desserts, plus these Red White and Blue Jello Shots and Red White and Blue Layered Shots for my 21+ guests.
As you can see, I’ve got tons of patriotic recipes to inspire you!
Storing
I recommend that you only make as many 4th of July milkshakes as you plan on serving.
They don’t store very well — the layers may start to bleed into themselves, and the Cool Whip will deflate when you keep them in the fridge.
If you absolutely must store leftovers, separate them layer by layer and store in airtight containers in the freezer for the best results.
4th of July Milkshakes FAQ
A freakshake is a fun term for a loaded milkshake!
Creamy shakes are topped with tons of extras like whipped cream, sprinkles, candy, or other snacks to bring you an extremely elevated milkshake. You can get super creative with the flavors and toppings.
Freakshakes are said to have come from Canberra, Australia at the Patissez Cafe. Now you can find them across the world!
If you don’t have any piping bags at home, simply cut the bottom corner of a Ziploc bag. Place the Cool Whip inside and squeeze it out through the hole — voila, a quick and easy homemade piping bag!
By chilling them! Remember how important it is to go layer by layer when assembling your 4th of July milkshakes.
Start with the red layer as it’s on the bottom. Once that’s done, place it in your serving glass in the freezer.
Repeat the process with the white and red layers and you won’t have to worry about the colors mixing.
Enjoy!
With love, from our simple kitchen to yours.
Don’t miss a thing! Follow us on
Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram
Copycat Patriotic Freakshake Recipe
Ingredients
Glass decoration
- ½ cup white candy melts
- Patriotic Sprinkles Mix
Milkshake
- 1 quart 6 heaping scoops vanilla ice cream, divided
- 4 tablespoons sweetened condensed milk, divided
- 1 cup 8 fluid ounces white chocolate creamer, divided
- red and blue food coloring
- 1 8 ounce tub cool whip
Shake Toppings
- 3 marshmallows
- red sanding sugar
- blue sanding sugar
- 3 Twizzlers
- 1 Bomb Pop
Instructions
Step by Step:
- RIM THE GLASS: Start by melting down your white candy melts. Place in the microwave for one minute. Stir and repeat, until melted and smooth.
- Place the top of your glass in the melted candy. Cover the entire rim and let it set slightly. Sprinkle with patriotic sprinkles, and place your glass in the freezer to chill and let the rim set up.
- MAKE THE RED LAYER: Add half of the ice cream, two tablespoons condensed milk, half a cup of creamer to a blender.
- Blend on high until smooth. Add red food coloring (a few drops at a time) until the color you desire is achieved.
- Pour into your chilled glass and place in the freezer while you make your next layer.
- MAKE THE WHITE LAYER: Place your cool whip in a piping bag with a tip and pipe cool whip on top of your red layer, creating a barrier between the two colors. Or scoop it into the glass carefully. Place glass in the freezer while you prepare the next layer.
- MAKE THE BLUE LAYER: Repeat steps 3-5 with the blue food coloring. Pour the shake on top of the cool whip layer.
- DECORATE YOUR FREAKSHAKE: Pipe remaining cool whip on top and add additional sprinkles.
- Dip one marshmallow into water and then dip in red sanding sugar. Place on a cake pop stick. Next add a white marshmallow. Finally dip another marshmallow in water, followed by blue sanding sugar.
- Place your straws, twizzlers, bomb pop, and marshmallows on the top of your shake. Serve and enjoy!
Nutrition
All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe’s nutritional value will vary depending on the ingredients used, measuring methods, and portion sizes.
Originally published May 2024
Disclosure: Posts may contain affiliate links. If you purchase a product through an affiliate link your price will remain the same and The Slow Roasted Italian will automatically receive a small commission. Thank you for supporting us, it helps us keep creating new recipes.
This Freakshake recipe was super easy to follow and turned out amazing! Perfect for the 4th of July!
Hi Rachel!
We’re so glad that you enjoyed the recipe!!
TSRI Team Member,
Devlyn