Don't wait for your next trip to a diner to get a cool vanilla shake. Our guide, How to Make a Vanilla Milkshake, gives you the simple instructions to blend the frosty beverage at home. Vanilla shakes are the perfect blank canvas for additional flavors, so you'll also discover numerous ingredient variations to change the taste and texture of the basic recipe.

Put your blender to good use by using it to create a batch of authentic, hand-blended vanilla milkshakes. With just three basic ingredients and a little whipped cream as a topper, you can make an ice cream sensation that rivals the shakes from any local burger joint.

• Use these ingredients and tools to make one smooth and rich vanilla milkshake.

• 2 cups vanilla ice cream

• 1 cup milk

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• Blender

• Spoon

• Tall glass

• Once you've gathered the necessary elements, blending the vanilla shake will only take a few minutes.

1. Consider letting the ice cream soften a little before you begin to make the shake easier to blend.All Recipes: Vanilla Milkshake II
2. Add the ice cream, milk and vanilla extract to the blender.All Recipes: Vanilla Milkshake I
   • -Substitute one cup of half-and-half for the milk to blend a richer shake.All Recipes: Vanilla Milkshake II
   • -Reduce the amount of milk if you prefer a thicker shake.Food Network: Vanilla Milkshake Recipe
3. Blend the shake until it's smooth and slightly foamy.Good Housekeeping: Classic Vanilla Milkshake
4. Pour or use a spoon to scoop the shake into a tall glass.Recipezaar: Vanilla Milkshake
5. Top the shake with whipped cream if desired.All Recipes: Vanilla Milkshake III

• When you crave something other than the basic vanilla flavor, try one of these simple combinations to create a delicious new version of the shake.

1. Add orange juice concentrate to create orange-vanilla milkshakes that taste like the famous ice cream-filled Popsicles.Martha Stewart: Orange-Vanilla Milkshakes
2. Use heavy cream and milk for an extra rich blend.Epicurious: Cherry Newtons and Vanilla Milkshakes
3. Combine Sour cherries with vanilla ice cream and top it with a root beer granita to create a beverage reminiscent of a root beer float.Martha Stewart: Cherry-vanilla Milkshake with Root Beer Granita
4. Blend in apples for an interesting flavor change.All Recipes: Apple Milkshake
5. The addition of maple syrup gives the shake a rich, sweet flavor.All Recipes: Vanilla Milkshake IV
6. Use carbonated water and malted milk powder to create a soda fountain style shake.All Recipes: Fountain Style Vanilla Malt Shake
7. Turn your vanilla shake purple and fizzy with the addition of grape soda.All Recipes: Purple Cow Smoothie
8. If you feel like a smooth iced cappuccino, add brewed coffee and cocoa powder to the mix.All Recipes: Coffee Whirl
9. Simply blending vanilla ice cream with fruit juice produces a tangy tropical shake.All Recipes: Tropical Shake
10. Add peppermint extract for a refreshing twist.Recipezaar: Peppermint Vanilla Shake
11. Amaretto and coffee liqueur combine with vanilla ice cream to create an almond flavored alcoholic vanilla shake.All Recipes: Frosted Almond
12. Vanilla vodka and coffee liqueur help create a sophisticated twist on the basic vanilla shake.Emeril's: Kicked Up White Russian Milkshake