Cotton Candy Milkshake Recipe

Everyone will love this cotton candy milkshake recipe that tastes just as sweet and sugary as cotton candy. It’s a blast to eat and it takes almost no time at all to make. Simple ingredients, and no fancy kitchen tools needed! This homemade milkshake recipe is perfect for a kids party activity and a fun treat!

Cotton Candy Milkshake

I love making fun and tasty desserts for my kids. This cotton candy milkshake recipe is not only tasty but super fun to make and it just screams fun when you look at it!

Not only does this homemade milkshake taste just like cotton candy it has cotton candy on top of it to make it even more fun.

Cotton candy milkshakes are perfect for a summer treat or a kids birthday party. Prep all of the toppings and make a big batch of the milkshakes, and let the kids have fun customizing them for a fun party activity and treat.

Milkshake Recipes

• Caramel Milkshake
• Chocolate Banana Milkshake
• Shamrock Shake
• Oreo Milkshake
• Chocolate Chip Cookie Milkshake
• Cherry Milkshake Recipe

Tips for Making Homemade Milkshakes

Let the Ice Cream Soften Slightly. Let it sit for 5–10 minutes at room temperature before blending—it’ll mix more easily and create a smoother shake.

Whipped cream. When you are making these easy homemade milkshakes, they taste amazing with whipped cream. You can use homemade whipped cream and a whipped cream dispenser or store bought whipped cream, whichever you prefer.

Use whole milk. If you want the creamiest milkshake consistency, using whole milk is best. You can use skim milk or 2% if that is what you have on hand, but it will be thinner than if you are using whole milk.

Chill Your Glasses. Pop your glasses in the freezer for 10 minutes beforehand—helps the shake stay cold and thick longer.

Make It Extra Thick. Use less milk and more ice cream—or freeze your milk into cubes and blend those in.

Top It Off. Don’t skip the fun toppings: whipped cream, sprinkles, and cherries. Different colored cotton candy will make this even more fun. For this milkshake recipe you can have a ton of fun with the toppings, get creative and make this cotton candy unicorn milkshake just how you want it.

Use Gel Food Coloring. It is best to use gel food coloring for more vibrant hues without watering down the shake.

Fun Toppings for Cotton Candy Milkshakes

When you are making cotton candy milkshakes one of the fun parts of making them is the toppings. Making these milkshakes is so much fun and there are so many options to make them fun and for the kids to customize their own milkshake. After making the milkshake you can then garnish them however you want to.

• Cotton Candy Fluff. Pile a big tuft right on top for a signature look.
• Whipped Cream Swirl. Classic base for holding all your toppings.
• Sprinkles. Use rainbow jimmies, pastel nonpareils, or star-shaped confetti.
• Rock Candy Sticks. Add sparkle and crunch, especially in pink or blue.
• Mini Marshmallows. Add a cloud-like texture and sweet chew.
• Glitter Sugar or Edible Glitter.  Sprinkle on top for a magical shimmer.
• Colorful Candy Pieces. Think Nerds, Sixlets, or pastel M&Ms.
• Lollipops. Unicorn Horn Lollipops, blue swirl lollipops, rainbow swirl lollipops are all great options. A fun touch for themed parties or photos.
• Drizzle Sauces. Strawberry syrup, white chocolate, or bubblegum drizzle around the glass.
• Pink or Blue Frosted Animal Cookies. A cute and nostalgic throwback!
• Candy Bracelets or Necklaces. Hang from the straw or rest on whipped cream.
• Macarons. Add a pastel-colored macaron or two for elegance.
• Mini Donuts or Cake Pops. Skewer one on a straw for an over-the-top treat.

Cotton Candy Milkshake Theme and Color Ideas

When you are making this cotton candy milkshake recipe, there are quite a few variations and ideas that you can do with it. 

Pink Cotton Candy Milkshake. Add 1–2 drops of pink food coloring. For toppings, use pink sprinkles, strawberry drizzle, cotton candy fluff. 

Blue Cotton Candy Milkshake. Add 1–2 drops of blue food coloring. For toppings, blue rock candy, blue marshmallows, whipped cream with blue edible sprinkles.

Purple Cotton Candy Milkshake. Add 1 drop of pink food coloring and 1 drop of blue food coloring. For toppings, edible glitter, purple sprinkles, a lollipop.

Yellow Cotton Candy Milkshake. Add 1–2 drops of yellow food coloring (and a drop of pink for a peachy tone). For toppings, use lemon rock candy, yellow sprinkles, rainbow candy.

Rainbow Cotton Candy Milkshake. Layer different colors of milkshake in the glass by making separate mini batches in various colors. Carefully pour layers one at a time to create a rainbow effect. For the toppings, use rainbow lollipop, colorful sprinkles, and cotton candy tufts.

How to dip a glass rim into chocolate?

Add the chocolate to a small plate or a shallow dish. Microwave in 20–30 second intervals, stirring between each, until smooth and fully melted. Then, Dip the rim of the glass directly into the melted chocolate or use a spoon and spread the chocolate on the rim of the glass. Set the glass aside for the chocolate to harden. You can use chocolate or colorful candy melts to decorate the rim of your glasses.

How do I add sprinkles to the rim of a glass?

After dipping the rim of the glass in the melted chocolate, roll the rim in a pile of sprinkles while the chocolate is still soft. I find it best to pour the sprinkles onto a plate and then roll the glass in the sprinkles.

Where can I find cotton candy extracts?

You can find cotton candy extract on Amazon, and it gives the perfect cotton candy flavor to this milkshake recipe.

Will the cotton candy not melt as soon as I place it on top of the milkshake?

As long as you place it on right as you are serving it, then you should be fine. It is if it sets on there for any length of time that it will begin to melt. 

How can I make the milkshake thicker?

There are a few ways to make a milkshake thicker: If you know you like a thicker shake, you can add less milk to begin with. Another option would be to add more ice cream. However, if you want the texture to be thicker without compromising the creaminess, you can use ice cubes and then blend them.

Cotton Candy Milkshake Recipe Ingredients

• 3 cups Vanilla Ice Cream
• 1.5 cups Whole Milk 
• 1 teaspoon Cotton Candy Extract
• 2-3 drops food dye. Pink, blue, green etc. Whatever color food coloring to match the cotton candy.
• ¼ cup White Chocolate
• 2-4 tablespoons Rainbow Sprinkles
• 1 cup Cotton Candy. I like to use blue cotton candy and pink cotton candy.

How to Make Cotton Candy Milkshake Recipe

Start by melting the white chocolate chips on a small plate, then roll the rim of the glasses in it.

Then dip the rim of the glasses with the still slightly wet white chocolate into a bowl with the sprinkles to coat the chocolate in sprinkles.

Once the glasses are ready, set them aside. 

To make the milkshake, add the ice cream, milk, cotton candy extract, and 2-3 drops of food coloring to the blender and blend for about 30 seconds. 

Pour into the glasses, then top both milkshakes with cotton candy and any other fun and tasty milkshake toppings you want to.

Fun Kid Recipes

• Cotton Candy Hot Chocolate Bombs
• Cotton candy mocktail
• Unicorn Lemonade
• unicorn poop cupcakes
• unicorn poop bark 
• unicorn poop cupcakes