If you’re craving all the cozy, creamy flavors of pumpkin pie but don’t feel like turning on the oven, this Pumpkin Pie Milkshake is here to save the day. It’s everything you love about a classic slice of pumpkin pie—sweet, spiced, and perfectly pumpkin-y—blended up with rich vanilla ice cream for the ultimate fall treat. Topped with a swirl of whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon, this milkshake is basically autumn in a glass.
Ingredients & Equipment Needed
- pumpkin puree – canned or homemade
- milk or cream
- vanilla
- cinnamon
- cloves
- nutmeg
- brown sugar
- vanilla bean ice cream – I like Breyers Vanilla Bean. It’s important to use good ice cream here, with a few ingredients as possible. Try to also stay away from any vanilla ice creams that are that bright yellow-ish color.
- graham crackers
- blender – I made this to fit perfectly into my Blendtec Twister jar (which is smaller than a normal size blender jar) so you could certainly double it in a larger, high-powered blender. If you have a Blendtec, the Twister Jar works exceptionally well for things like this! (If you’re wondering about my specific Blender, it’s the Blendec Designer Series 625, which comes in that awesome sea foam color.)
How to Make Pumpkin Pie Milkshake
- Soften the ice cream at room temperature.
- Blend pumpkin, milk or cream, vanilla, spices, and brown sugar until smooth.
- Add ice cream and blend again until combined.
- Pour into glasses and top with crumbled graham crackers.
Storage & Other Tips
- Milkshakes in general do not keep well, so we recommend serving immediately.
- My favorite milkshake tip: Here’s the problem with making thick, diner style milkshakes at home – a lot of times you have to add so much milk to the thing to get the blender to process that it turns into a milk-slushie instead. Or you have to blend and plunge, blend and plunge, etc. You know the drill, right? So if you have any trouble with your blender, I would recommend blending everything but the ice cream first and then mashing it into the ice cream by hand. If your scooped ice cream sits out at room temp while you measure the other things and get them all ready, then by the time you mash it all together it should be a good consistency and it will turn out like a nice soft-serve at the end. If you want it thinner, to drink with a big straw, just add a little milk or cream until you reach the right consistency.
My blender isn’t handling the thickness—any tips?
For thick, “diner‑style” shakes, blend the base (pumpkin, spices, milk) first, then hand‑fold in slightly softened ice cream. Add more milk as needed until smooth.
How do I adjust the thickness or sweetness?
Thicker shake? Use less milk or more ice cream.
Thinner, drinkable style? Add a splash more milk.
Need extra sweetness? Stir in a drizzle of maple syrup or caramel.
Can I double the recipe to serve more people?
Yes, just ensure your blender jar is big enough to hold it all!
Can I use leftover pumpkin pie instead of puree?
We have never tried it this way so we can’t guarantee the results. However, it’s a somewhat common thing to do, and sounds like a great idea to me! Some people take off the crust, some leave it on. If you try it, let us know how it goes in the comments!
Pumpkin Pie Milkshake
Quick and easy frozen treat using real pumpkin and warm spices. The perfect autumn dessert!
Servings generous servings
Equipment
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup pumpkin puree canned or homemade
- 2-4 tablespoons milk or cream more if needed, divided
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/16 teaspoon cloves just use a ⅛ teaspoon to measure and fill it half way, or do a large pinch
- 1/16 teaspoon nutmeg
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 cups vanilla bean ice cream I like Breyers
- 1-2 graham crackers
Instructions
- Set ice cream out at room temperature.
- In the jar of a blender, or bowl, combine pumpkin, 2 tablespoons milk or cream, vanilla, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and brown sugar. Blend or whisk to combine. Add ice cream and process (or smash by hand) to combine. (See notes for tips.)
- Pour into glasses and top with crumbled graham crackers.
Notes
- Optional: after blending milkshake, stir in by hand chunks of graham crackers, baked pie crust, or chunks of shortbread cookies.
- Tip on Blending: Here’s the problem with making thick, diner style milkshakes at home: A lot of times you have to add so much milk to the thing to get the blender to process that it turns into a milk-slushie instead. Or you have to blend and plunge, blend and plunge, etc. You know the drill, right? So if you have any trouble with your blender, I would recommend blending everything but the ice cream first and then mashing it into the ice cream by hand (well, with a hand. Holding a fork or spoon 🙂 If your scooped ice cream sits out at room temp while you measure the other things and get them all ready, then by the time you mash it all together it should be a good consistency and it will turn out like a nice soft-serve at the end. If you want it thinner, to drink with a big straw, just add a little milk or cream until you reach the right consistency.
Nutrition
Serving: 2g, Calories: 374kcal, Carbohydrates: 53g, Protein: 6g, Fat: 16g, Saturated Fat: 9g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 4g, Cholesterol: 60mg, Sodium: 163mg, Potassium: 401mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 43g, Vitamin A: 6937IU, Vitamin C: 3mg, Calcium: 219mg, Iron: 1mg
Calories: 374kcal
Did You Make This Recipe?Snap a picture, and hashtag it #ourbestbites. We love to see your creations on our Instagram @ourbestbites!
Questions & Reviews
My family is addicted to these!! They are fabulous!!
This is such a tasty drink. I just had jaw surgery and am on 100% liquid diet and things get bland very quickly but I think I will be incoorperating this alot over the next six weeks, just wish I knew about it the first time i had this surgery. Thanks for sharing.
I LOVE these! I’ve made them a few times. My husband is making me one right now! I can’t wait! 🙂
To make a breakfast smoothie…
Freeze pumpkin, omit ice cream, add a bit more milk and any scoop of protein powder. I use visalus sweet cream. Next once it is blended and creamy from frozen pumpkin i add target brand pumpkin oatmeal dry right into the shake. It will need a few mins to sodten so you can add to milk before blending if you would like. Trust me when I tell you, you will never want to eat anything else ever again. And if you watch what kind of milk you use and count up cal, this is a ww point friendly shake.
If u don’t like protein powder, skip it. But the visalus is tasty.
I made your super easy pumpkin muffins last night and let my husband take all but 2 to work to feed the coworkers… I think pumpkin pie milkshakes may be in order now, since I need my pumpkin fill too!
Yum! I think we will have to try this! My family has a deep love for milkshakes and we usually go out and buy the pumpkin ones when they are in season. Making my own will save some money and be more convenient! Thanks for the recipe 🙂
This was DELICIOUS! And perfect for today (low 80’s, but dying for fall)! I like my milkshakes pretty thick, so I actually made mine using my kitchenaid with whisk attachment–worked like a charm! I also used graham cracker crumbs mixed with sugar and melted butter (my fave). Thanks so much for sharing!
This looks incredible! I love all things pumpkin and just received a blender as a wedding shower gift, so I can’t wait to make this. Thanks! 🙂
This is the 5th or 6th recipe I’ve tried from your blog, and I have not been disappointed, but this one I had to leave a comment for… WOW! AMAZING!! I will keep coming back for more great ideas 🙂
This makes such a great Sunday afternoon sweet! Thanks for sharing 🙂