My healthy milkshake recipe is thick and creamy and clocks in at under 50 calories. No ice cream needed, and over 7 different flavor combinations to choose from. 

Hot take: milkshakes are an underrated treat that should be made at home more often–especially when they’re made with wholesome ingredients. 

Cue my diet milkshake recipe. Using a handful of staples, I recreated the milkshakes of my youth, just without the copious amounts of added sugar or syrups.

The trick to making a creamy milkshake without loading it with sugar and fat is to add a few ice cubes. This thickens it up beautifully, and with the right combination of milk and sweetener, you won’t even miss the ice cream.

Table of Contents

1. Why I love this recipe
2. Key Ingredients
3. How to make a healthy chocolate milkshake
4. Arman’s recipe tips
5. Storage instructions
6. Healthy Milkshake (Recipe Card)
7. More healthy shakes

Why I love this recipe

• The perfect texture. It’s thick, creamy, and sweet–like all good milkshakes should be. 
• Low-calorie. Each serving is only 50 calories, but you’d never guess by how decadent it tastes. 
• Make it fit your diet. Easily make a dairy-free, vegan, or sugar-free milkshake by swapping some ingredients. 
• Customize it. I’m starting with the classic chocolate milkshake recipe, but I included a list of equally delicious flavor combinations to choose from.

Key Ingredients

Here’s what goes into this low calorie milkshake, along with my kitchen notes. Full measurements are in the recipe card below.

• Milk of choice. I used unsweetened almond milk, but I also had luck with coconut milk, cashew milk, and dairy milk. For an extra boost of chocolate, use unsweetened chocolate almond milk (Blue Diamond does a fantastic one). 
• Cocoa powder. I used unsweetened Dutch-processed cocoa powder.
• Granulated sweetener. To keep the calories low, I used granulated allulose (which dissolves like sugar), but any sweetener can be used. If you’re not worried about a few extra calories, use regular sugar or maple syrup. 
• Ice. Gives the milkshake extra thickness without any calories.

How to make a healthy chocolate milkshake

Step 1- Blend. Add all ingredients to a high-speed blender and blend until thick and creamy. 

Step 2- Serve. Pour into two glasses and enjoy.

Arman’s recipe tips

• Taste before pouring. Adding ice can sometimes dilute the shake’s sweetness, so I always taste it first in case it needs more sweetener. 
• Make milk ice cubes. For extra creaminess, freeze your milk in an ice cube tray and use the cubes instead of regular ice.
• Drizzle sugar-free chocolate syrup inside the glass before serving for an extra boost of chocolate flavor. 
• Dissolve the cocoa powder first. Emma in the comments dissolved the cocoa powder in a small amount of hot water before adding it to the blender. It prevents that powdery aftertaste and gives a smoother, richer chocolate flavor.
• Add extra ice for thickness. Jonathan, in the comments, adds more ice than the recipe calls for and says he couldn’t even tell there was no ice cream in it- it’s worth trying if you like a thicker shake.

Storage instructions

Storing: Leftovers can be stored in the fridge, covered, for 1-2 days. There will be some milk separation, so give it a stir before serving. 

More healthy shakes

• Protein milkshake– The same milkshake format, but with 20 grams of protein and a scoop of protein ice cream.
• Almond milk milkshake– The creamiest, dairy-free milkshake I’ve made, and only 3 ingredients. 
• Snickers protein shake– Tastes like a Snickers bar, and my partner requests this more than any other shake.
• Coffee protein shake– My morning shake when I want caffeine and protein in one glass.