This week I reached out for a new hand-spun Cookies & Cream Milkshake at America's top chicken sandwich chain, Chick-fil-A (1,250 restaurants in 38 states plus Washington, D.C.).
Chick-fil-A offers four flavors of shake-shake-shake ... shake your booties: cookies and cream, vanilla, chocolate and strawberry. They're as close to an old-fashioned ice-cream-parlor shake as you're going to find in Fast Food World.
Here's the blueprint for Chick-fil-A's Cookies & Cream Milkshake: 20 ounces of "home-style Icedream dairy treat," bolstered with milk and crumbled Oreo cookies.
Total calories: 770 (for a 20-ounce shake). Fat grams: 31. Dietary fiber: 1. Carbs: 109. Manufacturer's suggested retail price: $2.79.
Chick-fil-A shakes come in only one big size and one big price.
But you're getting your money's worth. Unlike fast-food shakes that come pouring premade and "as is" from a machine the size of the Pentagon's air-conditioning unit, Chick-fil-A's shakes are prepared individually with top name-brand ingredients.
The cookies in Cookies & Cream are Oreos. The chocolate syrup is Hershey's. Each shake is hand-spun so everything is more mixed up than Tom Cruise.
Chick-fil-A's shakes start with a huge glop of Icedream, which is very similar to Dairy Queen's iconic soft-serve. They're careful not to say ice cream, because it doesn't have the required percentage of butterfat and other government silliness.
The first five ingredients in Icedream are whole milk, sugar, nonfat milk, eggs and cream, so it's a legit dairy deal — with all the calories and carbs to prove it — just an itty-bitty less fattening than ice cream.
With 109 carbs per shake, Dr. Atkins is hand-spinning in his grave, too.
Chick-fil-A shakes are smooth as silk, with none of the gritty ice particles and grainy texture of typical fast-food shakes. If you ask pretty please, like I do, they'll shoot an extra jolt of Hershey's syrup into your Cookies & Cream Shake. Now that's a milkshake worth an extra hour of jogging.
Chick-fil-A shakes are heavier-duty than typical fast-food shakes, too. Try this: Buy a fast-food shake and let it sit an hour in the refrigerator. Half the shake will vanish into thin air — because that's what you're paying for — thin air whipped into the shake to froth it up.
And you thought you had to pay for air only at a gas station.
Here's a nice touch: Chick-fil-A shakes are topped with light whipped cream and a maraschino cherry. I keep forgetting to say, "No whipped cream, but can you throw the cherry on, anyway?"
I eat the cherry last.
ken.hoffman@chron.com
FAQs
Total calories: 770 (for a 20-ounce shake). Fat grams: 31. Dietary fiber: 1. Carbs: 109.
Which Chick-fil-A milkshake has the least calories? ›
Vanilla Milkshake
As you're about to see, all of Chick-fil-A menu's milkshakes are crazy-high in sugar. That being said, if you simply must order one, you should go for the vanilla, which has the least amount of calories and sugar of the milkshake bunch.
Can a milkshake fill you up? ›
A small but thick milkshake could make and keep you fuller than a can of soda. No matter what yummy drink or dessert tickles your fancy, remember not to ignore your stomach's natural signals and enjoy!
What milkshake has the most calories? ›
The Heath Bar Shake is a milkshake drink sold at Baskin-Robbins, based on the Heath candy bar. It is notable for its high calorie count and was dubbed "The Unhealthiest Drink in America" by Men's Health Magazine. The shake contains 2,310 calories. Vitamin A equiv.
How many calories in a Chick-fil-A peach milkshake? ›
Chick-fil-a Peach Milkshake (small) (1 serving) contains 106g total carbs, 105g net carbs, 22g fat, 13g protein, and 670 calories.
Are Chick-fil-A milkshakes made with real milk? ›
Chick-fil-A uses a blend of soft serve ice cream and whole milk to make their milkshakes. Unless you happen to have a soft serve machine, using a high-fat, creamy vanilla ice cream for your shake is the perfect alternative.
What is the unhealthiest drink at Chick-fil-A? ›
When it comes to a beverage, for maximum unhealthiness there's nothing like a shake. The worst offender on Chick-fil-A's menu is cookies and cream, offering 610 calories, 25 grams of fat, and a whopping 85 grams of carbohydrates for a small shake.
How many calories in a large Chick-fil-A vanilla milkshake? ›
Chick-fil-a Desserts Vanilla Milkshake Large (1 serving) contains 86g total carbs, 86g net carbs, 25g fat, 15g protein, and 620 calories.
Does Chick-fil-A have more calories than Mcdonalds? ›
THE NUTRITION LEVELS: Chick-fil-A's checks in at 6.3 ounces and has 430 calories, 17 grams of fat and 1,370 milligrams of sodium. McDonald's is 8.7 ounces and has 400 calories, 17 grams of fat and 1,030 milligrams of sodium.
Will I gain weight if I drink a milkshake? ›
While high calorie milkshakes can be a helpful tool in achieving weight gain goals, they should be consumed in moderation. Drinking them every day can lead to an unhealthy diet, increasing the risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and other health issues.
Luckily, milkshakes are considered as a healthy drink, if you don't add refined sugar. In fact, some studies say milkshakes can aid weight loss by keeping you fuller for longer between meals. So, if you love milkshakes, try different recipes during this lockdown without worrying about your weight.
Is milkshake healthy or unhealthy? ›
A milkshake is one such high-fat beverage. Milk is healthy and so are fruits, but mixing the two may not be the best idea. Further milkshakes come with added sugar, whipped cream, and ice cream which makes it a high-calorie food that is too heavy to digest.
What is the unhealthiest shake? ›
Burger King Chocolate Oreo Shake
This menu item has almost as much saturated fat as you're supposed to eat in an entire day, and its 91 grams of sugar is about triple what men should aim to consume in a day, and almost four times the recommended daily limit for women.
Are milkshakes healthy for weight loss? ›
Milkshakes, apart from being delectable and healthy, can also contribute to weight loss! But, how do they do it? We'll tell you how! Milkshakes are naturally very filling for the stomach and when you drink them, they make you feel full for a very long time, which in turn, helps in hunger management and weight loss!
Which is the highest calorie drink? ›
Long Island Iced Tea (LIIT)
The alcoholic mixed drink contains vodka, gin, rum, tequila, triple sec, and co*ke, which makes it one of the most calorie dense drinks. A typical 420ml glass of Long Island contains a whopping 424 calories.
How many calories are in a small milkshake from Chick-Fil-A? ›
Chick-fil-a Small Vanilla Shake (1 shake) contains 72g total carbs, 72g net carbs, 22g fat, 12g protein, and 520 calories.
How many calories in a large Chick-Fil-A milkshake? ›
Nutrition Facts
| Calories 740 | (3096 kJ) |
|---|
| Total Fat | 26 g | 40% |
| Saturated Fat | 16 g | 80% |
| Trans Fat | 0 g | |
| Cholesterol | 95 mg | 32% |
7 more rowsChick-fil-A Cookies & Cream Milkshake, Small (399 grams) contains 85g total carbs, 82g net carbs, 25g fat, 12g protein, and 610 calories.
How many calories is in a vanilla milkshake? ›
McDonald's Vanilla Shake recipe features creamy vanilla soft serve and vanilla syrup finished with whipped light cream for a cool, tasty treat. There are 480 calories in a small Vanilla Shake at McDonald's.
