Fast food restaurants have been diversifying their menus to offer more unique and indulgent dessert options beyond the standard vanilla, chocolate and strawberry shake flavors. One interesting new shake flavor that has popped up on some fast food menus is mint. The cool and refreshing flavor of mint makes it an appealing shake option for customers looking for something different from the typical shake offerings. In this article, we’ll take a look at which fast food chains currently have mint shakes available and provide an overview of each minty shake option.
Fast Food Restaurants With Mint Shakes
Here is a quick overview of the major fast food chains that offer mint shakes on their menus:
Arby’s
Arby’s recently added a Mint Chocolate Shake to their menu in 2020. The shake features a blend of mint and chocolate flavors topped with whipped cream and chocolate drizzle. It is available at participating locations across the country.
Baskin-Robbins
Baskin-Robbins is known for their extensive range of 31 ice cream flavors and custom shake options. They have a Mint Chocolate Chip shake that combines refreshing mint ice cream with chocolate chip pieces. It can be customized with various toppings.
Burger King
Select Burger King locations offer a limited-time Oreo Mint Shake made with mint, Oreo cookies, and chocolate syrup. When available it can typically be found during the spring season.
Chick-fil-A
Chick-fil-A has a Mint Chocolate Chip Milkshake that can be ordered year-round. It features a blend of their hand-spun mint chocolate chip ice cream with milk.
Dairy Queen
Dairy Queen’s signature Blizzard treat lineup includes a Mint Oreo Blizzard made with Oreo cookies and mint ice cream. It is a popular menu item available at all locations.
Jack in the Box
Jack in the Box has a Mint Oreo Shake which consists of natural mint ice cream blended with Oreo cookie pieces and topped with whipped cream. It is available for a limited time.
McDonald’s
McDonald’s is one of the few major fast food chains that does not currently have a mint shake offering. They focus heavily on their traditional vanilla, chocolate and strawberry shake flavors.
Sonic Drive-In
Sonic Drive-In has featured a few different mint shake options over the years as limited-time offerings. Most recently they had a Mint Chip Shake and also have done an Oreo Mint Master Shake.
Steak ‘N Shake
Steak ‘n Shake provides a variety of milkshake flavors that rotate seasonally. Around the winter holidays they typically offer a Peppermint Chocolate Chip milkshake.
Overview of Fast Food Mint Shakes
Here is more detail about the key mint shake options available from major fast food restaurants:
| Restaurant | Mint Shake Name | Description | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arby’s | Mint Chocolate Shake | Smooth mint and chocolate blend topped with whipped cream and chocolate drizzle | Available nationwide year-round |
| Baskin-Robbins | Mint Chocolate Chip Shake | Features mint ice cream with chocolate chips that can be customized with toppings | Available year-round |
| Burger King | Oreo Mint Shake | Made with mint, Oreo cookies, and chocolate syrup | Limited-time seasonal offering |
| Chick-fil-A | Mint Chocolate Chip Milkshake | Hand-spun mint chocolate chip ice cream blended with milk | Year-round menu item |
| Dairy Queen | Mint Oreo Blizzard | Blend of Oreo cookies and mint ice cream | Available year-round |
| Jack in the Box | Mint Oreo Shake | Mint ice cream with Oreo pieces topped with whipped cream | Limited-time seasonal offering |
| Sonic Drive-In | Mint Chip Shake | Real ice cream blended with mint chips | Temporary seasonal shake |
| Steak ‘n Shake | Peppermint Chocolate Chip Milkshake | Peppermint flavored milkshake with chocolate chips | Winter holiday seasonal shake |
Most Popular Fast Food Mint Shakes
Based on availability and consumer reviews, the most popular fast food mint shakes appear to be:
Chick-fil-A’s Mint Chocolate Chip Milkshake
Chick-fil-A’s mint shake is well-loved because it is available year-round, made with quality ingredients, and strikes the perfect balance of refreshing mint and creamy chocolate flavors. The hand-spun ice cream gives it a thick, milkshake-like texture that fans enjoy.
Dairy Queen’s Mint Oreo Blizzard
Dairy Queen’s Mint Oreo Blizzard is a fan-favorite for its creamy mint soft serve blended with crunchy Oreo cookie pieces. It’s a classic combination of flavors that people never seem to tire of. The Blizzard texture makes this a thicker, more indulgent mint shake experience.
Baskin-Robbins Mint Chocolate Chip Shake
Baskin-Robbins has a reputation for premium ice cream flavors and quality shakes. Their mint chocolate chip shake lets you taste the refreshing mint ice cream studded with chocolate chips. Customers also love the ability to customize their shake with various toppings.
Ranking of Fast Food Mint Shakes
Based on my research into ingredients, reviews and availability, here is how I would rank the top fast food mint shakes:
1. Chick-fil-A’s Mint Chocolate Chip Milkshake – Rich flavor profile and available year-round.
2. Dairy Queen’s Mint Oreo Blizzard – A classic blend with unique Blizzard texture.
3. Baskin-Robbins Mint Chocolate Chip Shake – High quality and customizable toppings.
4. Arby’s Mint Chocolate Shake – Good mint-chocolate combo and widely available.
5. Sonic Drive-In Mint Chip Shake – Real ice cream and mint chips provide nice flavor.
6. Steak ‘n Shake Peppermint Chocolate Chip Milkshake – Tasty but only seasonally available.
7. Jack in the Box Mint Oreo Shake – A decent limited-time option.
8. Burger King Oreo Mint Shake – Hits the mint and chocolate notes but rarely available.
How Fast Food Mint Shakes Are Made
Most fast food restaurants utilize a similar process for making their mint shakes:
– The base starts with real ice cream, milk soft serve or milkshake mix that contains milk, cream, sugar and stabilizing ingredients to create a thick, creamy texture.
– Mint flavoring syrup or extract is added to the base along with mint ice cream to impart that cool, minty taste. Some brands use natural mint while others may rely on artificial flavors. The mint flavor tends to be stronger in soft serve style shakes.
– Chocolate chips, chocolate syrup, Oreo cookies or chocolate flavored ice cream provides layers of chocolate and texture.
– Once blended together, the shake is topped with whipped cream and chocolate drizzle for an indulgent finish.
The blending machines combine all the ingredients into the signature thick shake consistency we expect from fast food chains. Quality can vary based on the ingredients each restaurant chooses. Overall, mint is an easy flavor for fast food shakes because it pairs so well with beloved ingredients like chocolate and Oreo cookies.
How to Make Your Own Fast Food-Style Mint Shake at Home
If you want to recreate the fast food mint shake experience at home, here are some tips:
– Use high quality ice cream, preferably a premium mint chocolate chip variety, for the base. Vanilla ice cream can work too.
– Add a small amount of mint extract or mint syrup for extra mint flavor. Use sparingly at first and add more to suit your taste preference.
– For chocolate flavor, add chocolate syrup, cocoa powder, chocolate chips, or chocolate ice cream.
– For Oreo flavor, crush some Oreo cookies and blend the pieces into the shake.
– For optimal thickness, use a blender or milkshake machine. You can make it thinner by adding more milk to your desired consistency.
– Top with whipped cream and chocolate drizzle for complete mint shake perfection!
– Garnish with a mint leaf or Oreo crumbs if desired.
With the right ingredients and technique, you can build a mint milkshake at home that would rival the best fast food versions! Adjust the quantities of each component until you find your ideal minty flavor. Then top it off with whipped cream for that iconic mint shake look.
Conclusion
Mint shakes provide a cool alternative to the traditional chocolate, vanilla and strawberry flavors at fast food restaurants. Major chains like Chick-fil-A, Dairy Queen and Baskin-Robbins lead the way in offering high quality mint milkshakes and Blizzards. The combination of mint, chocolate and Oreo cookies results in a delicious taste that many customers find refreshingly different from the norm. While availability fluctuates, mint shakes have become menu staples for their universal appeal. With the right recipe and ingredients, you can also craft restaurant-worthy mint shakes in your own kitchen for a sweet treat anytime. So next time you visit a fast food spot, consider trying their minty shake for a different spin on a classic drive-thru dessert.