I’m a mindful eater. That doesn’t always mean I eat all my vegetables or that I don’t ever eat dessert. I generally stay away from soda however I became smitten on a road trip through West Texas with Cherry Coke and have never looked back.
I live in the land of reusable personal water bottles. We all have a complete wardrobe of Camelbak’s, BPA-free plastic bottles with flip up spouts, zippy looking Sigg metal bottles with sport lids and more. Everyone I know packs water everywhere they go and if not they buy bottles of water; so it never occurred to me there are places where bottled water would not be sold as a norm.
On this particular road trip we spent a few days in Lubbock Texas tracking all the best BBQ joints as recommended by locals. One place, which proved to be the crowned jewel of local BBQ, opened in the morning and stayed open until they sold out, which was early. After one try around 3 p.m. meeting closed doors, we arrived for the second shot exactly when they opened and it was there, sitting on the few benches lining each short wall of the one room eatery that we were confronted with ‘no water available’ and opted for Cherry Coke. What I thought was a one off choice has turned into a secret passion for me. I don’t drink it much or often, (and admittedly always drink it on road trips), but it is a favorite flavor to me.
When I was invited to take part in Milkshake Week, hosted by esteemed blogging colleagues Lindsay of Love and Olive Oil, and Julie of The Little Kitchen, I pounced on the chance full of more milkshake ideas than I should ever drink! The first idea that came to mind was a Cherry Cola Milkshake, created from a merge of flavors culminating in a Cherry Coke flavor redo in a different form.
I immediately felt guilty and thought I should make something else. Maybe with peaches or other seasonal fruit. But I could not shake the Cherry Cola idea. Maybe I should make something exotic like Gluten-Free Birthday Cake Milkshake. But that seemed to offer the potential to be a straw-clogging soggy cake mess. And I REALLY wanted to make the Cherry Cola idea. So rather than fighting it, I made it. In all its glory. The best middle ground between a shake and float; creamy vanilla ice cream flavored with homemade Fresh Cherry Lime Sauce with a Cola float on top that can be left to slowly sink into the shake or stirred in. It does not disappoint!
Cherry-Cola Milkshake
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
- 2 + 1 tablespoons Fresh Cherry Lime Sauce
- ¼ cup Milk
- Cola to fill (my preference is Mexican Coke*)
Instructions
- In a blender combine the ice cream,2 tablespoons of Fresh Cherry Lime Sauce and milk. Blend until smooth.
- Add 1 tablespoon of Fresh Cherry Lime Sauce to the serving glass. Pour the milkshake into the glass. Slowly pour cola on top of the milkshake to float. NOTE: the cola may get frothy when contacting the ice cream as with a float; it can be stirred down and more cola added.
Recipe Notes
*Mexican Coke is a version of Coca Cola produced in Mexico and made with cane sugar (versus the regular high fructose syrup) creating a more natural flavor. Mexican Coke is widely popular (even available at Home Depot I've been told), is sold in glass vintage-looking bottles and can be identified by 'Hecho en Mexico' running along the side of the label on the bottle.
Total Time includes making a batch of Fresh Cherry Lime Sauce. Milkshake takes the time of blending.
You’ll want to visit the other talented bloggers who posted mouthwatering Milkshakes today via the links below:
- Peanut Butter and Brownie Milkshakes from The Little Kitchen
- Bourbon Salted Caramel Milkshakes from Love & Olive Oil
- Milkshakes of Desperation from Bake at 350
- Roasted Pineapple Coconut Vegan Milkshake from Cafe Johnsonia
- Pudding Pop Milkshake from Confessions of a Cookbook Queen
- Lemon Pie Milkshake from Crazy for Crust
- Peanut Butter Pretzel Milkshake from Cookies and Cups
- Vanilla Chai Milkshake from Kitchen Treaty
- Cheesecake Milkshake from Cook the Story
- Cherry-Cola Milkshake from Boulder Locavore
- Peanut Butter-Caramel Milkshake from Miss in the Kitchen
- {2 Ingredient} Coffee Milkshake from Barefeet In The Kitchen
- Biscoff Cookie Milkshake from Katie’s Cucina
- Turtle Pecan Milkshake from Dairy Good Life
That’s not all! You can enter the Milkshake Week Giveaway to win a KitchenAid Diamond Blender and Florida Dairy Farmers Gift Set. More details and to enter here or here.
Jocelyn@Brucrew says
Oh boy, does this ever look good!! I could go for one these on this hot muggy day I’m having. Pinned!
JulieD says
Seriously, I love this! This reminds me of a coke float but better!!
Sadie | Dairy Good Life says
I love the float-meets-shake idea! And I’m betting my hubby will, too. Way to go, following your heart on this idea.
Laura Dembowski says
Well if this isn’t summer in a glass, I don’t know what is!
dina says
this sounds so yummy!
Rachel Cooks says
I would never have thought of adding coke to a milkshake — so genius!
katie says
Oh I love the idea of a cherry cola milkshake. I love cherry coke!
Mary says
oh. my. gosh. I want this NOW and I’m not even a soda drinker!!
bridget {bake at 350} says
I could totally go for one of those right now! And Mexican Coke is THE BEST.
Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust says
I love cherry coke! It’s an indulgence for me too, like vanilla coke. I don’t drink it often, but I love to have it for special occasions. Road trips count! 🙂 Love this milkshake!
Kare @ Kitchen Treaty says
I’m not a pop drinker but if I go there, cherry Coke is what I want! So I am all over this milkshake. Love the sauce at the bottom.
Christie - Food Done Light says
I want this milkshake. I love the cherry cola flavor.
Miss @ Miss in the Kitchen says
This looks so amazing! I know my kids are going to go crazy for them!
Christine at Cook the Story says
This sounds like the perfect summer treat
Lindsey | Cafe Johnsonia says
This is such a fun milkshake! Totally reminds me of old fashioned soda counters at the drugstore. It looks fantastic!
Toni Dash says
I totally agree Lindsey! There is actually a little town north of us that is really charming and has an old fashioned soda fountain, right down to the 1920’s counter. Your comment is reminding me we need to take a summer excursion to visit them!
Melanie @ Carmel Moments says
I’m a sucker for cherry Coke. This looks amazing!
Love milkshake week. I totally need to get on the band wagon here.
Pinning.
Have a marvelous Monday!
shelly (cookies and cups) says
What a totally fun idea!!
Cookbook Queen says
Oh my gosh, I love cherry coke SO MUCH. You can get it here in Arkansas at Sonic with lots of crushed ice and some vanilla…doesn’t get much better. This shake is perfection.
Toni Dash says
Glad to know I’m not the only one who loves it! By your detailed description I can tell we are in the same club!
DessertForTwo says
These sound so tempting! I don’t drink soda often, but I might make an exception for this! 🙂
Taylor @ Food Faith Fitness says
I am loving this milkshake week thang! All the recipes have been blowing my taste buds…and this one is just the same! Pinned!
TidyMom says
I think my husband would love me forever if I made him this!!! looks fabulous
Serene @ House of Yumm says
So fun!! Oh goodness, I am addicted to my Mexican Cokes. And that Cherry Lime sauce?! Sounds amazing. I can’t wait to give this one a try!