Wendy’s Frosty Recipe Copycat

As a kid, the ultimate afternoon treat was a smooth, chocolatey Wendy’s Frosty. Now you can recreate those memories with your own homemade version!

The unique dense texture of this dessert puts it somewhere between a milkshake and ice cream. Since it’s too thick to drink, you have to enjoy this creamy treat with a spoon.

This simple copycat recipe uses only a few ingredients to achieve the classic Wendy’s Frosty texture. As a bonus, this recipe doesn’t even require you to use an ice cream maker.

This delicious cold treat is the perfect afternoon pick-me-up during the dog days of summer. I may even like this version better than the original.

All About The Wendy’s Frosty Ingredients

Vanilla Extract

It’s no surprise that vanilla ice cream is the most popular ice cream in the world. It has the perfect balance of sweetness that pairs with most other desserts.

This copycat Wendy’s Frosty recipe uses vanilla extract to help balance the chocolate flavor. It also adds a slightly malty flavor that gives this dessert its old-fashioned taste.

Vanilla extract is made by soaking vanilla beans in alcohol to help release the flavor. I find artificial extract doesn’t have the same depth of flavor, so use real extract if you can!

Chocolate Milk

Were you ever told as a kid that chocolate milk comes from brown cows? If only that were true.

Chocolate milk is made by mixing cow milk with sugar and cocoa. Some brands use high-fructose corn syrup as a sweetener instead of sugar.

For this recipe, you can buy chocolate milk from the store, or make your own. All you need to do is mix regular milk with chocolate syrup and stir.

You can also buy pre-made chocolate milk powder to stir into your milk. Whatever you do, don’t try using pure cocoa powder, as it won’t dissolve.

Low fat chocolate milk is also available if you want to cut back on the calories in this treat.

Sweetened Condensed Milk

Sweetened condensed milk is a common ingredient in desserts like blondies, fudge, and homemade ice cream. It’s made from concentrated milk with sugar added to it.

The sugar helps preserve the milk and makes this product shelf-stable. That means it doesn’t have to be refrigerated.

In fact, a can of sweetened condensed milk will last for years if unopened! It’s a great staple to have on hand for all kinds of sweet recipes.

Cool Whip

Cool Whip is a whipped cream alternative that you can buy ready to serve. This fluffy product makes a delicious whipped topping for pies, cakes, and layered desserts.

Cool Whip is generally firmer than typical whipped cream. It helps stabilize the Frosty and prevents it from becoming a melty mess.

If you want, you can whip your own cream instead. Chill your mixing bowl ahead of time to help the cream whip up faster.

Method

1. Blend Cool Whip and Condensed Milk
   

   Pour the can of sweetened condensed milk and 1 cup of Cool Whip into a blender. Blend until the mixture is smooth.
   

2. Add Vanilla and Chocolate Milk
   

   Add the vanilla extract and 8 cups of chocolate milk. Continue blending until all the ingredients are combined.
   

3. Freeze
   

   Pour the Frosty mixture into an airtight freezer container. Cover with plastic wrap or a lid.

   Freeze the mixture for 2-3 hours. Stir the mixture every 20 minutes to prevent it from freezing solid.

   Optional

   Instead of using the freezer, you can chill your Frosty mix in a prepared ice cream maker. In about 20-30 minutes your Frosty should reach the perfect smooth consistency.

   
   
4. Scoop and Serve!
   

   Scoop your Frosty into a chilled glass. Add a straw and spoon, then serve!
   

Swaps and Substitutions

• I use chocolate milk in this recipe to get that classic chocolate Frosty flavor. But if you’re not a chocolate fan, you can use regular milk to create a vanilla Frosty.


• If you’re like me and love your desserts super chocolatey, try this recipe with cocoa powder. Just add 1-2 tablespoons to the Frosty mix while it’s blending.


• The flavor variations don’t end there! You can give your Frosty treat a nutty flavor by adding a tablespoon of Nutella spread.


• And if you don’t like cow’s milk, you can use any dairy-free milk you like. You can purchase chocolate almond milk at most grocery stores. Just keep in mind that dairy-free milk will affect the flavor and texture. So your creation may not taste exactly like the classic Wendy’s chocolate Frosty.

Ways to Enjoy Wendy’s Frosty

It’s tradition to enjoy a cold Frosty on a summer day! It makes a great afternoon snack or a cool treat at a backyard barbecue.

In my opinion, the best way to eat this Frosty is Wendy’s style with a hamburger and french fries. If you’ve never dipped fries in your Frosty, you have to try it!

If you want to go all-out, you can turn this Frosty into a sundae. Just add toppings like hot fudge, sprinkles, and crushed peanuts.

Storage Instructions

To keep your Frosty from becoming soup, you should always store it in the freezer until serving.

If you keep it in the fridge it will become runny. This should only be done if you plan to serve your Frosty as a chocolate milkshake.

When you remove your Frosty from the freezer, let it sit at room temperature for a few minutes. This will allow the mixture to soften up so you get that smooth consistency!

All in all, this homemade Wendy’s Frosty will keep in the freezer for approximately 2-3 weeks. Make sure you use an airtight freezer safe container so it doesn’t absorb any other food smells or flavors!