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- Every September 12
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National Chocolate Milkshake Day swirls into action every September 12, inviting everyone to enjoy this classic, creamy beverage. Dive into the rich history of this beloved treat, explore its many delicious variations, and find the perfect spot to indulge. Grab a straw, share your favorite shake, and celebrate this delectable day!
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Expected National Chocolate Milkshake Day Deals
While we await official 2027 promotions to drop, history shows that National Chocolate Milkshake Day often brings sweet deals from major fast-food chains and ice cream parlors. Look for special offers from places like McDonald’s, known for its classic shakes, Dairy Queen, which might offer discounts on its Blizzards or traditional milkshakes, and Sonic Drive-In, famous for its extensive drink menu. Upscale burger joints like Shake Shack and Five Guys could also feature limited-time chocolate shake creations. Even coffee shops like Starbucks or Dunkin’ might roll out chocolate-themed blended beverages. Don’t forget local diners and independent ice cream shops, which often have unique promotions. We will update this page with confirmed live deals as September 12 approaches.
Platform Guide for National Chocolate Milkshake Day
TikTok
Tag @www.nationaltoday.com and use #ChocolateMilkshakeDay. Film a ‘making-of’ video for your ultimate chocolate milkshake creation or a taste test of different brands.
Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #ChocolateMilkshakeDay. Share visually stunning photos of your chocolate milkshake, or create a reel showcasing the best local spots to get one.
Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #ChocolateMilkshakeDay. Ask your community to share their favorite chocolate milkshake memories or recipes.
National Chocolate Milkshake Day Hero
Stephen Poplawski
History of National Chocolate Milkshake Day
The history of milkshakes can be accredited to the development of two key concepts, the electric blender, and malted milk drinks. So to understand the origin of milkshakes, you actually have to look further back to medieval Britain when eggnog came about. Back then it was a hot, milky ale-like drink and milk and eggs were foods of the wealthy so it was often consumed in indulgent celebration. It wasn’t until 1885 that somebody had the idea of mixing whiskey, milk, and eggs as an “eggnog type” drink, that milkshakes appeared in history. It originally was a term used for “wholesome drinks” containing chocolate, strawberry, or vanilla syrups.
In 1910, Hamilton Beach introduced the Cyclone Drink Mixer, an electric blender that became a prevalent machine used at public businesses. With the invention of the blender, milkshakes began to take their modern, whipped, aerated, and frothy form. And finally in Chicago in 1922, Walgreens employee Ivar “Pop” Coulson made a milkshake by adding two scoops of vanilla ice cream to Walgreens’ standard malted milk drink recipe. Termed “Horlick’s Malted Milk”, this item was featured by the Walgreen drugstore chain as part of a chocolate milkshake, which became known as a “malted” or “malt” and swiftly rose to one of the most popular soda-fountain drinks of its time.
National Chocolate Milkshake Day timeline
Inventor Earl Prince uses the basic concept behind the freon-cooled automated ice cream machine to develop the Multimixer, a "five-spindled mixer that could produce five milkshakes at once, all automatically, and dispense them at the pull of a lever into awaiting paper cups."
Vincent Vega buys Mia Wallace the famous $5 milkshake in Quintin Tarantino’s iconic film “Pulp Fiction.”
The famous line “I drink your milkshake” makes its debut in Paul Thomas Anderson’s Academy Award-winning film “There Will Be Blood.”
“Milkshaking,” an act of protest popular in the U.K., causes the police to request Edinburgh McDonald’s to refrain from selling milkshakes only to have Burger King tweet “We're selling milkshake."
How Businesses Can Celebrate National Chocolate Milkshake Day
Local businesses can sweeten National Chocolate Milkshake Day by offering special promotions and creative concoctions. Restaurants and diners could feature a limited-time ‘Ultimate Chocolate Milkshake’ with unique toppings or offer a ‘buy one, get one’ deal. Ice cream shops might host a ‘Shake-Off’ competition, inviting customers to vote for their favorite chocolate milkshake flavor. Even non-food businesses can participate by partnering with a local eatery to provide chocolate milkshakes to customers or employees, creating a fun and memorable experience for everyone.
National Chocolate Milkshake Day FAQs
When is National Chocolate Milkshake Day?
National Chocolate Milkshake Day 2026 falls on Saturday, September 12. It’s the perfect weekend opportunity to enjoy this classic American treat with friends and family.
How many milkshakes are consumed annually?
While exact figures for chocolate milkshakes alone are hard to pinpoint, the broader milkshake market is substantial. Americans consume billions of milkshakes annually, with chocolate consistently ranking among the top flavors.
What are the most popular milkshake flavors?
Chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry consistently rank as the top three most popular milkshake flavors across the United States. Many establishments also offer seasonal or specialty flavors, but the classics hold strong.
What is the difference between a milkshake and a malt?
A milkshake is typically made with milk, ice cream, and flavorings, blended until smooth and creamy. A malt, or malted milkshake, includes all these ingredients but also adds malted milk powder, which gives it a distinct, slightly nutty, and savory flavor profile.
National Chocolate Milkshake Day Activities
Buy a chocolate milkshake
Plenty of restaurants around the globe are celebrating this holiday with discounts and buy one get ones. Bring someone you like and enjoy a glass together like a couple of hip youngsters.
Make a chocolate milkshake
All you need is ice cream, milk, and chocolate sauce! You can make it extra special with tons of awesome recipes online.
Experiment with your shake
Open up your world to a new kind of milkshake, try a malted version! You can find a plethora of creative and enticing milkshake recipes online to give you inspiration for your tasty dairy treat.
5 FUN FACTS ABOUT MILKSHAKES
The big gulp
In 2000 Ira Freehof, made the world’s largest chocolate milkshake, at 6,000 gallons it was the equivalent of 50,000 normal-sized shakes.
A frappe is a milkshake
Bostonians call milkshakes “frappes,” but this can also simply mean a glass of milk with syrup.
Hang-over savior
They’re a surefire cure for hangovers, a banana milkshake sweetened with honey will help soothe your stomach, plus it builds up depleted blood sugar levels and electrolytes such as magnesium and potassium.
Planet of the shakes
Chocolate milkshakes were popular with the extras dressed in ape costumes during the filming of the original “Planet of the Apes” movie. Their masks didn’t allow them to eat a regular meal.
Thick shakes
In the United Kingdom, milkshakes are called “thick shakes.”
WHY WE LOVE CHOCOLATE MILKSHAKE DAY
It reminds us of a simpler time
Representing a part of history, chocolate milkshakes bring us back to a world of poodle skirts and jukeboxes with a certain whimsical appeal we just love.
It reminds us of our childhood
Few things make a child happier than a milkshake, and who could put a price on a child’s smile?
They’re delicious!
Need we say more?
National Chocolate Milkshake Day dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | September 12 | Saturday |
| 2027 | September 12 | Sunday |
| 2028 | September 12 | Tuesday |
| 2029 | September 12 | Wednesday |
| 2030 | September 12 | Thursday |
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