National Chocolate Milkshake Day on September 12 is without a doubt a treat day. Simple, sweet, and delectable, chocolate milkshakes aren’t just one of the best treats of all time, they’re also a reminder of our innocence and a symbol of America’s past-time. A time when getting a milkshake and fries was the perfect date and drive-in movies were all the rage. So put a quarter in the jukebox, join us and say cheers to the best fusion since peanut butter and jelly (which was invented in 1901).
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."
National Chocolate Milkshake Day FAQs
Do milkshakes need to have milk?
Not necessarily! Many people use almond milk or milk alternatives to create virtually the same product.
Do restaurants have discounts on National Chocolate Milkshake Day?
Yes! Many restaurants and fast food places serve discounted chocolate milkshakes for National Chocolate Milkshake Day.
Is today National Milkshake Day?
National Milkshake Day is held on June 20, National Chocolate Milkshake Day is held on September 12.
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 |
---|---|---|
2025 | September 12 | Friday |
2026 | September 12 | Saturday |
2027 | September 12 | Sunday |
2028 | September 12 | Tuesday |
2029 | September 12 | Wednesday |