The ultimate copycat Wendys frosty, made with just 3 simple ingredients! You can make it in minutes, and it tastes just like the real thing!
Wendys frosty fans unite… I’ve come up with the most perfect copycat EVER! It tastes just like the real deal, and is so simple to make… I bet you can’t guess the secret ingredient!
Growing up, I was a HUGE Wendys frosty fan. Okay, who am I kidding… I still am! Now they have the vanilla flavor, but my heart still belongs to the original chocolate flavor.
I’ve been trying for a long time to recreate that classic frosty flavor… to no avail. Don’t get me wrong, I made some pretty delicious chocolate shakes, including this boozy one, but none that were just right.
So what gives Wendys frosty that classic “frosty” flavor? Read on to find out!
HOW TO MAKE A WENDYS FROSTY AT HOME
There seems to be two schools of thought on this one. One version involves chocolate milk, sweetened condensed milk and cool whip, which you mix then put into an ice cream maker. I’ve honestly never tried that version, mainly because I didn’t want to lug out my ice cream maker lol. Plus, most people probably don’t own one! My version is based very similarly on Todd Wilbur’s version from one of his Top Secret Recipes books. It’s 3 easy ingredients:
- vanilla ice cream
- nesquick powder
- milk
Does it seem weird to you that it doesn’t use chocolate ice cream? That stumped me too… so I made two versions, one with chocolate and one with vanilla. The vanilla one totally came out on top!!
IS WENDYS FROSTY A MILKSHAKE
It’s weird… because they never call it that on their menu. But the ingredients of ice cream and milk certainly scream milkshake to me. So in my mind, it’s totally a milkshake!
Now I have to ask… and don’t think I’m TOO weird here… but are you a frosty/fry dipper? I always dip my fries in my frosty. That sweet and salty combo is just perfect, and there’s something fantastic about a perfectly crispy, salty fry scooping up some thick chocolate frosty.
Currently, I don’t have any French fries here on the blog, but it’s absolutely something I have planned this year. Plus, I’m working on a great copycat Wendys chili for the Fall!
HELPFUL TIPS TO MAKE THIS COPYCAT WENDYS FROSTY
- Make sure you soften the vanilla ice cream. Just leaving it out on the counter for 5-10 minutes should do the trick.
- If you don’t have nesquik powder, another chocolate milk powder (like Ovaltine) works well too.
- The recipe makes a frosty with a classically semi-melted consistency. If you prefer a “harder” or thicker frosty, use slightly less milk.
WHAT YOU WILL NEED TO MAKE THIS COPYCAT FROSTY
- Blender – I’ve been using this blender for years and I love that it still works amazingly well!
- Nesquik – This is what you’ll want to look for.
BE SURE TO SCROLL DOWN TO CHECK OUT OTHER READERS’ COMMENTS FOR TIPS AND REVIEWS.
AND DON’T FORGET, IF YOU’VE MADE THIS RECIPE, LEAVE A COMMENT AND PLEASE GIVE IT A STAR RATING LETTING ME KNOW HOW YOU ENJOYED IT!
Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @the_chunky_chef on Facebook and Instagram!
Ingredients
- 4 cups vanilla ice cream (softened slightly)
- 1 cup milk (I usually use whole)
- 8-9 tsp Nesquik powder
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to blender, cover, and blend until smooth and creamy (you may have to scrape the sides of the blender once, then blend again).
- Pour into serving glasses and serve with a straw or spoon.
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Chef Tips
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Nutrition Disclaimer
The Chunky Chef is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
Edith Shaw says
I read on Wendy’s website that Frostys were made with low fat milk
I could eat them but not a traditional icecream for years after a I had acute pancreatitis due to gall stones blocking bile duct. These were surgically removed along with my gall bladder. For several years afterwards I needed to eat a very low fat diet or deal with a bad stomach ache when foods didn’t digest properly. I get discouraged when I go to their store and get a Frosty that is 1/2 melted. They need to run the chiller more often to keep the frostys thick and cold. I would enjoy making my own but they need to big thick and cold.v
Christina t says
Half & half
The Chunky Chef says
I’m not sure what you’re referring to?
Pamela says
If you have a problem with the recipe and you don’t understand just ask a question without criticizing.
People are so hung up on words. If you are a cook then you should be able to read between the lines and keep it moving.
Prepare it to your taste, because the author of the recipe is giving you the fundamentals. ❤️ recipe!
Dolores says
can you use instant pudding instead nesquick.
The Chunky Chef says
I’ve only tested this recipe as written, so I can’t say how well using instant pudding would work. I feel like the texture would be changed though.
Maureen says
This is delicious! It’s all I want to “eat” since i had radiation to my throat this past summer. Plus, simple ingredients! I love it! Thank you!
Julie says
I love this recipe. I use sweetened vanilla almond milk and freeze my Frostys. It’s a dangerous treat!
Jeane Godwin says
Perfect Frosty! Didn’t change a thing. GREAT with the fries!!!
Bonnie Maricle says
I have a car show coming up. Do you think that there is a way I can make them
Tala says
I am looking for the vanilla version. The taste brings happy memories of a double cone on the Mister Softee truck.
Robyn says
It was delicious! Thank you so much for posting this recipe! My boys loved it! 🙂
Judy says
I was glad to find this recipe that uses NesQuick. It sounds delicious and it’s definitely time to get my blender out for several new recipes I have found on Pinterest. ** Your doing great and I want to thank you for sharing. BTW, I agree with Kate, Ol’ Pete and Todd need to get a hobby. Recipes vary and these guys feel free to avoid Pinterest. ** I will make this and call it French Chocolate Soup a la Carte. ** LOL. **
Pete says
A Wendy’s frosty is not a milkshake. It’s a frozen dessert that you eat with a spoon. Just because it’s served in a cup does not make it a milkshake.
The Chunky Chef says
Well I’m so glad you can clear up that for everyone. But honestly, people (including me), are free to call it whatever they’d like 🙂
Kate says
I bet you’re real fun at parties 😂
JOSHUA WILKEY says
I made this and all it tasted like a watered down chocolate milkshake so instead of doing 7-8 tsp. I did 7 TBSP and it turned out much better… Not sure if this was a typo and she meant to do tablespoons instead of tsp.
JOSHUA WILKEY says
*was a watered down milkshake
Hannah Weber says
100% agree :/
Emma Cabezas says
I didnt have any nesquik, but I did have cocoa powder and it worked just as good. Tasted exactly like the Wendy’s frosty.
Jennifer mccrary says
Adjusted milk and Nesyles down a little.
CC says
I’m high school we used vanilla core cream and Hershey’s chocolate syrup. =) I didn’t know they still sold the powder..
Susan McC says
This was fantastic! I live in Germany and there is no Cool Whip over here, so those Frosty recipes aren’t possible. This tasted close enough to a Frosty to make me happy. The difference was I used Ovaltine because I don’t like the German chocolate milk powders. They taste weird to me, which is odd for a country that has such wonderful chocolate.
Even if there was Cool Whip, I’d rather have this.
Melanie says
Wendy’s Frosty don’t use ice cream. This don’t taste like a Frosty, so I used choc milk, cool whip and sweetened condensed milk. Now THATS the perfect Frosty!
Todd says
The word you are looking for is doesn’t. A combination of does not.
Don’t is a combination of do not.
Katie says
Omg I can’t stop laughing right now, couldn’t have said that better
Kate says
Lol Todd gold
Jessica Fikes says
I think a grammar class should be part of getting your license! It’s baffling to me how many people do not know simple contractions!
Teresa Sears says
looks good.. and I find it so rude to correct others gramUUUUR.
People can be so mean. Thanks for the recipe..
Tammy says
This is the second time I made these and they’re delicious! Thank You So Much for sharing!
Karis says
Perfect is all I can say!! Thank you
Rhonda says
Can you store in freezer or fridge?
Amanda says
I wouldn’t store it in the refrigerator, otherwise you’d have a pretty melted frosty/milkshake, but it could be frozen.
Kate says
Amanda – is Joshua right? Was the measurement for nesquik a typo?
The Chunky Chef says
No, it’s correct. However, everyone is free to adapt this recipe to their tastes.