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Shake Shack Just Released 3 Holiday Milkshakes—and I, a Food Editor, Ranked Them All

Spoiler: They’re all tasty

shake shack holiday milkshakes review: three shake shack holiday milkshakes, side by side
Taryn Pire

I’m no stranger to Shake Shack’s fare. I tasted the fast-casual chain’s crinkle-cut spuds and herby chicken handheld for my super scientific (and admittedly, subjective) taste tests of fast food fries and chicken sandwiches. But I’d never tried the resto’s custard before, so when I heard about the launch of three new holiday milkshakes, I figured it was time. With high hopes (“shake” is in the name, after all), I hit the 3200 Chestnut Street location in Philadelphia, PA, to rank and review each variety. Read on for my honest takes.

(BTW, Shake Shack also just released a festive merch collection, including four holiday ornaments, a holiday sweater and a black truffle salt and oil duo, in case you’re a superfan.)

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3. Chocolate Yule Log Shake

  • What’s In It: chocolate frozen custard, chocolate cake, whipped cream, cake crumbles and sprinkles
  • Price: $6.49

This was the thickest milkshake of the three, likely due to the blended cake pieces in the mix. They get soggy quickly, which made for a less-than-ideal texture IMO. However, I did love the slight coffee-like bitterness of the chocolate; this kept the drink’s sweetness in check. As someone who’s admittedly not a big chocolate ice cream fan, this one drove the message home without being excessively fudgy or nauseatingly decadent.

2. Apple Cider Donut Shake

  • What’s In It: apple cider donut frozen custard, whipped cream and cinnamon donut crunch
  • Price: $6.49

OK, this really tasted like an apple cider doughnut?! I adored the crunchy doughnut bits, which somehow managed to stay crisp for an astounding amount of time. That said, the cinnamon-spice notes were pretty tame. I would’ve loved for it to have some kind of apple compote or pie filling (either on the inside and bottom of the cup or in the custard) for a touch of brightness or Granny Smith-like tartness. But all in all, I wasn’t mad at this fall sipper.

  • What’s In It: sugar cookie frozen custard, whipped cream, crumbled shortbread and sprinkles
  • Price: $6.49

This one had absolutely no flaws. Sure, it was sweet—but then again, it’s a milkshake. It didn’t knock me over the head with artificial cookie flavoring. It was more like a souped-up vanilla shake with malty, salty notes that conjured memories of nibbling bits of buttery sugar cookie dough in the kitchen every holiday as a kid (or as a grown-up…). The festive sprinkles merely gilded the lily.



taryn pire

Food Editor

  • Contributes to PureWow's food vertical
  • Spearheads PureWow's recipe vertical and newsletter
  • Studied English and writing at Ithaca College