Make your own thick blizzard treat at home with just ice cream, your favorite mix-in(s) and a few key steps!
Let’s take it back to my high school days when I was on the Dairy Queen blizzard-a-day diet. I was 16 and free to roam around town on my own, so where did I go?! Why the DQ, of course! Like every day.
I kid you not. I would drive through DQ nearly every day and get a blizzard. Sometimes, I even brought my own mix-ins (think homebaked cookies, brownies and even granola…say what?!). I’m pretty sure they shouldn’t have been letting me bring my own mix-ins or using the machines to mix them into my blizzard for that matter, but what happens in small town Oklahoma, happens in small town Oklahoma, y’all. Oh and they even let me come behind the counter and make my own blizzard every once in a while. Talk about a highlight of my life! 😉
With my daily blizzard diet for nearly two years, I think I kept our small town DQ in business. Seriously! You’ll never believe it, but a few months after I moved away to college, the Dairy Queen closed. Gasp!
So with no DQ back home and no DQ in my college town, I started making my own blizzards…
And they’re just as tasty, if not tastier. Thick and creamy and filled with whatever mix-in(s) your blizzard loving heart desires.
Here’s all you need:
- Your favorite ice cream…I usually use vanilla, but sometimes chocolate or strawberry depending on the blizzard flavor I’m creating. And sometimes I’ll use a healthier ice cream or frozen yogurt and it still turns out great!
- Whatever mix-in(s) you want. Oreos are my go-to with mini M&M’s a close second.
A few very important tips:
- Use an electric stand mixer with the paddle attachment or a handheld mixer. DO NOT use a blender. I repeat, do not use the blender!
- Do not add milk. We’re not making a milkshake here, my friends. We’re making a blizzard! And a blizzard should be thick. No need to thin it out with milk. Just let the ice cream do its thing.
- Place your mixing bowl in the freezer for at least 10 minutes beforehand. This will help keep the ice cream thick and frosty.
Okay, I think we’re all set. Don’t blink because you might miss the steps involved. It’s that quick and easy.
Scoop the frozen ice cream into the bowl of the stand mixer and beat on medium speed for about a minute until creamy, scraping down the sides of the bowl a few times with a spatula so all ice cream is incorporated…
Add whatever mix-in(s) you want and beat on low speed until mixed evenly throughout the ice cream…
Scoop into serving cups and dig in. You won’t believe how deliciously similar these homemade blizzards are to the DQ originals and the beauty is you can make them in the comfort of your own home, in a matter of minutes, for a lot cheaper than driving there to buy one.
Let the homemade blizzard making begin! 😉 Enjoy!
xoxo,
Maegan
- 6 scoops vanilla ice cream or frozen yogurt (or any ice cream flavor)
- ⅓ cup crushed mix-ins (Oreos, M&M's, Butterfinger, Snickers, Reese's Pieces, peanut butter cups, Nutter Butters, granola, homemade chocolate chip cookies, brownie, cake, cupcake, etc.)
- Place mixing bowl in the freezer for at least 10 minutes before using.
- Scoop ice cream into the bowl of an electric stand mixer with the paddle attachment. Beat on medium speed until ice cream is creamy, about a minute, scraping down the sides of the bowl with a spatula as needed.
- Add mix-ins and beat on low speed just a few times until mix-ins are mixed evenly throughout the ice cream.
- Scoop mixture into serving cups and dig in!
Recipe by Maegan Brown/Photography by Madison Mentesana
Izzy says
March 22, 2017 at 2:24 pmOh my goodness! This looks incredible – I can’t believe how easy and thick it looks!
Izzy | Pinch of delight
Melissa says
November 8, 2017 at 2:12 pmIs your spatula beater broken at the top corner, too? Mine lost a hunk fairly early on; I was disappointed given the cost! Glad to see that a broken spatula beater can still make a treat that I’m way too cheap to buy. I found a recipe a few years back for a peanut buster parfait clone but hadn’t searched for a blizzard until today. You’ve just made my cravings disappear! Thank you!
Maegan says
November 8, 2017 at 11:09 pmHi Melissa! Yes it is, so frusturating! This is actually my second one and the first did the same. I contacted KitchenAid with the first and they replaced it, but it’s just a process that I haven’t gotten around to with this paddle. I might just have to reach out to them tomorrow. 😉 I’m so glad you found my homemade blizzard recipe too. You’re sure to love it! Enjoy! 🙂
Jamie Harris says
January 23, 2018 at 12:38 pmAmazing and so easy! I was looking at immersion blenders and other things trying to figure out how to mix in the candy and not blend it in to oblivion. How simple is this? Butterfinger also now has baking pieces already broken up for you, so it’s even easier. Made my first one today and it is excellent! I’m so glad I found this article.
Maegan says
January 23, 2018 at 2:35 pmYay Jamie! These are one of our absolute favorite treats to easily make in the comfort of home. Love the Butterfinger bits idea! Enjoy!
Star says
April 8, 2018 at 4:42 pmThanks Megan! You don’t know how many recipes I clicked out of that said “pour milk” “add creamer” how silly… I’m about to whip up a blizzard now <3
Maegan says
April 9, 2018 at 2:17 pmYay Star! So happy you found my super easy recipe for a blizzard fix. 🙂
Amanda Meyer says
April 15, 2018 at 3:22 pmWould have never thought to use my KitchenAid! Turned out awesome!
Tammy Petschke says
January 19, 2019 at 1:58 pmI think we’re kindred spirits lol- I was on the “DQ diet” for years. I was obsessed with their chocolate soft serve with chocolate sprinkles. Every day I would stop and order my large cone for lunch. It got so bad I would see the employees out and about at stores and they’d say “hey! large chocolate cone!”. 😛 I have kicked my habit (and lost 5 lbs. lol) but my kids still crave their blizzards. Made my youngest the oreo and he loved it. My oldest loves cookie dough blizzards but I don’t know where to buy those hard little chunks of chocolate chip cookie dough..do you know of any?
Maegan says
January 24, 2019 at 6:21 pmHi Tammy! Haha! Love it! I miss being a DQ regular 😉 I’ve seen these cookie dough bites at the store. Here’s a link to them on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2UdgVj2 Continue to enjoy! 🙂
Jill says
April 10, 2019 at 7:58 pmDid your DQ use a stand mixer to make the blizzards back then? I thought I saw the local DQ using a Vitamix blender to make them.
Maegan says
April 13, 2019 at 8:04 amHi Jill! No, I’ve just seen those blizzard machines that they stick the cup up to.
Golly Charlotte says
June 5, 2019 at 6:56 pmCan I freeze blizzards after I make them ?
Maegan says
June 6, 2019 at 1:18 pmHi Golly! Yes, just freeze in a sealed, freezer-safe container to prevent freezer burn. Enjoy!