8 Malts and Milkshakes to Make This Summer

Is there any drink more iconic than the milkshake? It's hard to argue against it. Now that the soda fountains of the 20th century are roaring back into style, we can't get enough of a good milkshake or malt.

The first milkshake was reportedly made by a Walgreens employee, Ivar "Pop" Coulson. He updated the pharmacy's "chocolate malt beverage" by adding a scoop of ice cream, and the lives of ice cream lovers, sweet tooths, and soda fountains were forever changed. Heck, the blender was invented in 1922 by Stephen Poplawski just to mix up milkshakes - who knew?

Check out America's Best Milkshakes

Now, milkshakes are getting the culinary treatment just like your cocktails, lemonades, and juices. You'll never go wrong with a chocolate, vanilla, or strawberry milkshake from the soda fountain heyday, but now we're finding just as many imaginative flavors, like peanut butter and jelly, watermelon and lime, and salted caramel.

Leading the way? Autumn Martin at Seattle's Hot Cakes Molten Chocolate Cakery. Her newest book, Malts & Milkshakes, is the end all, be all guide to milkshakes - in it, she details what ingredients to use (the best, high-quality milks and ice creams you can find), the equipment you need, and tips to master the milkshake. Some of Martin's best advice? Don't overmix (you'll get a thick shake, and no one likes that), use soft ice cream for the best mixing, and don't add too much milk.

Peanut Butter and Jelly Shake
Oh yes, you can put your favorite sandwich into milkshake form. Click here for the recipe from Autumn Martin, owner of Seattle's Hot Cakes Molten Chocolate Cakery and author of Malts & Milkshakes.








Watermelon Lime Shake
Yes, watermelon and lime absolutely belong in your milkshake. Click here for the summer milkshake recipe from Martin.










Emerald Mint Shake
Want the Shamrock Shake year-round? Try an easy recipe for a minty milkshake that's good for the entire family.










Rice Krispies Square Milkshake
Your favorite childhood treat in one milkshake; click here for the recipe.











Simple Strawberry Milkshake
There's no easier way to make a strawberry milkshake. Click here for the recipe from Oatmeal with a Fork, from our Culinary Content Network.









The Crunch Cassidy Milkshake
Bourbon + pretzels + caramel ice cream = heaven. Click here for the recipe.











Avocado Coconut Milkshake
Want a healthy milkshake recipe? Use avocado instead of ice cream and you're set. Click here for the recipe.










Nutella Irish Cream Milkshake
Yeah, we need this immediately. Click here for the recipe from our Culinary Content Network blogger, Dinners, Dishes and Desserts.









Click here to see More Must-Make Milkshake Recipes

- Marcy Franklin, The Daily Meal