How to Make a Homemade Dairy Queen Blizzard

Co-authored by Hunter Rising

Last Updated: May 21, 2021 Tested

Blizzards from Dairy Queen are thick blended ice cream treats filled with your choice of mix-ins, such as cookies or candy. Luckily, you can make this cold treat in the comfort of your own home. Using either a blender or stand mixer, you’ll be able to make delicious homemade Blizzards on your own!

Ingredients

2-3 cups (288-432 g) of vanilla ice cream
⅓ cup (43 g) of your choice of mix-in
1 teaspoon (4.9 ml) of vanilla extract
¹⁄₃–¹⁄₂ cup (79–118 ml) of milk

Makes 1-2 servings

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Mixing a Blizzard in the Blender

1
Pulse the ice cream in your blender until it’s smooth. Scoop 2-3 cups (288-432 g) of vanilla ice cream into the blender. Use the pulse setting on your blender for a few seconds until the ice cream is smooth like soft-serve. Scrape any ice cream from the sides of the blender with a rubber spatula.^{[1]
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- You can use whatever flavor ice cream you want. For example, if you want to make a brownie Blizzard, use chocolate ice cream to give it a richer flavor.
- Don’t overblend the ice cream, or else it will have the consistency of a milkshake.
2
Add the mix-ins, milk, and vanilla extract to the ice cream. Pour in ⅓ cup (43 g) of mix-ins, 1 teaspoon (4.9 ml) of vanilla extract, and ¹⁄₃–¹⁄₂ cup (79–118 ml) of milk. If you’re using nuts or full-size cookies as your mix-in, chop them into smaller pieces with a chef’s knife first so they can blend evenly. Save up to 1 tablespoon (14 g) of mix-ins to use as a garnish at the end.^{[2]
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- You can put in more mix-ins if you want.
- Use 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of caramel or hot fudge to add extra richness to you Blizzard.
Mix-Ins to Try

If you like chocolate, consider using candy bars, Oreo cookies, or brownie bits.

For a sweet flavor, try adding strawberries, cheesecake, or cookie dough.

If you like a nutty flavor, use Reese's Cups, peanuts, or walnuts.

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3
Blend everything together on low until it’s thoroughly mixed. Use the lowest setting on your blender to combine the ingredients together. Make sure the ice cream stays thick or else your Blizzard will turn into a milkshake.^{[3]
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4
Pour your homemade Blizzard into serving cups and garnish the top. Fill a serving cup with your Blizzard by pouring it out or using a scoop. Use any extra mix-ins you have on top of the Blizzard as a garnish.^{[4]
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- Cover any leftovers and store them in the freezer for up to 3 days. When you want to eat your leftovers, pull it out of your freezer and let it soften for 15 minutes at room temperature.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Using a Stand Mixer

1
Chill the mixing bowl in your freezer for 10 minutes. Take the mixing bowl off of your stand mixer and place it in your freezer. Let it chill for at least 10 minutes so your ice cream doesn’t melt when you start mixing it. Take the mixing bowl out of the freezer and reattach it to your mixer.^{[5]
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2
Put the ice cream in the mixing bowl and beat it on medium speed with a stand mixer. Scoop 2-3 cups (288-432 g) of vanilla ice cream into the mixing bowl. Use the paddle attachment for your stand mixer. Keep the mixer on medium speed until the ice cream is smooth like soft serve. If you need to, scrape the ice cream off the sides of the mixing bowl with a rubber spatula.^{[6]
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- Change the ice cream flavor if you want a richer or sweeter Blizzard.
Tip: Use lactose-free or almond ice cream if you have trouble digesting dairy products.
3
Pour in the milk, mix-ins, and vanilla extract and combine them on low. Add ⅓ cup (43 g) of mix-ins, 1 teaspoon (4.9 ml) of vanilla extract, and ¹⁄₃–¹⁄₂ cup (79–118 ml) of whole milk. Break apart larger mix-ins, such as cookies or candy bars, with a chef’s knife so they blend evenly. Turn your mixer on the lowest speed until all of the ingredients combine thoroughly.^{[7]
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- Add more mix-ins if you want a thicker Blizzard.
- Try combining different mix-ins together. For example, put Oreo cookies with Reese’s Cups for a chocolate and peanut butter flavor.
- Save about 1 tablespoon (14 g) of your mix-ins to use as a garnish when the Blizzard is finished.
4
Scoop or pour the mixture into serving glasses and garnish the top with mix-ins. Use a scoop or spatula to transfer your Blizzard into serving cups. Use extra mix-ins on top as a garnish for added flavor.^{[8]
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- For example, if you made an Oreo Blizzard, put a full-size cookie on top as a garnish.
- Store any leftovers in the freezer for up to 3 days in an airtight container. When you want to have the Blizzard, let it soften at room temperature for 10-15 minutes.

References

Community Q&A

Question

If I use candy chunks, do I still cut them?

Community Answer

It depends on how small the chunks are, but it would probably be best to cut them so that they blend more easily.
Question

Where can I get these items?

Community Answer

Go to your local grocery store.
Question

It turned into a milkshake. I used 3 scoops of ice cream and 1/2 cup of milk. Are those proportions wrong, or is this a case of over-blending?

AnonymousSuperWriter

Community Answer

It can be either one of these problems. Try just using 1/3 cup of milk or blend for a shorter amount of time. If using less milk is not helpful, it is a case of over-blending.