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It’s not quite a fast-food milkshake or soft serve, but a Frosty is the perfect partner for fast food fries. You can make a Wendy’s Frosty recipe at home—and I’m happy to report it’s a spot-on copycat!
Is a Wendy’s Frosty a Milkshake or Ice Cream?
It’s neither. The Frosty is a totally unique frozen dessert. This tasty chocolate treat, which has been on the Wendy’s menu since the fast-food restaurant first opened in 1969, has stood the test of time.
How does Wendy’s make its Frostys? The secret is in the Frosty machine, which is a cross between a shake machine and a soft-serve ice cream machine. A proprietary Frosty mix including cocoa, milk and cream is poured into the machine, which blends and dispenses it at the Frosty consistency we all know and love.
Copycat Wendy’s Frosty Recipe
Susan Bronson for Taste of Home
This recipe makes 8 servings.
Ingredients
- 1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk
- 2 quarts chocolate milk
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 carton (8 ounces) Cool Whip, thawed
Directions
Step 1: Whisk the milks
In a large bowl, whisk together the sweetened condensed milk and chocolate milk. Sift in the cocoa powder and stir to combine. Then, stir in the vanilla extract.
Step 2: Fold in the Cool Whip
Use a rubber spatula to fold in the Cool Whip. Stir to thoroughly combine the ingredients.
Psst: This is how to fold in ingredients.
Step 3: Freeze the mixture
Pour the mixture into your ice cream maker and follow the manufacturer’s instructions to freeze into ice cream. (Depending on your ice cream maker, it should take about 15 to 20 minutes to reach the right consistency.)
How to make a Frosty without an ice cream machine: Pour the mixture into a freezer-safe container (either a large bowl or individual containers) and freeze for up to two hours, stirring every 30 minutes, or until it reaches your desired consistency.
Editor’s Tip: Depending on the size of your ice cream maker, you may need to do this step in several batches. If you’d prefer to make one batch at a time, the leftover Frosty mixture can be refrigerated for up to one week before freezing in the ice cream maker.
Susan Bronson for Taste of Home
Step 4: Serve
Once it’s frozen, spoon the Frosty into a glass and serve immediately with a spoon, straw or both. Next, we’re tempted to recreate the discontinued Coffee Toffee Frosty and grill up some square burgers, too!
Tips for Making a Copycat Wendy’s Frosty
Making a Wendy’s Frosty at home is pretty simple, so long as you have the patience to wait for it to freeze. However, to help you along the way, here are answers to common questions about making a Frosty from scratch.
How do I achieve the perfect Frosty consistency?
A Frosty is like an ultra-thick milkshake. Depending on your ice cream maker, you may want to transfer the mixture from the ice cream maker to the freezer for a few minutes to let it set a little bit more. If you have frozen the mixture in the freezer, let it sit out on the counter for a few minutes to let it soften slightly before serving.
How can I make a healthy Frosty?
To make a healthier Frosty, simply substitute in no- or low-fat versions of the ingredients. You can even use dairy alternatives, although the flavor might not be exactly the same as the original version.
Can I make a Frosty with ice cream?
If you’re going for authentic Frosty flavor, the simple answer is no. Adding ice cream will result in a more standard milkshake flavor, and you will lose the true essence of a Frosty.
How do I make a strawberry Frosty?
Strawberry Frostys are one of the best new fast-food items right now. To make a strawberry Frosty at home, skip the cocoa powder and replace the chocolate milk with strawberry milk.
Our Best Wendy's Copycat Recipes
Burger AmericanaGo on a burger road trip in your own backyard. Grill the patties and load them sky-high with your favorite toppings. For instance, peanut butter and bacon make them southern style; coleslaw and tomatoes,
a northern version. —Susan Mahaney, New Hartford, New York
Inspired By: Crispy Chicken NuggetsMy 3-year-old went through a chicken-nuggets-and-french-fries-only stage, so I made these golden nuggets for him. Even the grown-ups like them! —Amanda Livesay, Mobile, Alabama
Caught up in a time crunch? Here's how you can
bake chicken nuggets in under 30 minutes!
Slow-Cooker ChiliThis hearty slow-cooker chili can cook for up to 10 hours on low in the slow cooker. It's so good to come home to its wonderful aroma after a long day away. —Sue Call, Beech Grove, Indiana
Ground Beef Taco SaladIn spring we look for something light and refreshing on the menu after the heavier comfort food of winter; this salad is a great solution. —Muriel Bertrand, Shoreview, Minnesota
Do you know which Wendy's salads are the healthiest? Here they are, ranked.
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Cheesy Chili FriesMy family is all about chili fries, but restaurant versions pile on the calories. For a healthier approach, bake the fries and serve them with green onions and avocado. —Beverly Nowling, Bristol, Florida. If you like this, you must try the copycat version of
Wendy's chili recipe.
Chicken Quinoa SaladWe pile our favorite gyro fixin’s into nutritious quinoa bowls. Our local gyro guy has a cool but spicy sauce that transforms his sandwiches. It’s a must here, too. —Leah Lyon, Ada, Oklahoma
Cheesy Stuffed Baked PotatoesThese special stuffed baked potatoes are a hit with my whole family, from the smallest grandchild on up. I prepare them up to a week in advance, wrap them well and freeze. Their flavorful filling goes so nicely with juicy ham slices. —Marge Clark, West Lebanon, Indiana
Fried Chicken StripsI recently made this recipe of Mom's for my in-laws and they told me it was the "best fried chicken ever." Slicing the chicken breasts into strips cuts down on cooking time and ensures every piece is crunchy and evenly coated. Serve the homemade chicken tenders with your favorite dipping sauce. —Genny Monchamp, Redding, California
Chicken & Apple Salad with GreensMy favorite memory of eating this dish was when my mom made it for lunch on weekends when we were home from school and could have something other than "brown bag" lunches. Happy memories of childhood and late summer days just make this salad extra special. —Trisha Kruse, Eagle, Idaho
Inspired By: Double Chocolate Chip CookiesThis cookie recipe—a favorite of our four children—has been in my collection for years. Sometimes I'll substitute mint-flavored chips for the semisweet chocolate chips. Either way, the chocolate cookies disappear quickly. This is one of our favorite easy chocolate chip cookie recipes. —Sheri Ziesemer, Olympia, Washington
Inspired By: Sausage & Egg BurritoThis is a great kid-friendly recipe that takes only 20 minutes to prepare and cook.—Sharon Haswell, Cheshire, Massachusetts
Inspired By: Southwest Avocado Chicken SandwichI threw these ingredients together on a whim and the sandwich turned out so well, I surprised myself! If you're in a rush, microwave the bacon—just cover it with a paper towel to keep it from spattering too much. —Dana York, Kennewick, Washington
Garlic-Chive Baked FriesYes, you
do want fries with that—especially these crispy, golden fries, full of garlic flavor and just a little bit of heat. —Steve Westphal, Wind Lake, Wisconsin
Inspired By: Spicy Chicken NuggetsWe devour these spicy chicken nuggets at least once a week. If you want to tone down the heat, skip the chipotle pepper. —Cheryl Cook, Palmyra, Virginia
Inspired By: BaconatorWhere can you get a juicy burger that is so superior to drive-thru fare? Right in your backyard with this delicious bacon cheeseburger recipe. —Jackie Burns, Silverdale, Washington
Bacon 'n' Egg SandwichesI came across this unique grilled combo when I was digging in my mom's recipe box. The crisp bacon, hard-boiled eggs and crunchy green onions make these cozy sandwiches look impressive when company drops by for lunch. Best of all, they're a snap to assemble. —Ann Fuemmeler, Glasgow, Missouri
Updated: Aug. 02, 2023
