Name: Ultimate Salted Caramel Apple Milkshakes
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 4 cups vanilla ice cream; ½ cup apple butter; 4-6 tablespoons brandy; 2 tablespoons caramel sauce; ¼ teaspoon table salt

Why This Recipe Works

We knew that the subtle flavor of apple could be easily overpowered by the intense caramel, so we used a generous amount of apple butter, which provided more intense flavor than fresh apples, cider, or dried apples. We found that adding just ¼ teaspoon salt offset the toasty sweetness from the caramel sauce and boosted the apple flavor further. For an adult kick to this deluxe milkshake we opted for brandy, which emphasized the sweet, caramelized fruit flavor profile. A quick whirl in the food processor gave this frosty fall-inspired shake the perfect creamy but sippable texture.

Before You Begin

Tasters’ preferences varied as to the amount of liquor they preferred; start with the lesser amount and add more to your liking. For a nonalcoholic version of this recipe, substitute ½ cup whole milk for the brandy. This recipe can be easily doubled; simply process the milkshakes in two batches. Garnish with whipped cream, caramel sauce, apple slices, and graham cracker crumbs, if desired.

Instructions

Place two pint glasses in freezer and chill until ready to serve. Let ice cream sit at room temperature to soften slightly, about 15 minutes. Process ice cream, apple butter, brandy, caramel sauce, and salt in food processor until smooth, about 1 minute, scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Pour milkshakes into chilled glasses and serve.