Copycat Culver’s Concrete Mixer® (At-Home Version)
If you’ve ever rolled through the Culver’s drive-thru and ordered a thick, creamy Concrete Mixer®, you know it’s not just any milkshake. It’s richer, thicker, and packed with mix-ins in every bite. Today I’m sharing an easy copycat Culver’s Concrete Mixer® recipe you can make at home with just a few ingredients and a basic blender. No fancy equipment. No weird ingredients. Just cold, creamy goodness in a cup.About Culver’s & Their Famous Concrete Mixer®
Culver’s is a Midwestern fast-food chain that’s become famous for its ButterBurgers and its extra-rich frozen custard. If you’ve never tried it, frozen custard is like ice cream’s smoother, silkier cousin — it’s made with egg yolks, so it feels almost velvety on your tongue. Their Concrete Mixer® (a registered menu item of Culver’s) is a super-thick custard treat blended with all kinds of mix-ins:- Crushed cookies
- Brownies and cake pieces
- Chocolate, caramel, and peanut butter swirls
- Fruits like strawberries or raspberries
What Makes a Concrete Mixer®-Style Treat Different?
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| This homemade copycat Culver’s Concrete Mixer is thick, spoonable, and packed with cookie mix-ins for a rich frozen custard treat you can make at home |
- Thicker – more spoonable than drinkable
- Richer – thanks to egg yolk–based custard or super-premium ice cream
- Loaded with mix-ins – every scoop has texture and flavor
Copycat Culver’s Concrete Mixer® Recipe
This base recipe makes a classic vanilla Concrete Mixer–style treat with Oreo®-style cookies. You can easily swap in your favorite mix-ins (see ideas below).
Recipe Overview
- Serving size: 2 large servings (or 3 smaller ones)
- Prep time: 10–15 minutes
- Chill time (optional for extra thickness): 20–30 minutes
- Difficulty: Easy
- Equipment: Blender or food processor, mixing bowl, spoon
Ingredients
For the custard-style base:- 3 cups very cold vanilla frozen custard (preferred) or super-premium vanilla ice cream
- 1/4 cup heavy cream (for richness and smooth blending)
- 1 egg yolk, pasteurized* (optional but helps mimic frozen custard)
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt (brings out flavor)
- 6–8 chocolate sandwich cookies, roughly crushed
- Chocolate syrup, caramel sauce, or hot fudge (cooled slightly)
- Peanut butter or Nutella® (softened)
- Brownie chunks, cookie dough bites, candy pieces, nuts, berries, or fruit
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Chill Your Gear
For a thicker, more concrete-like texture:- Place your serving glasses in the freezer for 10–15 minutes.
- If your blender pitcher is removable, you can chill that briefly too.
Step 2: Prep the Mix-Ins
- Place the sandwich cookies in a zip-top bag.
- Crush them with a rolling pin, skillet, or your hands until you have a mix of small chunks and crumbs.
Step 3: Make the Custard-Style Base
In your blender, add:- Vanilla custard or ice cream
- Heavy cream
- Egg yolk (if using, and pasteurized)
- Vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
- Add 1–2 tablespoons of heavy cream at a time.
- Pulse again briefly.
Step 4: Fold In the Mix-Ins
Pour the custard base into a mixing bowl (or leave in the blender pitcher and stir by hand).- Add your crushed cookies.
- Gently fold them in with a spatula or spoon until just combined.
Step 5: Adjust the Texture (Optional)
If it’s not as thick as you’d like, try one of these:- Spoon the mixture into your chilled glasses and place back in the freezer for 20–30 minutes to firm up.
- Or, add a little more frozen custard or ice cream and fold it in by hand.
Step 6: Serve & Customize
Spoon into chilled glasses or bowls. Top with:- Extra cookie crumbles
- A drizzle of chocolate syrup or caramel
- Whipped cream
Concrete Mixer® Flavor Ideas
Once you have the basic method down, you can create your own “menu” at home. Here are some fun combinations:- Chocolate Brownie Blast – Use chocolate custard or ice cream, brownie chunks, and hot fudge swirls.
- Strawberry Cheesecake – Add strawberry sauce, cheesecake chunks, and graham cracker crumbs.
- Peanut Butter Cup – Vanilla base with chopped peanut butter cups and a swirl of peanut butter.
- Caramel Pecan Crunch – Vanilla base, caramel sauce, toasted pecans, and a pinch of sea salt.
- Mint Cookie Crunch – Mint-chocolate-chip ice cream with extra chocolate cookies and chocolate chips.
Nutrition (Approximate Per Serving)
This will vary depending on your ice cream and mix-ins, but here’s a rough estimate for 2 servings using premium vanilla ice cream, heavy cream, and 8 sandwich cookies:- Calories: ~620
- Protein: ~9 g
- Fat: ~35 g
- Carbohydrates: ~68 g
- Sugar: ~52 g
Super-Simple Version (No Egg, No Fuss)
Need something even easier? Try this shortcut recipe using only grocery store staples.Ingredients (serves 2):
- 3 cups vanilla ice cream (the richer, the better)
- 1/3 cup whole milk or half-and-half
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 6–8 sandwich cookies or 1 cup of your favorite mix-ins
- Add ice cream, milk, and vanilla to a blender.
- Blend on low until thick and mostly smooth.
- Stir in crushed cookies by hand.
- Scoop into glasses and enjoy immediately.
Time-Saving & Equipment Tips
Don’t own a blender? You still have options.- Food processor: Works just like a blender for this recipe.
- Hand-mix method: Let ice cream soften slightly, then mash with a sturdy spoon or potato masher. Add a splash of cream or milk and your mix-ins.
- Big batch idea: Make a double batch in advance, spread it into a loaf pan, and freeze. Scoop into bowls like “pre-mixed” custard sundaes.
Allergy-Friendly & Special Diet Swaps
Everyone should get a fun frozen treat when possible. Here are some simple adjustments:Dairy-Free / Vegan Version
- Use a rich dairy-free ice cream (like coconut milk or oat milk based).
- Swap heavy cream for full-fat canned coconut milk or barista-style oat milk.
- Skip the egg yolk.
- Choose vegan cookies or mix-ins (check labels for dairy and eggs).
Gluten-Free Version
- Use gluten-free sandwich cookies or gluten-free brownies.
- Check that your ice cream and mix-ins (like candies) are labeled gluten-free.
Nut-Free Version
- Avoid nut-based toppings and candies.
- Check your ice cream, cookies, and chocolate for “may contain nuts” warnings if that’s a concern for your household.
Lower-Sugar Option
- Use a no-sugar-added or reduced-sugar ice cream.
- Choose sugar-free or reduced-sugar cookies and sauces when possible.
- Add fresh berries (like strawberries or raspberries) or fruit instead of candy.
Food Safety Tips
Even though this is a no-cook dessert, there are a few basic safety tips to keep in mind:- Egg safety: If you use the egg yolk for a more custard-like texture, make sure it’s from a pasteurized egg or a pasteurized liquid egg product.
- Keep it cold: Don’t leave dairy-based desserts out at room temperature for more than 2 hours (1 hour if it’s over 90°F).
- Allergy awareness: Clearly label mix-ins (especially nuts, gluten, and dairy) when serving a group.
Share Your Concrete Mixer® Creations
Now it’s your turn: what flavor combo are you going to try first? Are you team chocolate overload, fruit-and-cream, or classic cookies and cream? If you make this copycat Culver’s Concrete Mixer® recipe at home:- Share your photos on social media.
- Tag your favorite flavors and mix-in ideas.
- Leave a comment with what worked for you, what you changed, and what you’d like to see next.
Important Disclaimers
- This recipe is a homemade copycat inspired by the Culver’s Concrete Mixer® dessert. Concrete Mixer® is a registered menu item and trademark of Culver Franchising System, LLC. This recipe is not endorsed by or affiliated with Culver’s, and no knowledge of their actual proprietary recipe, formulas, or methods is implied.
- All product names, logos, and brands mentioned are property of their respective owners and are used here for identification and descriptive purposes only.
- Simply Copycat Recipes is an Amazon affiliate. As an Amazon Associate, we may earn from qualifying purchases if you click through and buy products we recommend, at no extra cost to you.
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