Not that you need an excuse to enjoy a rich and creamy milkshake, but Sept. 12 is the designated day to raise a toast to everyone’s favorite sweet indulgence. Celebrate National Chocolate Milkshake Day by popping into one of these 10 Hoosier ice cream shops that offer exceptional chocolate shakes.
The Chocolate Moose
Bloomington, Nashville | Moosebtown.com
IU alums are certainly familiar with this Bloomington mainstay which opened in 1933 as May’s Café. The ice cream is homemade and includes vegan varieties.
Cone Palace
Kokomo | conepalace.co
The hand-spun shakes at this Howard County restaurant come with your choice of flavor and topping in four sizes: child, small, medium and large. Soft serve and frozen yogurt flavors change weekly so you’ll have to visit often.
Fair Oaks Farms
Fair Oaks | fofarms.com/dining/cowfe
Stop by the Cowfé for cups, cones, sundaes, floats, malts and shakes made from Fair Oaks Farms’ homemade ice cream. Order Fair Oaks’ famous grilled cheese sandwich or pick up some award-winning cheese while you’re there.
Gordon’s Milkshake Bar
Indianapolis | 317-453-1360
Located in Indy’s trendy Mass Ave district, this newbie business (open since December 2019) has already been voted one of the capital city’s best dessert bars by readers of The Indianapolis Star.
Ivanhoes
Upland | ivanhoes.info
With 100 different flavors of shakes and 100 different flavors of sundaes, there’s something for everyone at this ice cream institution. You’ll have a tough time choosing which variety of chocolate shake to order from Ivanhoe’s extensive menu. One choco-licious choice: Chocolate Anonymous, a chocolate shake with chocolate wafers and a Hershey bar.
Just Cream Ice Cream Boutique
Fort Wayne | icecreamboutiquefw.com
This northeastern Indiana shop’s shakes can literally go from “simply” to “extremely” delicious: your choice. Made from super premium ice cream, shakes can be garnished with sweet treats like cotton candy, Rice Krispie treats, cookies, and doughnuts. Or, milkshake purists can opt to crown their icy delights with just whipped cream and maraschino cherries.
Silver Dipper Ice Cream
West Lafayette | silverdipper.com
Silver Dipper’s chocolate shake won’t disappoint. Neither will the 50-plus flavors of ice cream that have Purdue students — and other locals — coming back for more.
Traders Point Creamery
Zionsville | traderspointcreamery.com
There are three ways to make a chocolate milkshake at this family-owned artisan creamery and organic dairy farm just north of Indianapolis: Dutch chocolate milk with vanilla ice cream, whole milk with chocolate ice cream and Dutch chocolate milk with chocolate ice cream. Besides chocolate, try shakes in a variety of seasonal flavors like wildberry and pumpkin spice at the Creamery’s Dairy Bar.
Valpo Velvet Shoppe
Valparaiso | valpovelvet.com
Started in 1920 as Valparaiso Home Ice Company, this northwestern Indiana company makes ice cream, sherbet, sorbet and frozen yogurt. A variety of frozen gourmet novelties including ice cream cakes and pies, custom cookiewiches and chocolate-dipped bananas are available. Enjoy a chocolate shake made by trained “soda jerks,” otherwise known as “expert scoopers.”
Zaharakos
Columbus | zaharakos.com
A trip to Zaharakos is like a journey to the past. This national historic landmark is part ice cream parlor/soda fountain and part museum (with a display of mechanical musical instruments and soda fountain relics). Come for the ice cream treats and shakes and enjoy the old-timey atmosphere featuring music from an onsite player piano.
