This recipe tastes similar to a Wendy’s vanilla Frosty.
It’s like one of those thick vanilla milkshakes you’d find at a fast-food restaurant… but without all the empty calories and sugar to make you feel sluggish. The recipe actually came about by accident: I was working on a Tiramisu ice cream, and when I stopped to sample the unfinished mixture at one point, I discovered it tasted astoundingly like a real vanilla milkshake. Then, when my roommate came home from work and tried it, she proclaimed:
Holy crickets, it’s like a Wendy’s vanilla frosty!
Except, she didn’t really say “holy crickets” because, honestly, who talks like that? Holy crickets is just the PG version of her comment. In any case, I scrapped all plans for Tiramisu ice cream, and we poured ourselves ice-cold vanilla frosties instead.
Vanilla Frosty Recipe
(yields about 3 cups)
- 2 cups milk of choice (480g)
- 1 cup Morinu silken firm tofu (or 1 cup soaked cashews for a soy-free option. For other substitution options on this recipe, see nutrition link below.) (240g)
- 1/2 tbsp lemon juice, or more if you actually want a lemon-flavored frosty
- just under 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 2 tbsp xylitol or sugar of choice (23g)
- 1/16 tsp pure stevia, or 2 extra tbsp sugar
- don’t add any ice cubes, as this will dilute the flavor
In advance: Freeze the 2 cups of milk in ice cube trays or little dixie cups. (It might be a good idea to freeze multiple servings at once, so in the future you won’t have to wait before proceeding with the rest of the frosty recipe.) Pop the frozen milk into a blender or food processor with all other ingredients, and blend until desired consistency is reached. If your blender isn’t super-strong, you might have to thaw the milk a little before blending.
A note about the milk: Silk almondmilk works well in this recipe, and I’m sure many other types of milk will be good as well, but I can only vouch for the Silk because I haven’t tried the recipe with any others. I’d probably steer clear of the less-thick milks like ricemilk… then again, who knows: maybe it’ll work fine!
View Vanilla Frosty Nutrition Facts
And an aerial view, to show the thick frosty texture.
Have you ever had a Wendy’s Frosty?
After sports practices in middle school, my team used to go to Wendy’s. I wasn’t big on their strange square burgers, but I always looked forward to a broccoli baked potato and a Wendy’s chocolate frosty. Even before going vegetarian, I was a veggie lover! And a chocolate lover… I didn’t even know frosties came in other flavors until my roommate mentioned it yesterday.
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Chocolate Covered Katie, you are a freaking genius.
Whoever’s reading this comment right now, get your butt of the computer and make this milkshake….NOW. It’s an order. Because it is so dang delicious, it’s a shame if you don’t.
It taste completely like a vanilla frosty.
I ate the whole recipe myself.
THANK YOU!
I could have written this comment!
Thanks, both of you! 🙂
THIS IS BEYOND GOOD! I’m going to make it again tomorrow and add chocolate!! 🙂
Just finished reading an article on Yahoo about how the best inventions were complete accidents. (just saying) I grew up loving Wendy’s and their treats. I will definitely try this recipe!
HOLY CRICKETS this was so good! Yes, I did say holy crickets. Your roommate was right, that’s the perfect phrase for a recipe so good :).
I’ve never had a Wendy’s frosty, but this recipe tasted EXACTLY like a vanilla milkshake from Sonic! Your recipes just keep getting better and better, and this one is going in the permanent rotation. Next up, I’m trying it on my tofu hating friends! Wish me luck!
I used to love Wendy’s frosty! I would always get it with fries & dip them in. Delicious!!
I never leave comments on blogs. Like really, never. But this was so good, and so surpassed my expectations, that I HAD to comment for all the other people out there who might be skeptical as I was.
Despite your commentary, I figured it was going to be a tasty smoothie, nothing more. And I was skeptical when I saw salt listed in the ingredients, but I took a chance. I didn’t expect much, but I was open to the chance to be proven wrong, and boy was I ever proven wrong! Like some other commenters have said, I felt like I was drinking a vanilla milkshake. The flavor was perfect!
CCK, I’ll never doubt you again!
Thanks, Katie, for another amazing recipe. Frosties are BIG in my family… not just because we *love* them but because they were my Dad’s favorite treat. When he was getting treatment for his brain tumor, we always stopped for a Frostie afterward to make up for the awfulness of the treatments. Now that he’s gone, I find myself wanting a Frostie when I’m missing him, but they don’t fit into my diet that often! Now I have an AWESOME alternative. I’m going to try adding some cocoa powder… Dad didn’t believe in vanilla Frosties; to him they only came in one flavor – chocolate! I’ve been a fan of your site for ages and have tried and liked so many recipes, but this time I had to share. Thanks, Katie, for making my day and helping me remember Dad!
I’m glad it could help, even in such a small way. I’m so sorry (and obviously words aren’t adequate here)… Just from your comment, I can tell your dad was an awesome guy. Anyone who doesn’t believe in vanilla over chocolate is awesome in my book 🙂 :).
Speaking of tiramisu cake . . . I’ve been waiting for a delicious vegan version!! Got one up your sleeve?
It’s been on my to-do list forever! I need more time in the day… but I really do want to experiment with it soon. No tiramisu on the entire site is kinda sad.
You do have the raw tiramisu balls!
https://lett-trim.today/2010/01/11/raw-tiramisu-balls/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
(I haven’t tried them yet, but they sound delicious!)
me and my ex used to get frosty’s all the time! Can’t wait to try!
I always loved Wendy’s Frosty’s. I was so proud that they only came in chocolate. I think it was only maybe 10 years ago that they introduced vanilla. I haven’t had one in at least that long, but now I might have to try this. Although if it was chocolate that’d be even better. 🙂
Holy Crickets I didn’t know frosty’s came in other flavors either. I was under the impression chocolate was it.
Since giving up dairy and nasty fast food I haven’t had a frosty in a long time.
I think my children will thank you for this version!!!
Have a great weekend Katie!
Hey Katie followers,
Anyone who is looking for a CHOCOLATE frosty, try adding a packet (or part of a packet) of Swiss Miss hot chocolate mix. It tastes EXACTLY like a Wendy’s frosty…. probably not vegan though, but for anyone who isn’t, try it, it’s awesome! I use the “Diet Swiss Miss”, as it’s only 25 calories for a packet. Yum!
Oh wow! I’m so glad I only ate half of my fixings so I can try adding the hot chocolate mix to the other half!!
Have had frosties and love them (just the vanilla ones). Recipes that happen by accident always turn out to be the best!!
I haven’t had a frosty since I was a kid!! Your vanilla version sounds out of this world!!! I can’t wait to try it!
This looks so great!!! I wonder if you could use greek yogurt in it since the greek yogurt would be a thicker consistancy than normal yogurt.
I LOVE the Wendy’s Frosty!! Wendy’s has always been my favorite of the fast food chains, both because they actually put real tomato and lettuce on their sandwiches and because you could get alternative items (the baked potato and chili were favorites). I think they also pioneered the $0.99 menu if I remember correctly, which definitely endeared them to me as a poor college kid! This may be the recipe that finally convinces me to get over my fear of tofu. 😉 But I definitely second others in saying please don’t give up on the tiramisu ice cream flavor… that sounds to die for!