CHOCOLATE LOVERS UNITE. September 12th was National Chocolate Milkshake Day, but that doesn’t mean you can’t indulge year round! We are here to give you the details on how to celebrate with the craziest chocolate milkshakes in the Burgh. There are TONS of ice cream shops in and around the city, but these few have some of the coolest and most unique creations perfect for stopping for a sweet treat!
The Milkshake Factory
If you have been in the Burgh for a while, you’ve probably seen billboards and commercials for The Milkshake Factory. With 10 locations around the city and suburbs, The Milkshake Factory is a staple for yinzers. One of their locations is even located in PPG Paints Arena, the home of our Pittsburgh Penguins! In fact, that might be where you’ve heard of The Milkshake Factory – from their signature Jake Shake. During the NHL hockey season, in any game that Jake Guenztel scores a goal during a Pens game, the next day The Milkshake Factory offers half off Jake Shakes. Jake Shakes are the PERFECT chocolate indulgence. Dubbed “a chocolate hat trick,” this chocolate shake is mixed with hot fudge, crushed cookies & cream, and brownies, AND topped with whipped cream and a chocolate “59” for Guentzel’s number.
Other gourmet chocolate-themed shakes from The Milkshake Factory that we love are the Chocolate Dipped Strawberry, the Chocolatier, and Midnight Cookies & Cream. Keep an eye out for their seasonal favorites around the holidays because they are always mixing up something delicious!
FRIO Creamery
This gem of an ice cream shop can be found in Lawrenceville on Butler Street serving up Penn State Creamery ice cream right in Pittsburgh! FRIO is a place that isn’t known as well as some of the other spots in Pittsburgh with several locations but is 100% worth a visit. Their milkshake menus include classic and specialty milkshakes and they are INSANE. As far as getting your chocolate fix, classic shakes that meet those requirements include their chocolate shake, cookies & cream shake, and more. All classic shakes have the option to add chocolate sprinkles, peanuts, chocolate chip cookies, peanut butter, M&Ms, and 10+ other options for add-ins!
Specialty milkshakes are no joke here at FRIO. Chocolate Paradise is one of the best for chocolate lovers. This shake comes with chocolate ice cream, brownies, crunch, and chocolate fudge. Another perfect fit for chocolate lovers is the Oreo Xtreme which comes loaded with cookies & cream and coffee break ice cream, Oreos, Kit Kats, chocolate syrup, and fudge. All of the specialty milkshakes are loaded up with whipped cream, drizzles of all sorts, cookies, and even little chocolate-dipped cookie sticks. Trust us when we say you’ll want to check FRIO out.
Millie’s Homemade Ice Cream
Another iconic Pittsburgh ice cream chain, Millie’s Homemade Ice Cream is hard to miss if you’ve been living in Pittsburgh for a while. This adorable pink-themed ice cream shop has a delicious selection of ice cream made of real, locally sourced dairy, eggs, and seasonal produce. With several locations, including Pittsburgh’s favorite theme park Kennywood, Millie’s is a convenient and tasty stop for a chocolate shake! Order any of their flavors in shake form and add fun mix-ins like crushed waffle cones, chocolate chips, cookie dough pieces, and more. Top it off with whipped cream and chocolate sauce for an extreme shake!
Some of their chocolate lover flavors are Triple Chocolate, Best Chocolate (GF), and Dairy-Free Brownie Batter (GF)(V). However, our all-time favorite chocolate-based flavor from Millie’s is the Chocolate Raspberry Cookie which is a combo of chocolate, raspberry swirl, and Italian Rainbow Cookies from the Strip District staple, DiAnoia’s Eatery. Talk about a flavor combo! Be sure to check their website to know which flavors are served at which locations around the city.
Fudge Farm
If you are looking for the craziest milkshake in the Burgh, you’re going to want to look at Fudge Farm. Their “Mania milkshakes” are truly one of a kind and are stacked with the best toppings that really live up to the “mania” name! Fudge Farm makes gourmet fudge and chocolates which help make the perfect garnishes for their Ultimate Mania Milkshakes. Their newest feature milkshake is the Jekyll & Hyde topped with an ICE CREAM SANDWICH! Other shakes at their locations are topped with chocolate chip cookies, donut holes, chocolate-covered pretzels, and more! Plus a nice chocolate drizzle and whipped cream to still give it that classic milkshake feel. Fudge Farm has one brick-and-mortar location in the Waterfront and a food truck that travels all over to offer the perfect addition to any food truck festival!
This content was provided by a local, independent contributor to Made in PGH, a lifestyle blog.