TGI Friday’s Mudslide Copycat recipe for the ultimate boozy milkshake with vodka, Baileys, Kahlua plus both chocolate and vanilla ice cream.
Part drink, part Dessert, TGI Friday’s Mudslide is an indulgent creamy, chocolaty Frozen Treat! This decadent, boozy milkshake recipe for two is perfect for date night. You can also double or triple the batch for a game day dessert sure score big with your guests! For another amazing boozy milkshake, try my one-of-a-kind Drake Shake!
Table of contents
Sabrina’s Copycat TGIF’s Mudslide Recipe
A TGI Friday’s Mudslide is a creamy cocktail combined with a classic chocolate milkshake for one iconic frozen dessert. Adding chocolate and vanilla ice cream to the original cocktail mixture makes it even more rich, creamy, and decadent. There’s no need to go out for dinner to enjoy this indulgent milkshake though! If you have a blender, all you need is to grab ice cream and the liqueurs from the store and you can have this amazing milkshake in no time.
This boozy milkshake might look like a kid’s treat, but with 3 different alcohols, it is definitely adults only! However, it is possible to make Virgin Mudslides with some substitutions. I included substitution options later in this post, which are also great if you are missing one of the liqueurs or you just want to make it a little less strong.
Ingredients
- Vodka: The vodka doesn’t add any flavor but it is what gives this Mudslide the majority of it’s boozy kick! Use one that is drinkable for you, but it doesn’t need to be top shelf or expensive at all. Try it with vanilla vodka for even more flavor!
- Irish Cream: Bailey’s Irish Cream is a creamy liqueur made with whiskey and cream that has notes of cocoa, coffee, and vanilla. You can use any brand of Irish Cream, it doesn’t have to be Bailey’s.
- Kahlua: Kahlua is a Mexican coffee liqueur made with coffee, rum, and sugar. It has a one of a kind strong coffee flavor with smoky, spiced notes.
- Vanilla Ice Cream: Adding Vanilla Ice Cream helps lighten the strong chocolate flavor of the milkshake so you can taste the other flavors in the liqueurs.
- Chocolate Ice Cream: Coffee actually brings out the chocolate flavor of the Chocolate Ice Cream so this milkshake has tons of dark, chocolaty flavor.
- Heavy Cream: Along with the alcohol ingredients, heavy cream is added as a liquid ingredient. It adds to the creaminess and mellows out the alcohol taste.
- Ice Cubes: The ice not only keeps the milkshake ice cold, it gives the drink a slushier consistency and lightens up the heaviness from the creamy ingredients.
- Chocolate Syrup: Some chocolate syrup drizzled inside the glass gives it a restaurant quality look and who doesn’t love extra chocolate?
- Whipped Cream: Finish your Mudslide off with some freshly made Whipped Cream, frozen whipped topping, or can of whipped cream.
Kitchen Tools & Equipment
- Blender: Since this milkshake is made with ice, you’ll want a blender to perfectly crush the ice. If your blender is smaller, make this drink in two batches.
- Alcohol Meter: This special double sided measuring cup is designed to perfectly measure ounces of alcohol and is a handy addition to your kitchen if you like making cocktails.
- Glasses: You’ll need two tall glasses like a hurricane glass or milkshake glass. Or if you use a smaller pint glass, you can make more servings.
How to Make
Time needed: 5 minutes.
- Add to Blender
Add the vodka, Bailey’s Irish Cream, Kahlua, ice cubes, heavy cream, vanilla ice cream, and chocolate ice cream to your blender.
- Blend Until Smooth
Blend at high speed for about 1 minute, until the ice is blended into small pieces and it’s all mixed well.
- Prepare Glasses
Tilt your glass at an angle and start to drizzle the inside with chocolate syrup as you slowly turn your glass to get all sides. Repeat with a second glass.
- Pour and Serve
Divide the Mudslide mixture between two large glasses. Top with some whipped cream. Serve immediately.
Can this be made ahead of time?
You can mix the alcohol ingredients and heavy cream ahead of time and keep it in the fridge for up to 3 days. Wait until you are ready to serve the mudslides before blending it with the ice cream and ice.
To prep ahead for parties, double or triple the alcohol and cream amounts and store the mixture in a sealed pitcher. Use 1 ½ cups of the alcohol mixture plus the regular amount of ice and ice cream on the recipe card for each batch of mudslides.
Nutritional Facts
Tips for Making a Mudslide Milkshake
- Add Toppings!
Add chocolate garnishes like shaved chocolate, mini chocolate chips, or chocolate sprinkles over the top of the whipped cream. Try some some crushed peppermint during the winter time. Other ice cream toppings like crushed peanuts, toasted coconut flakes, Salted Caramel Sauce, and toffee bits would all taste delicious!
- Using Homemade Ice Cream
Homemade Ice cream tends to be much softer than if you buy it from the store. To keep your shake from being runny, leave out the heavy cream then add it a splash or two at a time as needed until you get a smooth and creamy consistency.
How to Store
If you have leftovers, you can store them in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 2 days. Let it soften in the fridge before enjoying. You can also toss the frozen leftovers in a blender for a slushy cream consistency.
Liqueur Substitutions
There are no substitutes for vodka, so just leave it out if you don’t want the drink strong or you are making a virgin drink. For the Bailey’s and Kahlua, the substitutes below will make more than you need so make sure to only add the amount called for on the recipe card.
Bailey’s Irish Cream Substitutes
- Coffee Creamer: An easy swap is ½ cup Irish Cream Coffee Creamer with a ½ teaspoon vanilla extract and ¼ teaspoon almond extract to mimic the whiskey flavor plus 2 teaspoons chilled espresso or strong coffee.
- Homemade Bailey’s: Combine ½ cup whiskey, ½ can of sweetened condensed milk, 1 can coconut cream (not creme of coconut), 2 tablespoons instant espresso, and 2 tablespoons chocolate syrup. Blend and measure out as usual. If you don’t want alcohol, add ½ cup of milk and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract for the whiskey.
Kahlua Coffee Liqueur Substitutes
- Homemade Kahlua: Bring 1 cup brewed strong coffee and ¾ cup brown sugar to a simmer. Stir over medium low heat until the sugar is dissolved. Remove from the heat and stir in 1 ½ cup dark rum and 2 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract. Cool completely before using. You can make it non-alcoholic leaving out the rum and reducing the vanilla to just 1 teaspoon.
- Coffee & Cocoa: For an even easier non-alcoholic Kahlua swap, just mix 1 tablespoon of instant coffee and 1 teaspoon cocoa powder in ½ cup of water until it’s dissolved. It won’t taste exactly like Kahlua, but it will work in the small quantity needed for this recipe.
Frequent Questions
This particular recipe makes 2 Mudslides. However, it is enough to fill rather tall glasses, so if you wanted to split it into smaller servings that’s also an option.
Because of all the rich cream, coffee, and chocolate flavor in this delicious drink, you don’t taste the vodka that much. For that reason, I wouldn’t worry about buying an expensive bottle of vodka. Whatever you have or a cheap option from your local liquor store will work nicely in this copycat recipe.
Absolutely! Whether you want to make a kid-friendly version, or you want to enjoy this decadent milkshake without booze, you can definitely make a “virgin” Mudslide. Check out my Liqueur Substitutions section above for ways to make this drink non-alcoholic.
A Mudslide is a classic cocktail that started gaining popularity around the 1950s. The original cocktail version combines coffee liqueur, Irish cream liqueur, vodka, heavy cream, and chocolate syrup. It’s similar to a White Russian cocktail, but adds the heavy cream so it’s creamier and the chocolate syrup, usually lining the glass, makes it sweeter.
Recipe Card
Ingredients
- 3 ounces vodka
- 3 ounces Baileys Irish Cream
- 3 ounces Kahlua
- 2 cups ice cubes
- 3 ounces heavy cream
- 2 scoops vanilla ice cream
- 4 scoops chocolate ice cream
- Chocolate Sauce , for garnish
- 1 cup Whipped Cream
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients to a high speed blender for 1 minute.
- Drizzle chocolate syrup inside cup.
- Fill with blended drink.
- Top with whipped cream.
Nutrition
Variations
Strawberry Mudslide: For a summery, fruity twist, swap the chocolate ice cream with Strawberry Ice Cream. Garnish the finished drink with strawberry slices.
Peanut Butter Chocolate: Use peanut butter ice cream instead of vanilla or add ½ cup peanut butter. Add a melted peanut butter drizzle along with the chocolate syrup and finish with a sprinkle of crushed peanut butter cups over the whipped topping.