Drinks
Portillo's Inspired Chocolate Cake Shake
A thick chocolate milkshake blended with a moist frosted chocolate cake slice, creating the signature cake-crumb texture of this Chicago favorite.
Inspired by Portillo's
Prep
30 min + cooling
Cook
30 min
Serves
4 servings
Difficulty
Medium
Pantry match
Uses the current servings and temporary recipe changes.
Missing 12 ingredients
- • 1 cup all-purpose flour
- • 1 cup granulated sugar
- • 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- • 1 teaspoon baking soda
- • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- • 1/2 cup full-fat mayonnaise
- • 1/2 cup warm brewed coffee or water
- • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- • 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
- • 1/3 cup heavy cream
- • 8 cups chocolate ice cream, slightly softened
- • 2 cups whole milk, plus more as needed
View ingredient-by-ingredient match
- 1 cup all-purpose flourMissing
- 1 cup granulated sugarMissing
- 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powderMissing
- 1 teaspoon baking sodaMissing
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher saltMissing
- 1/2 cup full-fat mayonnaiseMissing
- 1/2 cup warm brewed coffee or waterMissing
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extractMissing
- 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chipsMissing
- 1/3 cup heavy creamMissing
- 8 cups chocolate ice cream, slightly softenedMissing
- 2 cups whole milk, plus more as neededMissing
Optional ingredients are not counted as required.
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Method
Recipe notes
This unofficial recreation makes a small moist mayonnaise chocolate cake specifically for blending, then folds its frosting and crumb into a thick shake. Briefly chilling the cake and pulsing only until speckled preserves the unusual cake-in-a-shake texture instead of turning it into plain chocolate milk.
Planning, storage, and serving
Storage and reheating
Refrigerate the frosted cake for up to 4 days or freeze wedges for 2 months. Blend shakes only when serving; melted milkshake should not be refrozen because its texture and food quality deteriorate.
Make-ahead tips
Bake, cool, frost, and portion the cake up to 2 days ahead. Chill the glasses and measure the ice cream and milk shortly before blending so each batch stays thick.
What to serve with it
- - Chicago-style hot dogs
- - Italian beef sandwiches
- - Fresh strawberries
Equipment needed
- - 8-inch round cake pan
- - Wire cooling rack
- - High-powered blender
Difficulty explained
The cake is a one-bowl batter, but it must cool fully and the shake must be blended in batches to maintain a thick texture.
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Nutrition facts
Updating nutrition…
Alternatives
Apply a reviewed substitution to this temporary working copy. The published recipe stays unchanged.
Browse reviewed options
Half-and-half
Use an equal amount of half-and-half for a lighter cream sauce.
Plain Greek yogurt
Replace up to half the mayonnaise with plain Greek yogurt.
Evaporated milk
Use an equal amount of evaporated milk when you want dairy richness with less fat.
Type the ingredient you're missing — we'll find what you can use instead.
Pitfalls to Watch Out For
- Warm cake melts the ice cream immediately, so cool and briefly chill every wedge before blending.
- Blending too long erases the cake-crumb texture and produces a thin uniform drink.
- Packing all four servings into a standard blender prevents circulation; make two smaller batches.
Nutrition Context
- Cake, frosting, and ice cream make this an intentionally rich dessert beverage high in added sugar and saturated fat.
- The four-serving yield is generous; smaller glasses can turn the same batch into eight tasting portions.
FAQ
Does the shake really contain cake?
Yes. A frosted chocolate cake wedge is blended directly into each serving, which creates the signature fine crumb texture.
Can I use store-bought cake?
Yes. Choose a moist chocolate layer cake with smooth frosting and no nuts or hard candy pieces.
Why add mayonnaise to the cake?
Mayonnaise supplies egg and oil in one ingredient, keeping the cake moist enough to blend without dry, sandy crumbs.
How do I keep the shake thick?
Chill the cake and glasses, soften ice cream only slightly, blend in two batches, and add extra milk sparingly.
Can I prepare the shake ahead?
No. Prepare the cake ahead, but blend immediately before serving because the finished shake thins quickly.
What sides pair best with this dish?
Good pairings include Chicago-style hot dogs; Italian beef sandwiches; Fresh strawberries. Choose one or two based on how substantial you want the meal to be.