Can You Make a Milkshake Out of Ensure? A Complete Guide

November 15, 2025 •

4 min read

According to Abbott Nutrition, the makers of Ensure, their nutritional products can be blended with fruits and other ingredients to create shakes and smoothies. This confirms that you can indeed make a milkshake out of Ensure, offering a creative and palatable way to consume this supplement for those needing extra calories and nutrients.

Quick Summary

This guide explains how to safely and effectively use Ensure shakes or powder to create nutritious and delicious milkshakes. It covers a range of recipes, flavor-enhancing techniques, health considerations, and comparisons with other nutritional options.

Key Points

Yes, it's safe to make a milkshake out of Ensure.: The company confirms their products can be mixed with ingredients like fruit and syrup to create shakes.
Enhance flavor and texture.: Blending Ensure with fruits, nut butters, and spices can mask any medicinal taste and create a more enjoyable drink.
Customize for nutritional needs.: Tailor your milkshake by choosing the right Ensure product for your goals (e.g., Ensure Plus for weight gain or Ensure Max Protein for high protein, low calories).
Watch sugar content for diabetes.: While most products are low in lactose, people with diabetes should monitor their intake and consult a doctor due to the carbohydrate content.
Always blend for best results.: For a smooth, creamy texture and to avoid lumps, use a blender to mix Ensure with other ingredients.
Use frozen fruit and ice.: A great way to achieve a thicker, colder milkshake is by incorporating frozen fruit or ice cubes into your blend.
Be mindful of allergies.: Check the label for potential allergens like milk and soy, and note that products are not for those with galactosemia.

Why Mix Ensure into a Milkshake?

While Ensure is designed to be consumed on its own, many people find its taste and texture can be improved by mixing it with other ingredients. This is particularly beneficial for individuals who have a poor appetite, are recovering from illness, or need to increase their caloric and protein intake in a more enjoyable way.

Mixing Ensure into a milkshake can mask any undesirable medicinal aftertastes and introduce a wider variety of flavors. It also allows for the addition of whole foods like fruits, nuts, and yogurt, which can further boost the nutritional content with fiber, vitamins, and healthy fats.

Flavorful Ensure Milkshake Recipes

Here are a few simple recipes to get started with both liquid and powder Ensure products.

Classic Vanilla Berry Shake

1 bottle of Vanilla Ensure (or 3 scoops of powder blended with 250ml milk)
1/2 cup frozen mixed berries
1 tablespoon Greek yogurt (optional, for extra creaminess and protein)
Blend until smooth and frothy. Serve immediately.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Shake

1 bottle of Chocolate Ensure (or 3 scoops of powder blended with 250ml milk)
1/2 frozen banana
1 tablespoon peanut butter or almond butter
Blend until fully combined. Add a few ice cubes for a thicker texture.

Tropical Mango Pineapple Shake

1 bottle of Vanilla Ensure
1/2 cup frozen mango chunks
1/2 cup frozen pineapple chunks
A splash of orange juice (optional)
Blend until smooth, and add extra Ensure or a little milk if needed to achieve desired consistency.

Important Considerations and Safety

While mixing Ensure is safe, a few important points should be kept in mind, especially for those with specific health conditions.

Diabetes: Ensure products contain carbohydrates, and their sugar content must be considered by those managing their blood sugar levels. Individuals with diabetes should consult a healthcare provider and monitor their glucose after consumption. The company offers specific products like Glucerna designed for this purpose.

Weight Goals: Ensure can be used for both weight gain and weight management. Ensure Plus is higher in calories and protein for weight gain, while Ensure Max Protein is designed for supplementary protein intake with fewer calories. Choose the product that best aligns with your goals.

Lactose Intolerance and Allergies: Many Ensure products are suitable for those with lactose intolerance due to low lactose content. However, those with galactosemia should not consume Ensure products. Always check the product label for specific allergen information, particularly for soy or milk components.

Ensure vs. Traditional Milkshakes vs. Protein Powders

Making a nutritional shake offers a number of benefits compared to other options.


Feature	Ensure-based Milkshake	Traditional Ice Cream Milkshake	Protein Powder Shake
Nutritional Profile	Complete, balanced with high-quality protein, vitamins, and minerals. Can be customized with healthy whole foods.	Typically high in calories, sugar, and saturated fat, with lower micronutrient density.	Varies widely by brand and type. Protein content is high, but can lack the balanced vitamin and mineral profile found in Ensure unless fortified.
Weight Management	Effective for healthy weight gain or maintenance, depending on the product (e.g., Ensure Plus vs. Max Protein).	High-calorie density can lead to unwanted weight gain and is not a balanced nutritional source for meal replacement.	Ideal for muscle building and satiety. Less suitable as a complete meal replacement on its own.
Texture & Taste	Creamy and smooth, with the base flavor of Ensure masked by added fruits, nut butters, or spices.	Often thick and very sweet, but can be higher in sugar than a nutritional shake.	Can sometimes have a chalky or artificial flavor, which can be improved with blending.
Convenience	Uses a pre-made liquid or measured powder base, making preparation quick and easy.	Requires scooping ice cream, which can be less convenient for daily, routine consumption.	Requires measuring powder and adding liquid, similar to Ensure powder.

Conclusion

Creating a milkshake with Ensure is a perfectly safe and highly effective method for enhancing its flavor and boosting nutritional intake. Whether you use the pre-mixed liquid or the powder, Ensure can serve as a fortified base for delicious and healthy shakes by adding fruits, nuts, and other mix-ins. This approach is ideal for those needing to gain or maintain weight, supplement their diet, or simply make their nutrition routine more enjoyable. As with any dietary change, consulting with a healthcare professional is recommended, especially for those with existing medical conditions like diabetes. By following simple recipes and keeping health considerations in mind, you can turn a functional nutritional supplement into a delightful treat.

How to Make It Your Own

To further customize your Ensure milkshake, consider these ideas:

Add greens: A handful of spinach can boost nutrients without significantly altering the flavor, especially in a chocolate or fruit-based shake.
Include oats: For extra fiber and a thicker, more satiating texture, blend in a tablespoon of rolled oats.
Use spices: A dash of cinnamon, nutmeg, or pumpkin pie spice can add complexity and warmth to vanilla or chocolate flavors.
Boost with extracts: A drop of vanilla, almond, or mint extract can provide a powerful flavor punch.
Chill factor: Using frozen fruit or adding a few ice cubes is a great way to ensure the shake is cold and refreshing.

Final Tip

Always use a blender for the best results when making your Ensure milkshake. This ensures all ingredients are fully incorporated, creating a smooth and delicious consistency without clumps.

For more nutritional recipe inspiration, visit the official Ensure website to explore their collection of recipes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, you can use Ensure powder to make a milkshake. According to Abbott Nutrition, you can mix the powder with liquids like milk or water, and add fruits or other flavorings to create a shake.

To improve the taste of an Ensure milkshake, add frozen fruits like berries or bananas, nut butters, Greek yogurt, or spices such as cinnamon. Blending with ice also creates a colder, more palatable texture.

Yes, an Ensure milkshake can be good for weight gain, especially when using a higher-calorie product like Ensure Plus and adding caloric ingredients such as peanut butter, full-fat milk, or ice cream. Ensure Plus contains concentrated calories and protein designed to help individuals gain or maintain weight.

Yes, you can add ice cream to your Ensure milkshake to increase calories and create a traditional rich, creamy texture. This is a common practice for those looking to boost their caloric intake.

For most people, mixing Ensure with other foods is safe. However, people with conditions like diabetes should monitor sugar intake, and individuals with galactosemia should not consume Ensure. Always follow a healthcare provider's advice, especially if you have specific dietary needs or take medication like blood thinners.

An Ensure milkshake can be used as an occasional meal replacement, especially if you use a complete nutritional formula like Ensure Complete. However, it is generally recommended as a supplement or snack rather than a daily meal substitute.

Healthy additions to an Ensure milkshake include frozen fruit for vitamins and fiber, nut butters for healthy fats and protein, Greek yogurt for probiotics and protein, and a handful of spinach for extra nutrients.