What drink has 2000 calories? Unpacking High-Calorie Shakes

December 29, 2025 •

4 min read

In 2010, the Cold Stone Creamery PB&C was reported to contain over 2,000 calories, earning it the title of 'Worst Drink in America'. Unpacking what drink has 2000 calories reveals a landscape dominated by highly indulgent, ingredient-dense shakes, designed for a singular, extreme caloric purpose.

Quick Summary

Extremely high-calorie drinks, some nearing or exceeding 2,000 calories, are found in select fast-food items and as homemade recipes for gaining weight. These dense beverages typically achieve their calorie count with combinations of ice cream, nut butters, and high-fat dairy products.

Key Points

Fast-Food Calorie Bombs: Certain restaurant milkshakes have famously hit or exceeded the 2,000-calorie mark, often featuring a blend of ice cream, syrups, and nut butters.
Homemade Alternatives: A 2,000-calorie drink can be made at home using nutrient-dense ingredients like whole milk, Greek yogurt, oats, and healthy fats, primarily for weight gain purposes.
Not for the Average Diet: Consuming 2,000 calories in a single drink is not advisable for the average person, as it can lead to rapid weight gain, nutrient deficiencies, and other health issues.
Quality of Calories Matters: The health impact of a 2,000-calorie drink depends heavily on its ingredients; a homemade shake with healthy fats and protein is nutritionally superior to one from a fast-food chain.
Significant Health Risks: High consumption of liquid calories, especially from free sugars, is linked to weight gain, dental issues, cardiovascular disease, and type 2 diabetes.
Mindful Consumption: Whether for a specific diet or as an occasional indulgence, understanding the caloric and nutritional content of high-calorie beverages is crucial for maintaining overall health.

The Infamous 2000-Calorie Drink

While 2,000 calories is the standard daily recommendation for many adults, consuming this amount in a single drink is a remarkable feat of caloric density. For a time, certain fast-food chains created milkshakes that could provide an entire day's worth of calories, or more, in one oversized cup. The Cold Stone Creamery PB&C (Peanut Butter & Chocolate), made with chocolate ice cream, milk, and peanut butter, famously crossed the 2,000-calorie threshold, packing more than three times the recommended daily saturated fat limit. Similarly, Sonic has offered indulgent options like the Peanut Butter Caramel Pie Shake, which also approaches or exceeds 2,000 calories.

These extreme restaurant drinks highlight how quickly liquid calories can add up, especially when laden with saturated fat and added sugar. While the shock factor is significant, the primary lesson is to be mindful of the ingredients lurking in seemingly simple beverages. However, for those needing to gain weight or with specific medical conditions, a high-calorie shake can be a targeted nutritional tool when made purposefully at home.

Constructing a Purposeful High-Calorie Shake

Instead of relying on unhealthy restaurant drinks, individuals looking to increase their caloric intake can create a homemade shake with nutrient-dense ingredients. These recipes are popular with bodybuilders, athletes, and those needing to gain weight under medical supervision. The key is to select ingredients that provide not just calories, but also protein, healthy fats, and essential micronutrients.

Here is a sample recipe for a 2000-calorie weight gain shake, leveraging ingredients identified in nutritional resources:

Homemade 2000-Calorie Shake Recipe

Ingredients:

1 cup whole milk
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
1 cup full-fat Greek yogurt
1/2 cup rolled oats
2 scoops whey protein powder
4 tbsp all-natural peanut butter
1 large banana, frozen
1/2 cup mixed frozen berries
1/2 large avocado
2 tbsp flaxseed or chia seeds
1 tbsp honey or maple syrup

Instructions:

Add the milk, cream, and Greek yogurt to a blender.
Blend the rolled oats separately until they are a fine powder to avoid a gritty texture.
Add the powdered oats, protein powder, peanut butter, frozen banana, berries, avocado, flaxseed, and honey to the blender.
Blend all ingredients on high speed until completely smooth. If the mixture is too thick, you can add a little more milk.
Divide the shake into two or three servings if it cannot be consumed at once, and store the rest in the refrigerator.

Potential Health Implications of Extremely High-Calorie Drinks

Consuming a single 2,000-calorie drink is not a benign act for most individuals, especially when it is not a calculated part of a weight-gain regimen. For the average person, such a massive caloric intake carries significant health risks, particularly when these calories come from sugar and saturated fat. The health implications depend heavily on the drink's ingredients.

Weight Gain and Obesity: Excess calories from any source, especially from calorie-dense liquids that don't provide a feeling of fullness, contribute to unhealthy weight gain and increase the risk of obesity.
Cardiovascular Disease Risk: Commercial high-calorie shakes are often loaded with saturated fats from ice cream and syrups. This can negatively impact blood pressure and serum lipid levels, increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Nutrient Deficiencies: If a high-calorie drink displaces consumption of whole foods, it can lead to nutritional deficiencies. Unlike a healthy, balanced diet, many fast-food versions lack essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber.
Impact on Blood Sugar: Drinks high in free sugars can cause blood sugar spikes. Over time, this can contribute to insulin resistance and increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Comparison: Commercial vs. Homemade 2000-Calorie Shakes


Feature	Commercial High-Calorie Shake	Homemade High-Calorie Shake
Primary Goal	Indulgence, extreme flavor, marketing novelty	Weight gain, nutritional support
Caloric Source	High-sugar syrups, full-fat ice cream, excessive saturated fats	Nutrient-dense foods: nut butters, oats, avocado, whole milk, protein powder
Nutritional Profile	Low in micronutrients, often high in saturated fat and added sugars	Provides protein, healthy fats, vitamins, minerals, and fiber
Control over Ingredients	None. Ingredients are set by the restaurant.	Full control over every ingredient and its quality.
Best For	Occasional, unadvisable treat for those without dietary restrictions.	Athletes, bodybuilders, or individuals prescribed a weight-gain diet.
Long-Term Impact	Negative health outcomes due to poor nutritional content.	Positive health outcomes when part of a balanced, monitored diet.

Conclusion

While it is possible to find or create a drink that has 2000 calories, the context is everything. An infamously unhealthy fast-food milkshake is a different beast entirely from a purpose-built, nutrient-rich homemade shake for weight gain. The former represents a dangerous level of empty calories and unhealthy fats, contributing to negative health outcomes. The latter, when constructed with whole, beneficial ingredients under proper guidance, can be a valuable tool for those with specific dietary needs. For most people, the takeaway is clear: liquid calories from commercial, sugar-laden drinks can be deceptively high and should be consumed with extreme caution.

For more information on the dangers of excessive liquid calories, you can visit the World Health Organization's page on healthy diet principles.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, a drink can contain 2,000 calories or more, particularly large, specialty milkshakes from fast-food chains or homemade 'weight gainer' shakes packed with high-calorie ingredients like nut butters, oats, and ice cream.

Yes, historically there have been. The Cold Stone Creamery PB&C milkshake famously exceeded 2,000 calories. Similarly, Sonic's Peanut Butter Caramel Pie Shake and other decadent malted shakes can reach this extreme caloric level.

A homemade shake for weight gain typically includes a blend of nutrient-dense, high-calorie ingredients such as whole milk, Greek yogurt, rolled oats, whey protein powder, natural peanut butter, and healthy fats from avocados or seeds.

For most people, drinking 2,000 calories at once, especially from sugar-laden sources, is unhealthy. It can lead to rapid weight gain, blood sugar spikes, and an excess intake of saturated fat, potentially increasing the risk of chronic diseases.

Individuals who need to gain weight, such as certain athletes or those with specific medical conditions that cause involuntary weight loss, may be advised to consume high-calorie shakes. These are typically consumed under medical or nutritional supervision.

Regularly consuming high-calorie drinks, particularly those high in sugar and unhealthy fats, can lead to weight gain, obesity, type 2 diabetes, and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. These drinks can also lead to nutrient deficiencies if they replace meals.

To make a healthier version, focus on nutrient-dense ingredients. Use whole milk, Greek yogurt, nut butters, avocado, oats, and natural sweeteners instead of syrups. This provides essential protein, fiber, and healthy fats, as opposed to just empty calories.