What Shake Has the Most Calories? A Deep Dive into Nutrition and Weight Gain

October 9, 2025 •

4 min read

An old Baskin-Robbins Heath Bar Shake once contained a staggering 2,310 calories, earning it the title of "America's unhealthiest drink". This demonstrates that while fast-food options can be extremely calorie-dense, a more deliberate, homemade approach is necessary for anyone asking what shake has the most calories? in pursuit of healthy weight gain.

Quick Summary

This article examines the highest-calorie shakes, contrasting notoriously unhealthy fast-food milkshakes with nutrient-dense homemade versions. It provides recipes, ingredient lists, and a comparison to help readers make informed dietary decisions for effective and healthy weight gain.

Key Points

Fast Food vs. Homemade: While fast-food shakes can be loaded with calories from unhealthy sources, homemade shakes offer a healthier, nutrient-dense alternative for weight gain.
Control Your Ingredients: Creating your own high-calorie shake gives you complete control over ingredients, avoiding artificial fillers, excessive sugars, and poor-quality fats found in many commercial products.
Key Calorie Boosters: To maximize a shake's calories, incorporate ingredients like whole milk, nut butters, oats, bananas, and seeds.
Mass Gainer Supplements: These offer convenience and high-calorie density but may compromise on nutrient quality compared to whole-food homemade options.
Pair with Exercise: For optimal muscle gain, combine a high-calorie shake regimen with regular resistance or strength training to ensure calories are used for building muscle mass.
Nutrient-Density is Key: Focus on quality calories that provide essential vitamins and minerals alongside macros, rather than empty calories from sugary processed additives.

For individuals looking to increase their caloric intake for weight gain, muscle building, or to combat unintentional weight loss due to health conditions, shakes are an efficient and often delicious solution. But the source of those calories matters immensely. Relying on ultra-processed, sugar-laden fast-food shakes is a quick route to unhealthy weight gain, diabetes risk, and other health issues. A far superior strategy is to build a customized, nutrient-dense shake using whole foods.

The Unhealthy Calorie Kings: Fast Food and Commercial Gainers

Fast-food giants and supplement companies have long competed for the title of the most calorie-dense shake, though their creations often prioritize quantity over quality. While a legendary Baskin-Robbins shake once held a top spot, modern fast-food offerings still pack in thousands of calories from unhealthy fats and sugars. For example, a Sonic Drive-In Oreo and Reese's Peanut Butter Master Shake is listed with 1,720 calories, while Cheesecake Factory's Oreo Milkshake can hit 1,630 calories.

Commercial mass gainer supplements, while different from milkshakes, are designed to deliver large calorie counts. Products like MuscleTech Mass-Tech Extreme 2000 promise up to 2,000 calories per serving when mixed with milk, often containing high amounts of whey protein and carbohydrates like maltodextrin. While convenient, these often rely on refined ingredients and may cause digestive issues in some people.

The Superior Choice: Homemade High-Calorie Shakes

For controlled and healthy weight gain, a homemade shake offers the most flexibility and nutritional quality. You control every ingredient, ensuring your calories come from nutrient-dense, whole-food sources rather than processed sugars and unhealthy fats. The foundational components of a great homemade gainer include:

A High-Calorie Base: Whole milk provides protein, fat, and calcium. Alternatives include full-fat Greek yogurt, full-fat kefir, or unsweetened coconut milk for dairy-free options.
Healthy Fats: Nut butters (peanut, almond, cashew) are highly calorie-dense. Avocado adds a creamy texture and healthy fats. Seeds like chia, flax, and hemp hearts also contribute calories, fat, and fiber.
Complex Carbohydrates: Oats, especially rolled oats, are an excellent slow-digesting carb source. Frozen bananas and other fruits like mango and dates add natural sweetness and vitamins.
Protein Boost: Adding a scoop of whey, casein, or a plant-based protein powder increases the shake's protein content to support muscle building.

Building a Mega-Calorie Shake at Home

Creating a 1,000+ calorie shake is easily achievable with the right combination of whole-food ingredients. This recipe provides a template for a delicious and nutritionally balanced option.

Ingredients:

1 ½ cups (360 mL) whole milk
1 medium ripe banana, frozen
½ cup (40 grams) rolled oats
2 scoops (50 grams) whey protein powder (vanilla or chocolate)
2 tbsp (32 grams) natural peanut butter
1 tbsp (21 grams) honey or maple syrup
A handful of ice cubes

Instructions:

Combine the whole milk and rolled oats in a high-speed blender and blend until the oats are a fine powder.
Add the remaining ingredients: frozen banana, protein powder, peanut butter, honey, and ice cubes.
Blend on high speed for 30-60 seconds, or until the shake is thick and creamy.
Pour into a large glass and enjoy immediately. This shake can contain approximately 1,100 calories, 69 grams of protein, 36 grams of fat, and 125 grams of carbs.

Crafting a Healthier Vegan Option

For a high-calorie, dairy-free alternative, you can build a shake using different ingredients:

Base: Unsweetened coconut milk (full-fat canned or carton)
Fats: Avocado, almond butter, shredded coconut, or coconut cream
Carbs: Frozen banana, mango, or dates
Protein: A scoop of high-quality plant-based protein powder (pea, soy, or hemp)
Thickeners: Chia or flax seeds

Comparison: Homemade vs. Store-Bought Gainers


Feature	Homemade Mass Gainer	Store-Bought Mass Gainer
Calorie Count	Highly customizable; can easily reach 1,000+ calories.	High, but fixed per serving; often requires large scoops.
Nutritional Quality	Excellent; uses whole foods, fiber, and micronutrients.	Varies by brand; often contains fillers, artificial sweeteners, and refined carbs.
Ingredient Control	Total control over ingredients, quality, and ratios.	Limited control; ingredient list is predetermined.
Cost	Generally more cost-effective over the long term.	Higher cost per serving than homemade shakes.
Convenience	Less convenient; requires prep, blending, and cleaning.	Highly convenient; just scoop, mix, and drink.
Digestive Impact	Often easier to digest for those sensitive to additives.	Can cause bloating or discomfort in some individuals.

Maximizing Your Calorie Intake

To make high-calorie shakes work for you, remember that consistency and pairing them with a healthy lifestyle are key. Aim for one to two shakes per day, depending on your calorie goals. Incorporating strength training is vital, as the added calories and protein from your shake will be directed towards building muscle rather than fat mass. Always prioritize high-quality, nutrient-dense ingredients and be mindful of your overall dietary needs. For more healthy eating tips, consult resources like Healthline's guide on healthy protein shakes for weight gain.

Conclusion: Choosing Your Calorie Strategy

So, what shake has the most calories? The answer depends on your priorities. If you're seeking a fast, but unhealthy, sugar-loaded treat, certain fast-food monsters lead the pack. However, for a truly effective and nutritious approach to weight gain or muscle building, a homemade shake reigns supreme. By leveraging whole-food ingredients rich in healthy fats, complex carbs, and protein, you can create a customized shake with just as many or more calories than any commercial option, but with far greater health benefits and control over your nutrition.

Frequently Asked Questions

A weight-gain shake (or mass gainer) is specifically formulated to provide a very high-calorie count, often from a higher ratio of carbohydrates and fats in addition to protein. A standard protein shake focuses primarily on delivering protein with fewer calories, carbs, and fats.

For most people, a homemade high-calorie shake is superior. It offers better control over nutrient quality, avoids unnecessary additives and sugars, and is often more cost-effective. Commercial gainers offer convenience but can contain less nutritious ingredients.

Healthy, calorie-dense ingredients include natural nut butters (peanut, almond), oats, avocado, whole milk or full-fat dairy, coconut milk or cream, dates, bananas, and seeds like chia, flax, or hemp hearts.

The frequency depends on your individual goals and total daily calorie needs. A good starting point is one to two shakes per day, combined with your regular meals. It's recommended to track your weight weekly and adjust as needed.

Yes, high-calorie vegan shakes are easily made with plant-based ingredients. Options include using unsweetened soy, almond, or coconut milk, plant-based protein powder, avocado, nuts, seeds, and fruits for creaminess and calories.

Gaining weight, including fat, is a natural result of consuming more calories than you burn. To ensure that the added weight is primarily muscle mass, it is crucial to combine your increased calorie intake with a consistent strength training program.

While high in calories, fast-food shakes are generally not a good option for healthy weight gain. Their calories come primarily from unhealthy sources like added sugars and saturated fats, which can negatively impact long-term health.