Trader Joe’s Announces Milkshake Contest Winners!

Iconic private brand grocer Trader Joe’s asked customers to create a shake using five TJ’s private brand ingredients, and to post a photo on Instagram for a chance to win up to $200 in TJ’s Gift Cards. So of course the retailers fans churned out some legen-dairy (and non-dairy) recipes that were far from homogenized, with inventive ingredients, such as goat cheese, seaweed, jalapeños, and Alfredo sauce. (Explore them all on Instagram at #TJsMilkshakeContest.)

But the Trader Joe’s team couldn’t just kowtow to creativity with photos and taste to consider. So taste, they did, and the cream rose to the top! Witness the results below (or on @traderjoes Instagram), then shake up your favorites to keep cool this summer…

Grand Prize:
Van Fulton – Mocha Crunch Cake Milkshake

INGREDIENTS (Serves 1):

1 ½ cups TJ’s Coffee Bean Blast Ice Cream
¼ cup TJ’s Chocolate Milk
4 TJ’s Mini Gluten Free Cupcakes
4 TJ’s Laceys Cookies (crushed for garnish)
Whipped Cream (garnish)

DIRECTIONS:

Place 4 Trader Joe’s Lacey Cookies into a ziplock bag and crush them into chunky crumbs and pour onto a plate. Remove the frosting from 2 Trader Joe’s Mini Chocolate Cupcakes and place into a small bowl (reserve these cupcakes to blend in the milkshake later).
Spread the frosting on the top two inches of the milkshake glass rim. Roll the rim of the glass in Laceys Cookies crumbs. With the remaining 2 Mini Chocolate Cupcakes, sprinkle Laceys Cookies crumbs on top of the frosting and set aside, you’ll use these to garnish the milkshake at the end.
Place 1½ Cups Trader Joe’s Coffee Bean Blast Ice Cream, ¼ Cup Trader Joe’s Chocolate Milk, the two reserved cupcakes without frosting into a blender. Blend on high speed until smooth, then pour into the milkshake glass.
Top the milkshake with Whipped Cream, put the two Mini Chocolate Cupcakes on top of 2 skewers, place the skewers into the milkshake glass. Sprinkle more Laceys Cookies crumbs on the whipped cream. Enjoy with a straw & spoon!

1^stRunner Up:
Christina Chapdelaine – Banana Caramel Wafer Milkshake

INGREDIENTS (Serves 1):

1 1/2 cups (4 big scoops) TJ’s Organic Vanilla Fudge Chip Ice Cream
¼ cup TJ’s 1% Milk
1 TJ’s Banana (half blended, the rest chopped for garnish)
5 TJ’s Mini Caramel Stroopwafels
3 TJ’s Dark Chocolate Cookie Sticks (garnish only)

DIRECTIONS:

Add all ingredients into a blender and mix!
Top with the leftover chopped banana and a couple of crushed stroopwafels and a couple of dark chocolate cookie sticks.

2^ndRunner Up:
Lyndsey Clerico – Hawaiian Whipped Pineapple

INGREDIENTS (Serves 2):

8 oz. (1/2 bag) TJ’s Frozen Pineapple Tidbits
2/3 cup TJ’s Turmeric Ginger Coconut Beverage
1 8.45 fl. oz. can TJ’s Pineapple Juice
1 16 oz. carton TJ’s Vanilla Non-Dairy Frozen Dessert
Sweet Rose Coconut Whipped Topping

DIRECTIONS:

To get the best-frozen consistency, make sure all of the liquids have been well chilled before blending.
Place frozen pineapple, coconut beverage, and juice in a blender and pulse to break up the fruit.
Add a carton of vanilla frozen dessert and blend until smooth.
Pour and divide evenly into a couple of pint-sized glasses.
Top with coconut whipped topping. Enjoy!