Old-Fashioned Egg Cream
Made with just 3 ingredients (syrup, milk, and soda), this Egg Cream is an old-fashioned milkshake recipe that contains neither egg nor cream. Talk about false advertising, but hey, it’s delicious!
New York City’s Iconic Beverage
This past weekend, my husband and I tried a New York egg cream for the first time, and now we’re hooked!
The thing is, it doesn’t have any eggs or cream. Funny right? Imagine a milkshake, just not as thick… so it actually quenches your thirst instead of making you thirstier. It’s like a classic fountain drink with a smooth, creamy texture and just the right amount of sweetness. Light and fizzy, yet totally indulgent.
Be sure to check out some of our other tasty drink recipes, like Dirty Dr Pepper, Caramel Apple Milkshake, Deep-Fried Ice Cream Milkshake, and Peppermint Oreo Milkshake!
Ingredients
- Syrup of your choice
- Whole milk
- Club soda (or seltzer)
Swaps & Variations
The beauty of an egg cream lies in its versatility! Whether you’re changing flavors, playing with textures, or catering to dietary quirks, this classic drink is always up for a remix.
- Flavor options: Swap chocolate for strawberry, vanilla, caramel, or even coffee syrup.
- Vegan-friendly: Make it vegan with almond or oat milk and plant-based syrups.
- Creamy & dreamy: For extra richness, use half-and-half; for lightness, try skim milk.
- Go classic: Stick with traditional chocolate (Fox’s U-Bet or Hershey’s) for authenticity.
Here’s a tip!
For the best results, chill your ingredients beforehand or just toss in some ice to keep things extra cold.
How to Make an Egg Cream
1. To begin with, pour about 2 tablespoons of syrup into a tall glass.
Tip: I’m using pretty little soda fountain glasses here. But most of the time, I make these in a plastic, generic solo cup (I live large like that).
2. Now add 1/3 cup of cold milk. I recommend starting with exact measurements. But once you play with this recipe, you may find you prefer more or less milk. Stir that up really well.
3. Fill each glass the rest of the way with cold club soda or seltzer water. Take it slow, as it will froth. But in the end, you’ll have the prerequisite foamy head.
4. Add a straw and enjoy your egg creams! Which flavor are you choosing?
Storage
This old-fashioned egg cream is best served immediately, mainly because it’s made with carbonated soda. Luckily, it’s so quick and easy to make!
Frequently Asked Questions
An egg cream is a classic New York drink made with milk, seltzer, and flavored syrup (usually chocolate). Despite the name, it has no eggs or cream. Just a frothy, fizzy treat that was once a cheaper alternative to ice cream floats.
The name likely comes from the foamy top, which looks like beaten egg whites. Most historians credit Louis Auster, a Jewish immigrant who owned candy stores in 1890s NYC, with inventing it using his secret chocolate syrup. His original version with milk and seltzer became so popular that competitors couldn’t match its flavor.
Nope! Dirty sodas are creamier, often with flavored syrups and soda (like Coke or Dr Pepper). Egg creams are lighter and made with seltzer and milk for a crisp, frothy sip.
Old-Fashioned Egg Cream
Made with just three ingredients, this egg cream is an old-fashioned milkshake recipe that doesn't actually include egg or cream.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons syrup of your choice
- 1/3 cup whole milk
- 3/4-1 cup cold club soda or seltzer water
Instructions
- Pour syrup into the bottom of a tall glass.
- Add milk and stir vigorously.
- Add in club soda slowly, leaving room for it to fizz at the top.
- Insert a straw and enjoy!
Nutrition Information:
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 114
I’ve never had an egg cream, but loved chocolate sodas as a kid. The idea is similar- chocolate syrup and club soda stirred together, with soft serve vanilla ice cream added (but not mixed in)! YUM! Haven’t had one in a long, long time. I’ve wanted to try an egg cream for a while but still haven’t, hmm. Will have to take care of that soon, thanks for reminding me!
These are so awesome! These are so going into regular rotation here at my house. Thanks for posting this recipe 🙂
This kind of doesn’t have much to do with the egg creams but the photo of them lined up looking all pretty reminded me of a particular brand of flavoured milks I was recently introduced to. I’ve never been a huge fan of milk and never drank it during my childhood the way other kids did so even flavoured milks don’t really get me excited but this milk – wow! It is not homogenized and it just tastes good! And comes in glass bottles!
The “Egg Cream” name might reflect that the original recipe was made with old-fashioned ice cream, the recipe for which starts with a rich, hot-custard mixture made with eggs and cream.
Brings back so many memories. Our family made the same drinks but with 7UP. But I like the idea of less sugar in the club soda. thanks Christy.
My grandfather made probably the best Brooklyn Egg Creams on the planet. Then to kick it up a notch, he went out and bought a Wearing Blendor (that’s not a typo, that’s how it was spelt back then) and started cranking out some of the best chocolate, strawberry and vanilla malteds ever. That old blender finally ‘smoked-off’ and seized up in1999. The plate on the bottom read,
“Wearing Products Corporation, New York
Made in U.S.A. 1953.” Imagine that.
Oh my goodness, I would love to get my hands on one of those!!
UGH!! Hate auto correct spelling. Should be knows how, not Joe!