There’s something about Sonic’s Vanilla Trick or Treat Blast that makes you feel like a kid again. Maybe it’s the candy overload or the way the mix-ins crunch and melt at the same time. For me, it reminds me of the first time I stayed out late on Halloween, walking back home with a pillowcase full of candy and frostbitten fingers wrapped around a fast-food shake. I wasn’t even that into the candy back then, I just liked how it all blended together, how the cold vanilla soft-serve made the cookies a little soggy but the M&M’s stayed crisp.
This Vanilla Trick or Treat Blast copycat brings all that back in one ridiculously fun dessert. It’s creamy, cold, and loaded with crushed OREO cookies, toffee bits, and tiny M&M’s that pop in your mouth like Halloween confetti. The best part? You don’t have to wait for October. No costume needed.
Table of Contents
How to Make Sonic’s Trick or Treat Blast at Home
Start by blending just enough cold milk into your vanilla ice cream to give it that signature soft-serve texture. Then fold in chopped candy, HEATH bits for crunch, OREO pieces for cookie richness, and M&M’s Minis for a burst of color and chocolate. Top it with even more candy for that classic Sonic-style “candy crown” and serve immediately with a long spoon.
Nutrition (per serving)
- Calories: 640
- Total Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Carbohydrates: 90 g
- Sugar: 72 g
- Protein: 9 g
Ingredients (1 large serving or 2 small)
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 1–2
- 1 cup vanilla ice cream (lightly softened but still cold)
- ¼ cup whole milk (very cold)
- 2 tbsp HEATH toffee bits
- 2 tbsp OREO cookie pieces (pea-sized chunks, not crumbs)
- 1 tbsp M&M’s Minis
For topping:
- 1 tbsp mixed candy: a few toffee bits, some OREO dust, and M&M’s Minis for the look
Tools You’ll Need
- Blender or mixing bowl + silicone spatula
- Ice cream scoop
- Measuring spoons
- Chilled glass or sundae cup
- Long spoon or straw
Instructions
Step 1: Soften the base
Add vanilla ice cream and cold milk to a mixing bowl. Stir gently with a spatula or pulse once or twice in a blender. You want it thick but spoonable—like real soft-serve, not a milkshake.
Step 2: Fold in the candy
Sprinkle in your HEATH bits, OREO chunks, and M&M’s Minis. Fold gently with a spatula. Don’t overmix, you want chunks in every bite, not a candy sludge.
Step 3: Serve it right
Spoon the mix into a chilled cup or glass. Scatter the remaining candy over the top like Sonic does. You’ll see all the colors and textures peeking out.
Step 4: Eat immediately
Serve with a long spoon or thick straw. Enjoy before the cookies soften too much!
Tips
- Chill your bowl and serving glass ahead for the longest-lasting texture.
- Use candy straight from the fridge or freezer so it doesn’t melt into the base.
- Don’t blend too long or the candies will dissolve and turn your ice cream gray.
- Make it a family event: set out different candies and let everyone mix their own.
What to Serve With
Sweet pairings
- Halloween sugar cookies: Soft, colorful, and shaped like pumpkins or ghosts, perfect for dunking or snacking between spoonfuls.
- Peanut butter brownies: That salty-sweet pairing hits differently next to the creamy, candy-packed shake.
- Popcorn drizzled with chocolate: It’s light, crunchy, and a little salty, so it balances the sugar rush.
Savory pairings
- Classic grilled cheese: It might sound odd, but the buttery bread and melty cheese mellow out the sweetness in the best way.
- Waffle fries or tots: Salty, crispy sides are practically made to be dipped in creamy desserts. Trust the fast-food formula.
- Bacon breakfast sandwich: If you’re leaning into a brunchy vibe, this sweet-and-savory combo can double as dessert and breakfast.
Drink pairings
- Iced cold brew or black coffee: No sugar added. Just pure contrast.
- Vanilla almond milk: For a lighter, nutty note on the side.
- Sparkling water with lemon: To cleanse the palate between bites of candy chaos.
Variations
Chocolate Trick or Treat Blast
Use chocolate ice cream or add 1 tbsp chocolate syrup to the base before mixing. Same candy blend, but with a richer chocolate profile.
Retro Snickers Version
Swap HEATH for chopped mini Snickers bars (about 2 tbsp). This was Sonic’s earlier version around 2020 and has a deeper, nuttier taste.
Extra Crunchy Version
Double the candy amounts and use half-crushed pretzels for a salty-sweet mix. Serve with a spoon and a warning.
Kid’s Mini Blast
Cut all ingredients in half for a toddler-size treat that still feels special.
Protein Trick or Treat
Use protein ice cream and add a scoop of vanilla whey powder to the base. Stir gently. It won’t taste exactly the same but you’ll feel slightly better about eating it post-gym.
Boozy Candy Shake
Add a half shot of caramel vodka or Irish cream for a grown-up dessert. Best served after trick-or-treaters are tucked in.
Ingredient Substitutes
Vanilla Ice Cream
Original: Regular vanilla ice cream
Substitutes: Low-fat vanilla, frozen yogurt, coconut milk ice cream, or protein ice cream for a lighter version
Whole Milk
Original: Whole milk
Substitutes: Oat milk for creaminess, almond milk for nutty notes, or lactose-free milk if needed
HEATH Toffee Bits
Original: Store-bought HEATH bits
Substitutes: Chopped Skor bar, Werther’s soft caramels chopped small, or homemade toffee crumbs
OREO Pieces
Original: OREO cookies, broken into chunks
Substitutes: Chocolate wafer cookies, gluten-free sandwich cookies, or even Thin Mints if you want a minty spin
M&M’s Minis
Original: Miniature M&M’s
Substitutes: Regular M&M’s (chopped), Reese’s Pieces, chopped KitKats, or colorful chocolate-coated sunflower seeds
Toppings
Original: Extra candy mix
Substitutes: Crushed candy bars, gummy worms (for spooky effect), or even a drizzle of caramel or chocolate sauce
Honest Review
After a couple test runs (and more sugar than I care to admit), this version really nails that Sonic vibe. The texture is spot-on for a homemade take, creamy but not runny, thick enough to need a spoon, with just enough candy crunch to keep things playful. The combo of HEATH bits, M&M’s Minis, and OREO pieces creates the same layered sweetness you get in the drive-thru version, where every bite tastes just a little different.
Would I say it’s 100% identical to Sonic’s? Not quite. Sonic’s soft-serve has that pumped-in-air texture I can’t totally recreate with a blender and store-bought ice cream. They’ve probably got some stabilizers or secret emulsifiers behind the scenes. But taste-wise? It’s all there. The candy blend, the creaminess, the way it melts into one glorious, chaotic spoonful.
If you’re craving that once-a-year Halloween sugar bomb without driving across town or waiting for Sonic’s seasonal drop, this hits the mark. It’s fun, messy, and just nostalgic enough to make you smile before the last bite. I’ll be making it again. Probably on a random Tuesday.
Ingredients
- 1 cup vanilla ice cream (lightly softened but still cold)
- ¼ cup whole milk (very cold)
- 2 tbsp HEATH toffee bits
- 2 tbsp OREO cookie pieces (pea-sized chunks, not crumbs)
- 1 tbsp M&M’s Minis
Instructions
Add vanilla ice cream and cold milk to a mixing bowl and stir gently with a spatula or pulse once or twice in a blender until smooth but still thick and spoonable, like real soft-serve. Sprinkle in the HEATH bits, OREO chunks, and M&M’s Minis, then fold them in gently with a spatula so you keep chunks in every bite instead of blending everything into a candy mix. Spoon the mixture into a chilled cup or glass and scatter the remaining candy over the top just like Sonic does, letting all the colors and textures show. Serve immediately with a long spoon or thick straw and enjoy before the cookies soften too much.
Notes
Calories: 640 Total Fat: 25 g Saturated Fat: 15 g Carbohydrates: 90 g Sugar: 72 g Protein: 9 g
