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    Home ยป Recipes ยป Drinks ยป Cocktails

    Bushwackers

    Published: Aug 31, 2022 ยท Updated: Sep 1, 2022 ยท Post may contain affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

    A simple Bushwacker recipe with ice cream, so you can enjoy the creamy, frozen cocktail at home. Only 6 easy-to-find ingredients

    four glasses with frozen cocktail topped with cherries on a white wicker table
    • About
      • Ingredients
        • Cost of Recipe
    • How to Make a Bushwacker
    • Recipe Tips
      • For a Richer Bushwacker Recipe
      • How to Make Allergy-Friendly
      • Milk Substitutions
      • How to Fix a Mistake
      • Storage Suggestions
    • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Nutrition Benefits
      • What to Serve with Bushwackers

    About the Bushwacker Drink

    Think of a Bushwacker as a boozy milkshake: thick, creamy, and full of alcohol.

    The Bushwacker recipe was originally created in the '70s at the Ship's Store in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. It's a popular frozen cocktail at many restaurants in Orange Beach, Alabama, Pensacola, Florida, and other southern spots.

    This simple Bushwacker drink is a little less rich than the one you'd get at a bar or restaurant but still full of flavor and booze.

    Typically, Bushwacker cocktail ingredients are dark rum, Kahlúa, crème de cacao, cream of coconut, milk, and ice.

    However, this version uses more common ingredients: ice cream, milk, ice, coconut rum, coffee liqueur, and light or dark rum (depending on your own personal preference).

    wooden table with a bag of ice, carton of vanilla ice cream, jar of cherries, jar of chocolate sauce, and bottles of kahlua, coconut rum, and silver rum

    Bushwacker Cocktail Ingredients

    Ice Cream: Any vanilla ice cream you like best will work in this recipe. The alcohol takes over most of the flavor, so the ice cream taste isn't very important. Simply buy the vanilla or vanilla bean ice cream you prefer (or is on sale to help your budget).

    Milk: You are using a small amount of milk, so any milk will work here. Honestly, the milk isn't completely necessary if you forget it. Simply use a little more ice cream.

    Coconut rum: The original recipe calls for coconut cream, but it's not always easy to find. That's why coconut rum is used for you to still get the coconut flavor in an easier-to-find place.

    Coffee-flavored liqueur: Any coffee-flavored liqueur will work; the recipe was tested using Kahlua. Coffee liqueur gives added depth and richness to the Bushwacker cocktail plus sweetness.

    Rum: Light or dark rum both work well, so this is up to you on personal preference.

    You have the option to top the Bushwacker with a "floater" which is an extra shot of rum after you pour the drinks into cups. Many bars & restaurants will use Bacardi 151, but that makes the drink very strong. The recipe below suggests topping the Bushwacker with more of the rum that was used inside the drink, yet it is also optional.

    four plastic cups filled with bushwackers and a beach, Mobile Bar, and a wharf in the background

    Cost of Recipe

    • ice 4 cups: $0
    • vanilla ice cream 2 cups: $1.68
    • milk ยผ cup: $0.16
    • coconut rum 4 ounces: $1.80
    • rum 4 ounces: $2.72
    • coffee liqueur 4 ounces: $4.32

    TOTAL COST: $10.68 or $1.34/serving (Based on San Diego grocery stores 2022)

    Note that this is not the recipe; it's simply to show the cost breakdown of ingredients. Scroll down to the full recipe to see the specific ingredients and directions.

    How to Make a Bushwacker

    collage of a blender making a frozen drink with ice, alcohol, and ice cream; then the drink being poured into cups

    Time needed: 5 minutes.

    How to make a Bushwacker with ice cream: add everything to a blender and blend. That's it!

    1. Add ice to a blender.

    2. Pour in coconut rum, rum, and coffee liqueur.

    3. Top with ice cream and milk.

    4. Blend.

      Taste and add more alcohol or ice cream if desired.

    5. Pour the Bushwacker drink into cups or glasses.

    6. Top with extra rum and/or a cherry. Enjoy!

      cherry being placed on a frozen bushwacker drink

    Recipe Tips

    For a Richer Bushwacker Recipe

    For an extra creamy Bushwacker, make your ice cubes with milk. Using half milk and half regular ice cubes makes for an extra creamy Bushwacker, but it does require a little extra planning. Honestly, it's not a significant difference.

    If you decide to do this, plan an extra 4-8 hours for the milk to freeze. You can do this the night before, so the milk is frozen whenever you're ready to make the Bushwacker drinks.

    Variations

    How to Make Allergy-Friendly

    If you want these to be dairy free, be sure to use dairy-free ice cream and milk.

    Bushwackers are naturally gluten-free. Based on the ice cream you use, it can be soy-free and egg-free.

    Milk Substitutions

    If you don't have any milk, use a little extra ice cream in its place. You'll use the same amount of ice cream as you would for milk - about ยผ cup.

    wicker table with blender full of frozen bushwacker drinks and four filled glasses with a jar of chocolate sauce on the side

    How to Fix a Mistake

    Too thin: Add an extra 1 cup of ice cubes or ยฝ cup of ice cream, and blend. Repeat until it reaches your desired consistency.

    Too thick: Add an extra ยผ cup milk or rum, and blend. Repeat until it reaches your desired consistency.

    Too strong: Add an extra 1 cup of ice cubes or ยฝ cup milk or ice cream, and blend. Taste and add more if needed.

    Not strong enough: Add an extra ยผ cup of rum, and blend. Taste and add more if needed.

    two plastic cups filled with a frozen drink and Mobile Bay and a wharf in the background

    Make-Ahead Ideas

    It's not recommended to make this Bushwacker cocktail recipe in advance since they will melt.

    The only time you'd want to plan ahead is to make milk ice cubes for a creamier Bushwacker. In that case, you'll need to freeze the milk about 4 to 8 hours in advance depending on the temperature of your freezer and the size of your ice cube trays.

    bushwacker being poured into a glass from the blender

    Storage Suggestions

    Keep the leftovers in the freezer. If storing for a short time, keep covered in the blender. When you're ready to drink them again, pull them out of the freezer. Let them thaw for about 5 minutes; then do a quick pulse on the blender to make them smooth again.

    If storing for longer than 24 hours, use an airtight container to store and leave at room temperature for about 15 to 30 minutes until softened. Transfer to a blender and add a little ice or a scoop of ice cream to thicken.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    How do you serve a Bushwacker?

    Serve the Bushwacker drinks in any glass or cup. Restaurants and bars use hurricane glasses, plastic cups, or glasses.
    Pour the Bushwacker into a cup and top with a splash of extra rum and/or a cherry.
    For something extra, drizzle about 1 teaspoon of chocolate sauce into each glass before pouring in the Bushwacker.hand holding a glass with a spoon is drizzling chocolate sauce into the glass with a jar of chocolate sauce on the side

    Can you make Bushwackers in advance?

    Yes, you technically can. Prepare then freeze. Let thaw for about 5-10 minutes at room temperature. Then blend until smooth and creamy, and enjoy.

    Can you make one Bushwacker at a time?

    Yes, you can adjust the serving size on the recipe card below. Something to note is that you might want to use a smaller blender if you have one so it blends easily.

    Nutrition Benefits

    The nutritional benefits of a Bushwacker drink are that it's delicious and fun. Rich, filling, and sweet, so you'll probably only want one or two.

    What to Serve with Bushwackers

    This Buckwacker recipe with ice cream is for the over 21-group, and please enjoy responsibly.

    These are best served with food since they are kinda strong. Anything you'd want to eat with a milkshake will do.

    A burger, roasted veggie lentil salad, and a big slice of watermelon served with a refreshing Bushwacker would be a delightful summertime menu.

    Final thoughts:

    They are so simple and serve a crowd, so there's no need to painstakingly make everyone their own drink. Simply blend and pour.

    Pretty much everyone loves them. And they're also great for an after-dinner drink in the summer.

    a blender filled with a frozen bushwacker, a glass with a bushwacker topped with a cherry and glasses with chocolate sauce

    MORE FROZEN COCKTAIL RECIPES YOU'LL LOVE:

    • Tia Maria Cocktails
    • Boozy Mango Pineapple Popsicles
    • Red Roosters
    • Piña Colada
    • Mardi Gras Smoothies
    four glasses with frozen cocktail topped with cherries on a white wicker table

    Bushwackers

    A simple Bushwacker recipe with ice cream, so you can enjoy the creamy, frozen cocktail at home. Only 6 easy-to-find ingredients
    5 from 7 votes
    Print Rate
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 0 minutes
    Total Time: 5 minutes
    Servings: 8 servings
    Author: Meme
    Total Cost: $10.68 or $1.34/serving

    Ingredients

    • 4 cups ice
    • 2 cups vanilla ice cream
    • ยผ cup milk
    • 4 ounces coconut rum Malibu
    • 4 ounces coffee flavored liqueur Kahlúa
    • 4 ounces rum

    Instructions

    • Add ice cubes, ice cream, milk, coconut rum, coffee flavored liqueur, and rum to a blender. Blend until completely smooth.
    • Taste and add more coffee-flavored liqueur or coconut rum if needed.
    • Serve in 6 glasses. Top Bushwackers with extra rum, if desired, before serving. Enjoy!

    Video

    Notes

    *Makes 6 cups
    *If needed, omit the milk and use ยผ cup extra ice cream in its place.
    *For a creamier Bushwacker, freeze 2 cups of milk in ice cube trays. Use the milk ice cubes in place of 2 cups of ice.
    *For something extra, drizzle about 1 teaspoon of chocolate sauce into each glass before pouring in the Bushwacker. Top with a cherry.

    What to Use in This Recipe

    Blender
    Did you try this recipe?Be sure to leave a comment & recipe rating below. Bonus points for tagging @memeinge & #livingwellkitchen on Instagram! THANK YOU! xo

    Meme

    This post was originally published on April 26, 2013. Text, recipe, and photos have been updated.


    Bushwacker Recipe Nutrition Facts

    Nutrition Facts
    Bushwackers
    Serving Size
     
    0.75 cups
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    186
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    2
    g
    3
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    1
    g
    6
    %
    Cholesterol
     
    10
    mg
    3
    %
    Sodium
     
    33
    mg
    1
    %
    Potassium
     
    89
    mg
    3
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    18
    g
    6
    %
    Sugar
     
    15
    g
    17
    %
    Protein
     
    2
    g
    4
    %
    Vitamin A
     
    180
    IU
    4
    %
    Vitamin C
     
    0.5
    mg
    1
    %
    Calcium
     
    70
    mg
    7
    %
    Iron
     
    0.1
    mg
    1
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Holly says

      August 10, 2018 at 10:02 am

      5 stars
      I have never heard of bushwhackers until now!! Definitely will have to try!

      Reply
      • Meme says

        August 11, 2018 at 3:28 pm

        YES! You need to ๐Ÿ™‚
        They are so tasty!

        Reply
    2. Liz says

      August 11, 2018 at 12:43 pm

      5 stars
      What a fun drink!!!! You are always teaching me things!

      Reply
      • Meme says

        August 11, 2018 at 3:28 pm

        Maybe we need to drink some this afternoon ๐Ÿ˜‰

        Reply
    3. Lindsey says

      August 12, 2018 at 7:49 am

      5 stars
      Yes please!!! How have I never had a bushwacker before?! So much yum!

      Reply
    4. E says

      August 12, 2018 at 11:02 am

      5 stars
      I am dreaming of going to one of these bars with you!! What a fun time! While I'm waiting for our get together I will be making these at home on repeat - thanks for a delicious recipe!! You know I love my cocktails ๐Ÿ˜‰

      Reply
    5. Lorie says

      August 13, 2018 at 8:09 am

      5 stars
      The name of this drink always makes me giggle. But I loooooove them!

      Reply
    6. Bridgette Rosiles says

      July 21, 2019 at 7:30 pm

      5 stars
      Itโ€™s was really good. It was a little strong for me so the next round I just eased up on the liquor an my family an I loved it. Thanks we really enjoyed it

      Reply
      • Meme says

        July 22, 2019 at 1:43 pm

        YAYYYY!!! Glad y'all enjoyed them. And yes, they are definitely strong. Glad you were able to change the amount to suit your family's preferences! Thanks for coming back to share!

        Reply
    7. Patricia Dorantes says

      November 18, 2019 at 6:15 am

      Do i have to use blender if im making one at a time???? Can i scoop ice creme and pour over liquid and serve???? And how much liquid per glass

      Reply
      • Meme says

        November 19, 2019 at 7:25 am

        I've only made these as a blended drink, and since there is ice in it, you need something to blend the ice into the drink. I think it might be too strong without ice. Otherwise, you could make it more like a coke float by pouring the liquor over the ice cream but I would cut the alcohol measurements in half to start since you will not have the ice to dilute the drink. Increase the liquor as needed. Hope that helps!

        Reply

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    Meme (a brunette female) is holding umbrella and spinning around in front of the Eiffel Tower wearing a denim jacket, skirt, and blue shoesHi, I'm Meme, a thirty-something registered dietitian nutritionist from Alabama living in San Diego. Here to help you enjoy food, feel better in your body at any size, and live free of diets & shame.
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