Health Kick

• Not everything that goes into a shake has to be saccharine and fatty. Blending a piece of fruit or two into your chocolate milkshake can give you needed minerals and vitamins as well as extra flavor. One simple addition is to add a banana, either a half or whole one, into the shake. Other fruity alternatives are strawberries, blueberries or raspberries -- actually, most berries will do. If you are feeling tropical, blend in some pineapple rings or coconut shavings. Feeling fancy? Try some pomegranate seeds or even some avocado slices.

Secret Spices

• A pinch of this or a splash of that can heighten your chocolate shake's flavors. Grab the ground cloves from your spice rack and shake in a few flakes, or go for some nutmeg, anise or cardamom. Add a dash of vanilla or almond extract, or go straight to the source with some vanilla beans or almond slivers. Ginger, either raw or crystallized, will give your shake some zing -- mix the ginger with a smidgen of black or red pepper flakes. A few other choice ingredients from your cupboard include peanut butter and cinnamon sticks.

For the Kids

• Just because a chocolate milkshake is already a dessert treat doesn't mean that you can't make it more like candy -- meaning you should blend some candy into it. Chocolate bars and candies will make the shake more decadent, while mint-flavored treats, like peppermint bark and sticks, will give the shake some spice. Ground-up cookies and graham crackers will give the shake more texture and weight, transforming the sweet into something pielike. Speaking of pie, add a spoonful of pie filling, or even a small slice of it, to your shake -- cake will work too.

Adults Only

• Chocolate milkshakes have a bit of an innocent reputation -- you can fix that by blending in some booze. Fruit-flavored liqueurs, such as banana and strawberry, or cream liqueurs, like Irish cream or creme de cacao, will both sweeten the shake and give it an edge. If blending in hard liquors like whiskey or tequila, only add about half a shot, for the liquor might overpower the chocolate flavor. Flavored liquors like rum and vodka, however, will blend well at full strength -- select complementary flavors like vanilla, whipped cream or sweeter fruits.