Arby's Vanilla Shake

About the Vanilla Shake

Arby's Vanilla Shake ($4.29) is the plain, creamy member of the shake lineup, and a Large carries 870 cal. Arby's offers it in Small, Medium and Large, with the starting price tied to the Small cup.

The menu copy has fun with it. Arby's says this shake is for someone who keeps things simple, knows what they like, and gets the same horoscope every day: today will be nice. That joke sums up the drink. There is no swirl, no mix in, no coffee, just cold vanilla dairy blended smooth.

Simple does not mean dull. Good vanilla tastes sweet and floral with a buttery, almost custard finish, and that is the profile here. The shake pours an ivory white, thick enough to hold a straw upright for the first stretch, then relaxes into a silky drink you can finish without a spoon. Cold, smooth, mild: it is the shake equivalent of a clean white tee.

Vanilla is also the friendliest flavor for picky eaters. Young kids who balk at coffee or dark chocolate usually take to it, and adults who want something to calm a spicy order lean on it too. Order one after a round of Jalapeño Bites and the cream puts out the fire fast.

On Vanilla Shake calories, the Large reading above is the top of the range. That cup also lists 119 grams of sugar and 23 grams of protein. The Small and Medium land lower, and vanilla runs a little lighter than the chocolate and Jamocha cups at every size on the Arby's chart.

How much is the Vanilla Shake near you? Our figure is an Austin reading, and franchise pricing shifts from city to city, so your total can come out slightly different.

Its edge over the other shakes is range. Vanilla goes with everything on the menu, from roast beef to chicken to fries, without fighting any flavor on the tray. Browse the rest of the cold treats on the Arby's shakes and desserts menu.

For a pairing that works every time, order it with a Crispy Chicken Sandwich, or keep it snacky and set it next to an order of Jalapeño Bites so the cream cools the heat.