New York (well, Sex in the City) may have started the cupcake trend, but now the tables have turned. Our ridiculous penance for freakshakes – started by Canberra café Patissez, turned into a full-blown trend by the likes of Chester St Bakery and Foodcraft – has gone global.

In New York, Black Tap Craft Burgers and Beer have started turning out elaborately garnished milky beverages, with hour-long queues lining up around the block and a media frenzy ensuing (the Today show even covered it).

Cotton Candy number, with rock candy swizzle sticks, a county-fair style lollypop, round lollies and of course, a sh*t ton of fairy floss on top. The sweet and salty has pretzel sticks, peanut butter cups, M&M coated pretzals, peanut brittle and whole heap of other crazy stuff. Shots of alcohol optional.

The shakes have around 1600 calories a piece (a standard female should consume 1600-2000 a day) and sell for up to $12USD ($16.70AU) each.