A sweet and refreshing strawberry milkshake is the perfect drink for summer. They can be enjoyed as a healthy breakfast beverage, for an energizing snack or even as a lighter dessert. Here I share with you two different but equally delicious ways to make my favorite strawberry milkshake recipe – a classic shake prepared with milk, and a plant-based vegan version made with almond milk.
About Strawberry Shake
I love to make all kinds of fun recipes whenever strawberries are in season. From Shortcakes to Cream Cakes, strawberries are a perfect ingredient to use in your favorite sweet treats.
Not only are strawberries great to bake with, they’re terrific to include in other dishes like Fruit Salad and many no-cook summer recipes.
When I have an abundance of strawberries but don’t have the time (or simply don’t feel like) cooking, this strawberry milkshake is my go-to way to use fresh berries.
Table of Contents
A strawberry milkshake is a cold, sweet drink made by blending fresh strawberries with milk, sugar, and optionally ice cubes or ice cream until smooth and creamy.
Not only are fruit shakes delicious, they are easy to make in just 10 minutes with a handful of ingredients. Plus, you can customize this Strawberry Milkshake recipe to fit your tastes.
Below you’ll find step-by-step instructions to prepare a traditional shake made with milk or a vegan strawberry shake that uses almond milk or your preferred plant-based milk substitute.
These milkshakes with strawberries can also be prepared thin or thick, however you like. I often make this milkshake without ice cream, and therefore this drink has a slightly thin consistency but lots of vibrant strawberry flavor.
But it is easy to make this recipe with ice cream – dairy or vegan-friendly – for a richer, thicker and creamier shake.
Make your Strawberry Milkshake recipe however you prefer for a tasty treat anytime of the day.
Speaking of fresh strawberries, you should check out these Strawberries Recipes for even more ideas of how to use a bounty of berries:
- Strawberry Smoothie – A refreshing and naturally sweet drink made with fresh strawberries, banana and coconut milk.
- Homemade Strawberry Jam – A simple and delicious preserve that lets you enjoy the flavor of strawberries year-round.
- Strawberry Milk – A quick, fuss-free Korean drink made by mixing macerated strawberry syrup with milk and a touch of sweetener.
- Strawberry Cream – A light, whipped dessert perfect for layering in trifles or serving on its own.
- Chocolate Covered Strawberries – Juicy berries dipped in melted chocolate, ideal for gifting or festive treats.
How to make Strawberry Milk
Prep Strawberries
1. First, rinse and drain 250 grams (about 22 to 25 small to medium) of fresh strawberries.
2. Slice off the green leafy part from all the strawberries. This is also called as hulling the strawberries. Then roughly chop them.
3. Add the chopped strawberries to a blender jar.
Make Strawberry Milkshake
4. Add 2 to 2.5 cups of chilled milk, depending on whether you want a thinner or thicker strawberry milkshake.
You can also add two or three scoops of vanilla or strawberry ice cream to make a thicker and creamier shake.
5. Add sugar as required. If the strawberries are very sweet or you’re using ice cream, then you don’t need to add any sugar. I added 3 tablespoons of raw sugar, but you can use granulated white sugar also.
Feel free to add 2 to 3 scoops of vanilla ice cream or strawberry ice cream at this point for a much thicker and creamier shake.
6. Blend the milkshake until smooth.
7. Pour into two tall glasses and serve the strawberry shake immediately. You can also add a scoop of vanilla or strawberry ice cream at the end for an extra sweet treat, or top with a few fresh strawberry slices or whipped cream.
I’ve added a scoop of strawberry ice cream, which has blended into the shake and isn’t visible in the photo.
Vegan Strawberry Shake
This strawberry shake version uses chilled plant-based almond milk for a delicious vegan milkshake. You can also prepare it with coconut or cashew milk, if you like.
Either way I recommend adding a scoop of vegan vanilla, strawberry, banana or chikoo (sapota) ice cream either while blending or as a topping before you enjoy.
Before you make this recipe be sure to check out my handy post on How to Make Almond Milk from scratch. (Note: It keeps well for about 2 to 3 days when made fresh.) Almond milk is a very good and super healthy alternative if you are allergic to milk or are a vegan.
Here are the easy steps for making a fresh and yummy vegan strawberry milkshake:
- First, hull and chop 200 to 250 grams of fresh strawberries (22 to 25 berries).
- Add them in a blender cup along with 2.5 cups of almond milk, ½ teaspoon of vanilla extract (or vanilla powder or half of a small vanilla bean scraped), plus 1 to 2 tablespoons of raw sugar or powdered jaggery or maple syrup. You can also add a scoop of non-dairy vanilla or strawberry ice cream or sapodilla ice cream when blending for an extra thick vegan shake.
- Blend until smooth.
- Pour into two tall glasses. If you like, place a scoop of the plant-based ice cream in the milkshake. Vegan vanilla ice cream and strawberry ice cream are my favorites for this recipe.
- Garnish the milkshake with some chopped strawberries or nuts. I topped with some vegan sapodilla ice cream (chikoo ice cream).
- Serve the strawberry almond milkshakes immediately.
Expert Tips
- Strawberries: If possible use sweet and ripe strawberries. This will eliminate the need to add any extra sweeteners, and therefore makes this a healthy Strawberry Milkshake recipe.
- Creamy Thick Shakes: You can also make a thicker, creamier shake by using frozen strawberries. Flash freeze fresh strawberries by rinsing, hulling, and placing on a baking sheet. Then place in the freezer for an hour or so before blending.
- Flavoring Options: Feel free to add your choice of flavorings like vanilla extract, ground cinnamon, mint leaves, lavender or ground green cardamom while blending.
- Ice Cream Shake: For a richer and thicker milkshake, blend in 2 to 3 scoops of Vanilla Ice Cream or Strawberry Ice Cream. Or, like I’ve done here, simply top the shake with 1 to 2 scoops before serving.
- Sweeteners: Including any sweetener is optional and I recommend that you only add it if your strawberries are not sweet. Add your preferred choice of sweetener such as jaggery, granulated sugar, maple syrup or coconut sugar.
FAQs
Yes, you can use frozen strawberries if fresh ones are unavailable or not in the season. Ensure they are thawed slightly before blending to achieve a smoother consistency. Keep in mind that frozen strawberries might make the milkshake slightly thicker and colder.
Yes! The milkshake tastes great with just milk, strawberries, and sweetener, but adding ice cream makes it creamier and more indulgent.
The sweetness largely depends on the ripeness of the strawberries. Taste the strawberries beforehand; if they’re sweet, you might need less added sugar. Start with a small amount of sweetener and adjust according to your preference.
Use frozen strawberries, add more ice cream than milk, or blend in some fresh cream for extra richness.
It’s best to consume the strawberry milkshake immediately after preparation to enjoy its fresh taste and flavor. If stored, it might separate or lose its freshness. If you need to prepare it ahead, store it in the refrigerator for up to a few hours and stir well before serving.
More Milkshake Recipes To Try!
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Milkshake Recipes
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Strawberry Milkshake Recipe: Classic & Plant Based
Ingredients
For Strawberry Milkshake
- 250 grams strawberries or 22 to 25 small to medium strawberries
- 2 cups milk cold or chilled, you can also add 2.5 cups milk
- 3 to 4 tablespoons raw sugar or any sweetener of choice – add as required, optional
- 2 to 3 scoops strawberry ice cream or vanilla ice cream, optional
For Vegan Strawberry Shake
- 250 grams strawberries – hulled and chopped
- 2.5 cups Almond Milk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract or vanilla powder or half of a small vanilla bean scraped (optional)
- 1 to 2 tablespoons raw sugar or white sugar or choice of sweetener, add as required
- 2 to 3 scoops vegan vanilla ice cream or vegan strawberry ice cream or sapodilla ice cream – optional
Instructions
Making Strawberry Milkshake
Prepping Strawberries
- First rinse the strawberries very well in water using a strainer or colander. Drain all of the water.
- Slice off the green leafy part from all the strawberries. Then chop the strawberries.
Blending The Ingredients
- Add the chopped strawberries to a blender together with 2 cups of cold or chilled milk.
- Optionally add the raw sugar or as needed. If the strawberries are very sweet, then you don't need to add any sugar or sweetener of choice.
- To make a thicker and creamier shake, add 2 to 3 scoops of vanilla or strawberry ice cream in the blender.
- Blend until smooth.
- Pour in tall glasses and serve strawberry milkshake immediately. You can also add a scoop of vanilla ice cream or strawberry ice cream and enjoy a strawberry ice cream shake.
Making Vegan Strawberry Shake
- Rinse the strawberries well and drain the water. Hull (remove the top green stems) and chop the fresh strawberries
- Add chopped strawberries in a blender cup together with almond milk, vanilla powder (or vanilla extract or half of a vanilla bean scraped), plus 1 to 2 tablespoons of powdered jaggery or organic raw sugar
- You can also add a scoop of non-dairy vanilla or strawberry ice cream when blending for an extra thick vegan shake.
- Blend until smooth.
- Pour into two tall glasses. If you like, place a scoop of the plant-based vanilla or strawberry ice cream in the strawberry shake. Garnish it with some chopped strawberries or nuts.
- Serve the vegan strawberry almond milkshake immediately.
Serving Suggestions
- Serve these strawberry milkshakes as soon as they are made for the best taste and freshness. You can enjoy them as a snack for brunch or make them for breakfast.
- Top with sliced strawberries or chopped nuts of your choice.
Video
Notes
- Strawberries: Try to make the shakes with sweet and ripe strawberries. This will do away the need to add any extra sweeteners making these shakes healthy.
- Creamy thick shakes: Make a creamier, thick shake by using frozen strawberries. Flash freeze fresh strawberries by rinsing, hulling, and placing on a baking sheet. Then place in the freezer for an hour or so before blending.
- Flavoring options: Add your favorite flavorings like ground cinnamon, vanilla extract, mint leaves, lavender or ground green cardamoms.
- Ice cream shake: For a more creamier thick milkshake, add two to three scoops of vanilla or strawberry ice cream while blending.
- Sweeteners: I suggest to add the sweeteners only if your strawberries are not sweet. Add your preferred choice of sweetener such as jaggery, granulated sugar, maple syrup, palm sugar or coconut sugar.
- Making Almond Milk: To make quick almond milk, soak 1 cup almonds in hot water for 30 minutes. Peel and blend them with 3 cups water in a sturdy blender. Strain through a fine sieve, cheese cloth or muslin. Keep the milk in a jar or bottle covered in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 days. The remaining almond meal can be added to breads, cakes, muffins, cookies.
- Note that the approximate nutrition info is for the strawberry milkshake made with dairy milk.
Nutrition Info (Approximate Values)
Strawberry Milkshake recipe from the blog archives was first published on February 2015.
is there any substitute for ice-cream to make the shake thicker?
You could try with ice cubes or frozen milk cubes. Adding some whipping cream will also help.
Today I tried it and it’s just awesome.
Thanks Krishna
Wow… Delicious food recipes
thankyou kavitha 🙂
Wonderful simple shake. Added the chia seeds and used frozen berries. Mmmmm. Thanks for this.
Mother
welcome and thankyou tameca 🙂
Its so simple to make
Loved it
thanks sonika
Hi,
This isn’t related to this post but wanted to know if you can help me with the recipe of banoffee pie?
Thanks
Minakshi
welcome minakshi. i have heard but never made the recipe. so won’t be able to help you.
I made this for my family on Valentines day 🙂 they all loved it and said it tastes wayyyyy better than store bought strawberry ice cream. My husband asked.. Just 3 ingredients? And a couple of minutes in the blender? That’s it?
🙂 thanks for another great recipe.
thats good to know nivedita. thanks for sharing. homemade stuff taste any day better 🙂
THANK U VERY MUCH
welcome sumanaya
Tnks 4 this recipe…
I will try this…I want 2 share something…today I drink chocolate cold coffee nd its so testy… nd nicely decorated…now I need ur help to prepare this plz…
welcome ranjeeta. i will add the recipe soon.
Well I found this blog while i was searching for Milkshakes. It was nice to see recipe of Strawberry milkshake i loved It.Thanks For sharing
welcome vij
Hi Dassana,
Even i make this quite often.I add vanilla essence and banana to the above mentioned ingredients..it tastes really good.
thanks ashwini for sharing your version.
Hi Dasanna…. Was curious to know… Doesn’t the milk split when you add feesh strawberries??…. Coz,no matter how sweet the strawberries are,they do have some amount of acidity in them which could cause the milk to split. Please advise!… Ashwini.
ashwini, i have made strawberry milkshake so many times. i never had this issue. i use chilled milk and the milk has never got curdled.
Dear Dassana,
hello how are you? Loved the strawberry milkshake a small suggestion it can be made more nutritious if you add chia seeds or sabja seeds as they are called in hindi I know they are main ingredients of falooda but adding them to juices and milkshakes ups the ante and it gives strength to our body.
thanks sarita. i am fine and hope the same for you. we add sabja seeds to milk or roohafza or nimbu pani. but never added to milkshake. your suggestion is good we can add to milkshakes also.
Delicious milkshake
Thanks Vimitha