Last week, Emma came home from a playdate talking nonstop about his friend's mom who made "the most amazing pink shake ever." He begged me to figure out how to make one just like it, so we spent the weekend experimenting until we created this strawberry milkshake that's become our new summer obsession. After testing different ratios of strawberries to ice cream and trying both fresh and frozen fruit, we finally landed on this recipe that tastes like pure strawberry heaven in a glass.
Why You'll Love This Strawberry Milkshake Recipe
Emma's friends always get excited when they find out we're making strawberry milkshakes because they taste so much better than anything you can buy at a restaurant. What makes this recipe special is how thick and creamy it comes out - you need a spoon for the first few bites, but it's still smooth enough to drink through a straw. The strawberry flavor really pops because we use way more fruit than most recipes call for.
The best part is how easy it is to make. Emma can help with every step, from washing the strawberries to operating the blender (with supervision, of course). We always make extra because his friends inevitably show up right when we're finishing, and there's nothing better than watching kids' faces light up when they taste homemade milkshake for the first time. Plus, you can customize it however you want - more strawberries for stronger flavor, less milk for thicker consistency, or even add a little vanilla for extra sweetness.
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love This Strawberry Milkshake Recipe
- Ingredients for Strawberry Milkshake
- How To Make Strawberry Milkshake Step By Step
- Storing Your Strawberry Milkshake
- Strawberry Milkshake Recipe Variations
- Substitutions
- Equipment For Strawberry Milkshake Recipe
- What to Serve With Strawberry Milkshake
- Top Tip
- The Dish My Grandmother Taught Me to Love
- FAQ
- Sweet Summer Success!
- Related
- Pairing
- Strawberry Milkshake
Ingredients for Strawberry Milkshake
The Main Players:
- Fresh strawberries
- Vanilla ice cream
- Whole milk
- Sugar
Optional Boosters:
- Fresh strawberries for garnish
- Pure vanilla extract
- Heavy cream
- Whipped cream for topping
See recipe card for quantities.
How To Make Strawberry Milkshake Step By Step
Prep Your Strawberries:
- Wash strawberries thoroughly
- Remove green tops
- Cut larger berries in half
- Let them sit at room temperature for 10 minutes
Get Everything Ready:
- Take ice cream out to soften slightly
- Chill your glasses in the freezer
- Have all ingredients measured
- Set up your blender
The Blending Process:
- Add strawberries to blender first
- Pour in milk (start with less, add more if needed)
- Add softened ice cream
- Blend on medium speed first
- Increase to high for smooth consistency
The Perfect Finish:
- Taste and adjust sweetness
- Add more milk if too thick
- Blend again briefly if needed
- Pour into chilled glasses
Serving Time:
- Enjoy immediately
- Top with whipped cream
- Add fresh strawberry garnish
- Serve with thick straws
Storing Your Strawberry Milkshake
Immediate Serving (Best Option):
- Drink right away for best texture
- Keep glasses in freezer until ready
- Milkshakes don't wait well
- Serve within 10 minutes of making
Short-Term Hold (30 minutes max):
- Store in refrigerator
- Stir before serving
- Expect some separation
- May need quick re-blend
Prep-Ahead Tips:
- Wash and prep strawberries the night before
- Keep ice cream properly frozen
- Chill glasses ahead of time
- Have everything measured and ready
What Doesn't Work:
- Leaving at room temperature (melts fast)
- Freezing finished milkshakes (they get icy)
Strawberry Milkshake Recipe Variations
Chocolate Strawberry:
- Add chocolate syrup
- Use chocolate ice cream
- Top with chocolate chips
- Drizzle with more chocolate
Strawberry Banana:
- Add half a ripe banana
- Extra creamy texture
- Natural sweetness boost
- Emma's top pick
Birthday Cake Style:
- Add vanilla cake mix (just a spoonful)
- Rainbow sprinkles mixed in
- Whipped cream topping
- More sprinkles on top
Tropical Twist:
- Add coconut flakes
- Use coconut milk
- Pineapple chunks
- Coconut ice cream
Cookies and Cream:
- Crushed vanilla wafers
- Mix some in, save some for topping
- Extra vanilla
- Crunchy surprise bites
Substitutions
Ice Cream Options:
- Vanilla → Strawberry ice cream (for extra berry flavor)
- Regular → Sugar-free vanilla
- Dairy → Coconut or cashew ice cream
- Store-bought → Homemade vanilla
Milk Alternatives:
- Whole milk → 2% or skim milk
- Dairy → Almond milk
- Regular → Oat milk
- Standard → Coconut milk
Fruit Changes:
- Fresh strawberries → Frozen strawberries
- Regular → Organic strawberries
- Plain → Mixed berries
- Strawberries → Freeze-dried strawberry powder
Sweetener Swaps:
- Sugar → Honey
- Regular → Maple syrup
- White sugar → Agave nectar
- Standard → Stevia (use much less)
Special Dietary:
- Regular → Lactose-free versions
- Dairy → Completely plant-based
- Sugar → Diabetic-friendly sweeteners
Equipment For Strawberry Milkshake Recipe
- Good blender
- Ice cream scoop
- Measuring cups
- Tall glasses
- Thick straws
What to Serve With Strawberry Milkshake
From countless summer afternoons of milkshake making, here's what pairs well with these creamy treats. Sweet options like chocolate chip cookies, fresh brownies, and vanilla wafers are classics for a reason - they're perfect for dunking and the flavors complement the strawberry beautifully. For lighter fare, try fresh fruit salad, vanilla pound cake, or angel food cake.
For parties and special occasions, we like to set up a whole spread with birthday cake, mini cupcakes, and fresh strawberries with chocolate dip. Breakfast treats like pancakes, French toast, and cinnamon rolls also work great when you're making milkshakes for a weekend brunch. Emma's weirdest discovery? Salty pretzels taste amazing when you dip them in strawberry milkshake - don't knock it until you try it!
Top Tip
- Emma loves hearing stories about her great-grandmother's milkshakes, and now when we make them together, I use her same technique of macerating the strawberries first. It's funny how a simple shake can carry so many memories - every sip takes me right back to her kitchen, sitting on that wobbly step stool, waiting for my turn with the blender.
- Now when Emma and I make milkshakes, I always tell him about how his great-grandmother would line up all her grandkids on Sunday afternoons and let each of us pick our own flavor combination. She'd keep those tall glasses in the freezer all week just for milkshake day, and she always wrapped a paper napkin around the bottom so our little hands wouldn't slip on the cold glass.
The Dish My Grandmother Taught Me to Love
My grandmother used to make strawberry milkshakes every Sunday when I was little, but hers were different from anything I'd ever tasted. She had this old Hamilton Beach blender from the 1960s that was louder than a lawnmower, but somehow it made the creamiest shakes. Her secret was adding a tiny pinch of salt and a splash of heavy cream, plus she always let the strawberries sit with a little sugar for at least an hour before blending.
What I remember most was how she'd serve them in these tall, thin glasses that she kept in the freezer year-round, and she'd always put a paper napkin around the bottom so our hands wouldn't slip. Emma loves hearing stories about her great-grandmother's milkshakes, and now when we make them together, I use her same technique of macerating the strawberries first.
FAQ
What is the secret of a good milkshake?
The secret is getting the right ratio of ice cream to milk, and making sure your ice cream is slightly softened before blending. Also, always add the liquid first, then the ice cream. This helps everything blend smoothly without overworking your blender.
What does a strawberry milkshake contain?
A basic strawberry milkshake contains fresh or frozen strawberries, vanilla ice cream, milk, and sometimes a little sugar if the berries aren't sweet enough. Some recipes add vanilla extract or heavy cream for extra richness and flavor.
What to add in a strawberry shake?
You can add vanilla extract for depth, a pinch of salt to enhance flavors, heavy cream for richness, or honey/sugar for extra sweetness. Emma likes adding a few drops of lemon juice to make the strawberry flavor pop even more.
Is strawberry milk shake healthy?
Strawberry milkshakes are treats, not health foods. They do provide calcium from milk and ice cream, plus vitamin C from strawberries, but they're also high in sugar and calories. They're good for special occasions and summer fun in moderation.
Sweet Summer Success!
Now you have all the secrets to making the perfect strawberry milkshake - from my grandmother's maceration technique to Emma's discovery about blending order. This creamy, dreamy treat proves that sometimes the simplest recipes bring the most joy, especially when shared with people you love.
Try our The Best Oreo Milkshake Recipe for chocolate lovers who want that cookies-and-cream goodness. Need something lighter? Our The Best Creamy Lemonade Recipe is perfect for hot afternoons when you want something tangy and refreshing. Or go tropical with our Best Dragon Fruit Smoothie Recipe that's as pretty as it is delicious!
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Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with Strawberry Milkshake
Strawberry Milkshake
Equipment
- 1 Blender (High‑powered preferred)
- 1 Ice cream scoop
- 1 Measuring Cups
- 2 Tall glasses (Chilled in freezer ahead)
- 2 Thick straws
Ingredients
- 2 cups Fresh strawberries Washed - hulled; room temp 10 min
- 1 cup Vanilla ice cream - Slightly softened
- ½ cup Whole milk - Start with less and add to adjust thickness
- 1 tablespoon Granulated sugar - Omit if strawberries are very sweet
- — — Optional boosters
- ½ cup Heavy cream - For extra richness
- 1 teaspoon Pure vanilla extract
- — — Whipped cream - For topping
- — — Fresh strawberries - For garnish
Instructions
- Prep strawberries
- Chill glasses
- Combine berries, milk, ice cream
- Blend until thick and smooth
- Serve with whipped cream garnish
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