Strawberry Milkshake

At a glance

What stands out: Creamy and packed with the sweet flavor of (real!) ripe strawberries, this from-scratch strawberry milkshake is the reliable treat to brighten your day.

How long it takes: 10 minutes
Equipment you’ll need: blender
Servings: 2

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An Straightforward Summer Treat

Milkshakes are one of the simple pleasures of summertime. They’re one of our favorite desserts—as you can see from this mojito milkshake, chocolate banana milkshake, Nerds milkshake and today’s strawberry milkshake recipe. Maybe it’s the nostalgia factor, maybe it’s how that cold, creamy treat hits on a hot day. But a good from-scratch milkshake—we’re not talking the fast food variety here!—is SO worth the (minimal) effort of making it.

From-scratch Strawberry Milkshake

Real strawberry flavor. Using actual strawberries gives this strawberry milkshake a fresher, more natural taste. It makes such a difference! For a standby flavor, use ripe, sweet strawberries in your milkshake. The kind you pick up from the farmers’ market or your local u-pick farm are best because they pack in the most sweetness and flavor. You don’t need artificial flavors and colors when you start with the good stuff!

So much better than restaurant milkshakes! Most fast food restaurants offer some type of milkshake but they are a far cry from from-scratch milkshakes. Usually they are made with strawberry syrup and not real strawberries. They contain stabilizers, preservatives, and “natural” flavors which aren’t natural at all.

Speedy and straightforward. With just a few simple ingredients and a speedy spin in the blender, this strawberry shake comes together in no time. You’ll never need a fast food shake again!

What goes in

• Strawberries: Fresh or frozen strawberries both work just fine. In fact, it’s better to use higher quality frozen strawberries than fresh strawberries that are flavorless and pale. Frozen strawberries also will help keep your shake frosty and thick.
• Strawberry ice cream: We like to use a natural strawberry ice cream. Using strawberry ice cream enhances the strawberry flavor and gives it a little extra boost, but vanilla ice cream absolutely works too!
• Milk: Use whole milk for a richer, creamier consistency but if you don’t happen to have it, lowfat milk will work fine. You only need a half cup, just enough liquid to help your blender along.
• Whipped cream: For a real ice cream parlor experience, top your milkshake with a tower of whipped cream. You can use store-bought whipped cream in a can, whipped topping, or make from-scratch whipped cream.
• Fresh strawberries: For a pretty garnish, add a strawberry slice or two, or even a small whole berry with the green cap still attached.

How it comes together

Combine. Add the strawberries, ice cream, and milk to your blender. If you don’t have a high-speed blender, adding the milk first can help keep the blade from getting stuck, particularly if you use frozen berries.

Puree. Turn on the blender, and blend the mixture until the shake is smooth and creamy. You want the mixture completely smooth, without any large pieces of fruit, especially if you want to sip the shake through a straw. (Nothing’s worse than a chunky milkshake that clogs the straw with bits of fruit or chocolate!) You can add a splash of extra milk for a thinner consistency. Remember, the milkshake will get softer as the ice cream begins to melt.

Finish. Divide the strawberry milkshake into glasses and top with whipped cream, fresh strawberries, or a drizzle of strawberry syrup. You can also pour strawberry syrup down the sides of the glasses before you pour in the milkshake, for a striped effect.

Straightforward Recipe Variations

• Add basil. In our original version of this recipe, we added a few fresh basil leaves before blending the shake. This introduces a fantastic herbal note that complements the sweetness of the strawberries. If you’re a fan of herbs in your sweet treats, definitely give it a try! Be sure to save a basil leaf for a garnish.
• Use different berries. While this recipe calls for strawberries, feel free to experiment with other types of berries, such as raspberries or blueberries, or use a combination.
• Make it vegan. For a dairy-free option, simply use your favorite plant-based milk and ice cream.
• Add protein powder. If you want to make this shake more filling or use it as an indulgent post-workout treat, try adding a scoop of vanilla protein powder.
• Get creative with toppings. Over-the-top milkshakes are so much fun! Try adding crushed cookies or waffle cones, flurry-style. You can rim the glass with colored sugars, garnish with candies or sprinkles, or whatever else strikes your fancy.

Leftover Love

Pour leftover strawberry milkshake into a popsicle mold, refreeze, and enjoy a creamy strawberry popsicle another day!

Keeping leftovers

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the freezer. When you’re ready to enjoy your milkshake again, allow it to thaw slightly and give it a good stir or blend it to restore its creamy texture.

• Yield: 2
• Prep: 10 minutes
• Total: 10 minutes

Ingredients

• 2 cups fresh or frozen strawberries, hulled ( 8 to 10 oz.)
• 2 cups strawberry ice cream (vanilla ice cream will also work)
• ½ cup milk (whole milk for creaminess, or any milk of choice)
• whipped cream, optional for topping
• fresh strawberries, optional garnish

Method

1. In a blender, combine strawberries, ice cream, and milk.
2. Blend until smooth and creamy. If the shake is too thick, add a little more milk and blend again. Remember, the shake will become soft quite quickly as the ice cream thaws.
3. Pour into glasses and top with whipped cream. Garnish with a fresh strawberry or a drizzle of strawberry syrup, if desired. Serve immediately.

Notes

Strawberry basil milkshake: Add 3 to 4 fresh basil leaves to the blender. Garnish with additional basil leaf or sprig. (This recipe was previously published as Strawberry Milkshake with Basil but has been retested and revised 4/2025.)

Ice cream note: we use a natural strawberry ice cream which is quite white. If you want your milkshake to have a pinker hue, add a drop or two of red food coloring. If you use a standard type of strawberry ice cream, it will most likely be quite pink already. The color does not affect the flavor. You can also use vanilla ice cream if you prefer.