This is the best strawberry milkshake recipe! It's rich and creamy and can be made with fresh or frozen strawberries. It's nothing like the fast-food milkshakes, this one is pure strawberry and it's perfect.
Why This Recipe Works
What could be better than an old-fashioned strawberry milkshake on a hot day? I'll take one anytime. When you can make a milkshake at home, there's absolutely no need to go out to get one. What makes this strawberry milkshake so special is that it's made with pure ingredients and you can use fresh or frozen strawberries. It blends up in a matter of minutes and this milkshake recipe will yield one large milkshake - perfect if you're cooking for one.
Although I'm a huge fan of strawberry milkshakes, the ones you find at fast-food restaurants have never been very appealing to me. Those really shouldn't even be called milkshakes, with their fake flavor and pink dye - they're absolutely not what a milkshake should be.
This homemade milkshake is special. It tastes a bit gourmet, but is made with easily accessible ingredients.
Ingredient Notes
See recipe box below for ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions.
- Strawberries: Fresh or frozen strawberries will work in this strawberry milkshake recipe.
- Milk: Use the kind of milk you like best. Either skim, 1%, 2%, or whole milk work well.
- Heavy cream: I use heavy cream in this recipe because the cream works as a great thickener. You can certainly leave out the cream if you don't have any on hand or if you want to shave off a few calories. But really, a milkshake is an indulgence. It shouldn't be healthy, it's not a smoothie. In the end, if you want to use only milk, you absolutely can. Just use 1 cup of milk total.
- Vanilla ice cream: Use your favorite brand of vanilla ice cream or make your own.
- Vanilla extract: (Optional) Just a touch adds tremendous flavor.
How To Make This Recipe
- Prepare the strawberries: Hull and slice the strawberries. Place them in the blender.
- Blend the ingredients: Add the remaining ingredients to the blender and blend until smooth.
- Pour into a glass: Pour the milkshake into a tall glass and top with whipped cream, if desired.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can use fresh or frozen strawberries. Using frozen berries will give you a thicker, frostier strawberry shake but it may cause your blender to work a little harder to blend the strawberries. If your blender is struggling, let the strawberries thaw just a little bit so that they blend easier.
This milkshake recipe can easily be doubled to make two milkshakes or tripled to make three. Blend as directed in the recipe.
A blender makes the job easy but you can also use a stick blender (immersion blender). In a real bind, use a big stainless steel bowl and a whisk.
Variations
- Strawberry Banana Milkshake: You might like to try adding a banana to your strawberry milkshake. The banana will also work as a thickener.
- Blend in a tablespoon or two of strawberry preserves.
- Use strawberry ice cream instead of vanilla.
- Add blueberries, raspberries or blackberries for a mixed berry milkshake.
- Add a teaspoon or two of cocoa powder for a "chocolate covered strawberry" milkshake.
Expert Tips
- Put your glass in the freezer to get it nice and cold.
- Use good quality ice cream, it really does make a difference.
- Make sure the ice cream is slightly soft, but not melted.
- Full-fat ice cream will yield the thickest, creamiest milkshake. You can use low-fat ice cream and the shake will still be incredibly delicious, it just won't be as rich and thick.
- If you love a super-thick milkshake, replace more of the milk with heavy cream and add more ice cream.
- If you like your milkshakes thinner, add more milk.
Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients
If you have any ingredients left over from this strawberry milkshake recipe, you might like to consider using them in any of these single serving and small batch recipes:
- Ice cream: Knickerbocker Glory, Bananas Foster, Shamrock Shake, Guinness Float
- Milk: Panna Cotta, Hot Chocolate, Paneer, Eggnog
- Heavy cream: Banana Cream Pie, 2-Ingredient Chocolate Mousse, Quiche Lorraine
- Strawberries: Strawberry Shortcake, Strawberry Scones, Avocado Salad with Berries
- Vanilla extract: 2 Vanilla Cupcakes, Vanilla Ice Cream, Vanilla Pudding
Products Used In This Recipe
I use a blender in this strawberry milkshake recipe. You could also use an immersion blender or an electric drink mixer. All of these items can be found on our Kitchen Essentials page.
For more information on the cooking and baking dishes I use in our “recipes for one”, please visit our FAQ page.
For examples of the dishes used at One Dish Kitchen, please visit our Store page.
If you’ve tried this strawberry milkshake or any recipe on One Dish Kitchen please let me know how you liked it by rating the recipe and telling me about it in the comment section below.
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RELATED: 15 Easy Dessert Recipes For One
Strawberry Milkshake For One
See the post above for expert tips,
FAQs and ways to use leftover ingredients.
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup vanilla ice cream
- ¾ cup milk
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- 1 ½ cups sliced strawberries (8-ounces by weight)
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
Optional Toppings
- whipped cream
- sprinkles
Instructions
- Blend the ice cream, milk, cream, strawberries, and vanilla in a blender until smooth and creamy.
- Pour into 1 large glass and top with whipped cream and sprinkles, if desired.
- Enjoy immediately.
Notes
- Put your glass in the freezer to get it nice and cold.
- Use good quality ice cream, it really does make a difference.
- Make sure the ice cream is slightly soft, but not melted.
- Full-fat ice cream will yield the thickest, creamiest milkshake. You can use low-fat ice cream and the shake will still be incredibly delicious, it just won't be as rich and thick.
- If you love a super-thick milkshake, replace more of the milk with heavy cream and add more ice cream.
- If you like your milkshakes thinner, add more milk.
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
Carol Reynolds says
If you use frozen berries would you even need the ice cream? Hmmmm?
Joanie Zisk says
If you're looking for a milkshake that's extra rich and creamy, yes.
Bridget says
A great treat. I have also substituted frozen peaches for strawberries and it was wonderful.
Laurel says
Looks delicious. Why did I let myself look at the calories!
Joanie Zisk says
Hi Laurel, you can shave off a few calories by eliminating the heavy cream and using a lower fat milk. The milkshake won't be as thick and rich but will still be absolutely delicious.