Strawberry Milkshake
on Mar 19, 2021, Updated Jun 22, 2025
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Frozen or fresh strawberries can be used in this old-fashioned thick and creamy strawberry milkshake.
The old-school appeal of a strawberry milkshake is hard to overstate — fruity and creamy and sweet. Chocolate and vanilla shakes seem to get the spotlight most of the time, but a good berry shake hits the spot in a different way.
The key to the best strawberry flavor is to combine the sliced strawberries, sugar, and vanilla extract and allow them to sit for at least 20 minutes and up to 1 hour before blending up the shake. While it’s not necessary to macerate, or soak, the strawberries in the sugar before blending, the sugar really pulls out the berries’ natural juice. It intensifies the sweetness in a way that gives your milkshake amazing flavor.
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Plus, you get to justify this sweet treat with the notion of a serving or two of fruit!
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How to Make a Strawberry Milkshake
- Macerate the berries: Slice the strawberries. Combine the strawberries, sugar, and vanilla extract and stir to combine well. Allow the berries to macerate (kind of like marinating, but for berries) for up to 1 hour.
- Blend: Place the strawberries with any juices, ice cream, and milk into a blender. Blend until smooth. Pour into large glasses, and if desired
- Serve: Place a strawberry on the rim of each glass. Serve immediately.
Strawberry Milkshake Tips
- You could use strawberry ice cream instead of vanilla for even more strawberry punch.
- You can use frozen strawberries instead of fresh if you want a very thick shake, or if frozen berries are what you have at the moment. Use either ones that you buy already frozen in the freezer aisle, or you can freeze fresh strawberries and use those. You may need to add a bit more milk if the shake is too thick.
Variations
You can add:
- A banana for a Strawberry Banana Milkshake.
- Other berries, in addition to the strawberries, for a Mixed Berry Shake. Try blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries.
- A scoop of malt powder for a Malted Strawberry Shake.
- Some chocolate syrup for a Strawberry Chocolate Milkshake.
- Whipped cream on top, and maybe some chocolate shavings or sprinkles.
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Strawberry Milkshake
Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ pound fresh or frozen strawberries
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 pint vanilla or strawberry ice cream
- ½ cup milk (preferably whole milk)
- Small whole strawberries (for garnish; optional)
Instructions
- Cut the tops off the strawberries, and slice them into a few pieces. In a medium bowl, combine the sliced strawberries, sugar, and vanilla extract and stir to combine well. Set aside and allow to sit, if you have time, for at least 20 minutes and up to 1 hour.
- Place the strawberries with any juices, ice cream, and milk into a blender. Blend until smooth. Pour into large glasses, and if desired, put a strawberry on the rim of each glass. Serve immediately.
