Everybody should know how to make a delicious Strawberry Milkshake! It’s so easy! A handful of ingredients and a blender are all you need to make yourself the perfect summer cool-off treat.

There’s really nothing better than treating yourself to a milkshake on a hot day! Strawberry is one of my favorites, along with my Banana Milkshake and Indonesian Avocado Milkshake.

A glass of strawberry milkshake, topped with whipped cream and a strawberry.

Want to make me happy? Make me a milkshake!

Even better, make me a strawberry milkshake.

Truth be told, strawberry is not usually my flavor choice when I’m picking out some ice cream to eat. But for milkshakes? Oh, it’s absolutely the best!

The secret to the perfect strawberry milkshake is using strawberry ice cream. Most recipes I’ve seen blend vanilla ice cream and fresh strawberries, and – in my opinion – don’t deliver the same strawberry flavor!

Just some good quality ice cream will get you there, but add a little bit of heavy cream (and maybe even some fresh strawberries), and you have perfection.

Seriously, give this a try! It’s so delicious and so refreshing that you will want to make it over and over again, all summer long! ☀️☀️☀️

A photo of all the ingredients to make strawberry milkshake.

To make a strawberry milkshake, you will need:

  • Strawberry Ice Cream – or best results, choose high quality Tillamook Oregon Strawberry Ice Cream. The ice cream will determine both flavor and texture, so you want to go with this premium ice cream. 
  • Milk – You can use any kind of milk you like (even dairy-free), but whole milk is my personal favorite because it produces a creamier shake!
  • Heavy Cream – I like to add a little bit of heavy cream for a creamier/thicker milkshake. You can skip if desired and substitute for a little more milk or half and half.
  • Whipped Cream – Because – let’s be honest – no proper milkshake skips on the whipped cream topping! 😉
  • Fresh Strawberries – for decorating.
A close up shot of a carton of Tillamook strawberry ice cream.
A carton of Tillamook Oregon Strawberry ice cream.

What is the best brand of strawberry ice cream?

I’m not gonna beat around the bush: my favorite strawberry ice cream is Tillamook Oregon Strawberry Ice Cream. Everything else can’t compare!

Extra creamy, with extra juicy strawberries that were picked fresh in Oregon, Tillamook Ice Cream has less air and more cream than other ice cream brands. And you’ll be able to notice immediately! I purchase mine at my local Wegman’s. Click here to add this to your Wegman’s shopping cart!

I find that while I need to let other ice creams sit for a while before they get creamy, Tillamook Ice Cream is magically already there right out of the freezer. What sorcery is this, Tillamook? ♥️

Jokes aside, the fact that this strawberry ice cream is so creamy is the reason it makes the best strawberry milkshakes! Your blender won’t have to work too hard, and you won’t risk thinning out the milkshake too much in the process.

The results? Indulgent, silky smooth milkshakes every single time!

Screenshot of the product page at Wegmans website.
A glass of strawberry milkshake without toppings.

How to Make a Strawberry Milkshake

“Do I really need a strawberry milkshake recipe? Can’t I just mix ice cream and milk and call it a day?”, said everyone who ended up with a runny, unimpressive shake.

It’s all about the ratio of ice cream to dairy! For me, that ratio is 5 scoops (about 2 cups) of ice cream to 1/2 cup of dairy, which I split between milk and heavy cream.

To me, the perfect milkshake is creamy and thick enough for a spoon to stand in, but not too thick that you can’t drink with a straw.

Now, it is worth mentioning that my perfect milkshake might not be your perfect milkshake. But if you follow my recipe, you can then add more liquid or ice cream to make it thinner or thicker.

As for equipment, you do not need a milkshake maker to make milkshakes. Yes, they are fun and I hope to own one in the future! But a high speed blender works just as well

Recommended tools and equipment: ice cream scoop, high speed blender or milkshake maker.

Here’s how I make a strawberry milkshake. As always, you will find the printable (and more complete) version of the recipe at the end of this post!

Step 1: Combine the milk, cream and ice cream in a blender.

  • If your ice cream is too hard, let it sit out for a few minutes before blending. That will make the blender’s job easier and, as a result, you won’t be tempted to add more – unnecessary – milk, which can cause your milkshake to be too liquidy.
  • Combine the milk, cream and ice cream in the blender. Start with the liquids first, as that will get the blender going faster.

Step 2: Blend until smooth.

  • Blend until smooth.
  • Taste it! You can then add more milk to thin it out or more ice cream to make it thicker.

Step 3: Add toppings and enjoy!

  • Pour the milkshake in a glass and top with whipped cream and a fresh strawberry.

Olivia’s Tips

  • If you want your strawberry milkshake to be a bright pink color, you can a tablespoon of strawberry jam. Without it, the milkshake will be a pale pink.
  • For a stronger strawberry flavor, add 5-10 fresh strawberries to your shake.
  • If you like icier milkshakes, add a handful of ice to the blender with the milkshake ingredients. Be careful not to blend too long, or the ice will melt and you’ll just water down your milkshake.
  • To keep your milkshake cold longer – and to make it look even nicer – pop your glass in the freezer for 10 to 30 minutes.
  • This recipe makes one large restaurant-style milkshake, or two smaller servings. But you can easily double, triple, quadruple, etc, if serving a crowd!
A glass of strawberry milkshake, topped with whipped cream and a strawberry, with two striped straws.

Variations

Variations are endless, from different toppings to some fun add ins.

Here are some suggestions:

  • Add a tablespoon of malted milk powder to make malted strawberry milkshakes.
  • Make Strawberry Cheesecake Milkshakes by mixing in 1/3 cup cream cheese and topping with whipped cream and crushed graham crackers.
  • Make a Neapolitan Milkshake by layering chocolate milkshake, strawberry milkshake and vanilla milkshake in a glass. This is a great way to try out other Tillamook Ice Cream varieties!
  • Swirl the glass with chocolate fudge sauce or strawberry syrup.
  • Garnish your milkshake with fun sprinkles or even something over the top, like donuts, ice cream cones and/or cookie straws.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make milkshake without a blender?

Yes, you can use a food processor instead. If you also don’t have one, you can use a mason jar (just shake everything until smooth), but be aware that your milkshake won’t be as creamy and thick as the one made with a blender.

Can I make this strawberry milkshake ahead of time?

Unfortunately, no. Milkshakes are best enjoyed right after they’ve blended.

Can I use this recipe to make other flavors of milkshake?

Just substitute the Tillamook Oregon Strawberry Ice Cream for whatever ice cream flavor you like.

Strawberry Milkshake

Everybody should know how to make a delicious Strawberry Milkshake! It’s so easy! A handful of ingredients and a blender are all you need to make yourself the perfect summer cool-off treat.
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Ingredients  

  • ¼ cup whole milk
  • ¼ cup heavy cream, (or substitute for milk)
  • 5 scoops (about 2 cups) Tillamook Oregon Strawberry Ice Cream
  • Whipped cream and fresh strawberry, for topping

Instructions 

  • For best results, let the ice cream temper for 5 to 10 minutes at room temperature before making your milkshake. Meanwhile, chill your milkshake glass in the freezer.
  • Combine the milk, heavy cream and ice cream in the jar of a high speed blender.
  • Blend on low and work your way up to medium, until the milkshake is smooth and drinkable, about 1-2 minutes. You might need to stop once or twice to scrape down the sides of the blender.
  • Taste and, if necessary, add more milk to thin it out or more ice cream to thicken it up.
  • Pour the strawberry milkshake in the chilled glass and top with whipped cream and half a fresh strawberry.

Notes

Serving Size
This recipe makes 1 restaurant-style milkshake, which is quite generous, or two smaller servings.
Modifications
  • For a stronger strawberry flavor, add 8 to 10 medium fresh strawberries.
  • For a stronger pink color, add a few drops of red food coloring or a tablespoon of strawberry jam.
  • If you prefer icier milkshakes, add a handful of ice cubes. Just be careful not to water down the milkshake too much.
 
 

Nutrition

Serving: 1milkshake, Calories: 826kcal, Carbohydrates: 81g, Protein: 13g, Fat: 53g, Saturated Fat: 33g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 9g, Cholesterol: 187mg, Sodium: 210mg, Potassium: 666mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 6g, Vitamin A: 2024IU, Vitamin C: 21mg, Calcium: 455mg, Iron: 1mg