Real fresh strawberries blended with strawberry ice cream and milk, vibrantly pink and intensely fruity, the milkshake that tastes like summer.
Fresh Strawberry Milkshake
The fresh strawberry milkshake is
the milkshake that most dramatically demonstrates the difference between real
fruit and artificial flavouring. A milkshake made with fresh ripe strawberries
blended alongside the ice cream produces a vivid, genuinely fruity flavour that
is immediately recognisable as real strawberry and that has a natural acidity
and complexity that no strawberry flavouring can replicate. The colour is also
entirely different: a vivid, natural pink rather than the artificially bright
red of commercial strawberry shakes.
The key to maximum strawberry
flavour is using strawberries that are genuinely ripe and sweet. Out-of-season
or underripe strawberries are watery, pale, and flavourless, and a milkshake
made with them tastes of very little despite containing real fruit. In summer
when strawberries are at their peak, this milkshake is one of the best
fruit-based cold drinks available.
Ingredients
- 200g fresh ripe strawberries hulled
- 4 scoops strawberry ice cream approximately 350g
- 150ml cold whole milk
- 1 tbsp sugar if strawberries are not very sweet
- Whipped cream to top
- Fresh strawberry to garnish
Instructions
Hull and quarter the strawberries. Reserve two whole ones
for garnish.
Add strawberries to the blender first. Blend briefly to
break them down.
Add strawberry ice cream and cold milk.
Blend for 20 to 30 seconds until smooth and thick.
Taste and add sugar if needed.
Pour into chilled glasses.
Top with whipped cream.
Garnish with a fresh strawberry on the rim. Serve
immediately.
Notes
Use genuinely ripe strawberries. Pale, underripe
strawberries produce a watery, flavourless shake regardless of how much you
blend them.
Add the strawberries to the blender first and pulse
briefly before adding ice cream. This ensures no large strawberry chunks remain
in the finished shake
A tablespoon of sugar macerated with the strawberries
for 5 minutes before blending draws out the juice and intensifies the flavour
significantly.
For a more vibrant pink colour add a small handful of
frozen strawberries alongside the fresh ones.
The combination of fresh strawberries and strawberry
ice cream rather than just one or the other produces maximum flavour depth.
A squeeze of lemon juice added to the blender brightens
the strawberry flavour significantly and prevents the shake from tasting flat.
For extra thickness use frozen strawberries instead of
fresh and reduce the milk quantity slightly.
Variations
Replace strawberries with raspberries for a sharper, more intense berry shake. Mix strawberries and blueberries for a mixed berry milkshake. Add a tablespoon of strawberry jam alongside the fresh fruit for a more jammy, more concentrated flavour. Make a strawberry cheesecake shake by adding 60g of cream cheese to the blend. Add a tablespoon of Nutella for a strawberry chocolate shake.
Storage and Serving
Serve immediately while the shake is cold and the natural pink colour is at its most vivid. Fresh strawberry shakes oxidise slightly over time and the colour can change. Drink within 5 minutes. The garnish strawberry should be added at the last moment. Do not store blended milkshakes.
FAQs
Q: Can I use frozen strawberries?
A: Yes, frozen strawberries produce a thicker, colder shake and are available year-round. The flavour is slightly different but equally good.
Q: Why is my shake pale pink rather than vibrant?
A: The strawberries were underripe or the proportion of milk to ice cream was too high. Use riper berries and reduce the milk.
Q: Can I use vanilla ice cream instead of strawberry?
A: Yes, vanilla ice cream with fresh strawberries produces a slightly less intense but equally good shake. The double strawberry combination produces maximum flavour.
Q: How do I get a smooth shake without strawberry seeds?
A: Blend thoroughly and strain through a sieve if you are sensitive to seeds. Most people find the small seeds unnoticeable.
Q: Can I make this vegan?
A: Use dairy-free strawberry ice cream and oat milk. The result is lighter but the fresh strawberry flavour is equally vivid.
