Cool, creamy and with a touch of sweet, this Strawberry Banana Milkshake is easy to make with just a few ingredients. Fresh and frozen fruit with milk and ice cream combine to make the tastiest strawberry banana shake! Make it vegetarian or vegan, this recipe is easily gluten free.
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A Refreshing Strawberry Banana Milkshake for Summer
Strawberry season is the best season for Strawberry Banana Milkshakes and no churn Strawberry Nice Cream! Fresh plump summertime sun kissed berries, so sweet and at their peak offer the best flavor for frosty treats. Here’s why you’ll love this recipe:
- Quick Prep Time
- SO Creamy
- Versatile
- Make it Vegetarian or Vegan
If you love strawberries and ice cream, you’re going to enjoy the simple pleasures of this strawberry and banana milkshake recipe.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Fresh Strawberries
- Frozen Banana
- Whole Milk
- Vanilla Extract
- Vanilla Ice Cream
- Sugar or Maple Syrup (optional)
There are several options when it comes to these ingredients. Read on to learn more about variations on this frosty treat!
Quick Guide: How to Make Strawberry and Banana Milkshake
For this recipe, you’ll use a mix of frozen and fresh fruit. Frozen ripe bananas assist in creating the creamiest milkshake while also adding a bit of sweet! Instead of frozen strawberries, we’re using peak season fresh strawberries for best flavor. Here’s how to make this banana strawberry shake recipe (see recipe card for details):
- First, in a high speed blender add strawberries, frozen banana, milk, vanilla extract, sugar if using, and ice cream.
- Next, blend just until everything is smooth and creamy, about 30 seconds.
- Last, pour into glasses and enjoy right away!
Options for garnish include whipped cream or coconut cream, fresh strawberries, chocolate shavings or syrup, mint or another scoop of ice cream!
Variations on this Strawberry Banana Milkshake Recipe
Choose Your Ice Cream: I like vanilla bean ice cream in this recipe, but you can opt for strawberry ice cream for even more strawberry flavor. Look for gluten free if needed.
Vegan Shake: To make this banana strawberry milkshake vegan, use vegan ice cream and non dairy milk, like my Homemade Cashew Milk. Some store bought plant milks that are in cartons are mostly water, which will create a thinner shake. Use the equivalent of whole milk or something richer like coconut milk. For the ice cream, there are lots of good vegan ice creams to choose from, but if you’re into homemade, give my Vegan Bourbon Vanilla Bean Ice Cream a try!
For a Thicker Shake: This shake is rich but not too thick – it’s just the right amount of thickness to sip through a straw. For a thicker shake add an additional few scoops of ice cream or, sub heavy whipping cream or full fat coconut cream for the milk.
For a Thinner Shake: If you prefer a thinner shake, simply thin with more milk. You can add a splash or two after blending. Blend again, only briefly so the creamy concoction stays cold.
A Note on Sugar: This strawberry and banana shake is plenty sweet for me with no added sugar, however several tasters preferred it with a touch of sugar. Of course, berries will vary in their sweetness, so if you’re unsure, blend the ingredients then taste for sugar adjustment. Just one added tablespoon of cane sugar makes a big difference! You can use sugar of choice.
Milkshake FAQs
What’s the Difference Between a Milkshake and Smoothie?
Milkshakes are made with milk, ice cream, other flavorings like vanilla, and sometimes fruit. Smoothies, on the other hand, are fruit and often vegetable based and can also contain yogurt, nuts and seeds.
Milkshakes are considered a treat, or dessert, while smoothies can be enjoyed as a meal replacement.
What Kind of Blender Do I Use for a Milkshake?
While some milkshake recipes can be made in just about any blender, for this recipe you’ll need a high speed blender, like VitaMix, to get the frozen and fresh fruit ultra creamy.
Will a Milkshake Stay Good in the Fridge?
A milkshake is best right after blending. However, you can store this banana and strawberry milkshake in the fridge for a short period of time before it looses its consistency. Try to limit refrigerator time to less than 10 minutes.
Can I use Frozen Strawberries in a Milkshake?
You can use frozen strawberries, but you’ll need to increase the milk in this recipe to get it to the desired creamy consistency.
Banana and Strawberry Shake Recipe Tips
- Use the freshest, in season strawberries for best flavor.
- Freeze the Banana: Peel your banana, slice it into chunks and freeze the chunks on a parchment lined sheet pan for about 2-3 hours. Once frozen, you can store frozen bananas in a freezer bag for several weeks.
- Vegan Milkshake? For a dairy and egg free shake, enjoy with vegan ice cream and plant milk, like Homemade Cashew Milk.
- Use a high speed blender, like VitaMix, for the creamiest strawberry banana milkshakes!
More Frozen Treats to Love
Strawberry Banana Milkshake Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups (295 grams) Fresh Whole Strawberries about one pint
- 1 (135 grams) Medium Frozen Banana peeled, chopped into chunks*
- 1/4 cup (50 grams) Whole Milk plant or dairy, I use homemade cashew milk + plus more for thinning as desired
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 1 cup (195 grams) Vanilla Bean Ice Cream about four ice cream scoops, gluten free if needed**
- 1 Tablespoon Sugar of Choice maple, honey, cane sugar, if needed (optional)
To Garnish (optional)
- Options for garnish include whipped cream or coconut whipped cream, fresh strawberries, chocolate shavings or syrup, mint or another scoop of ice cream!
Instructions
- Rinse the strawberries, pat dry and remove the stems. Set aside.
- To the pitcher of a high speed blender, I use VitaMix, add the strawberries, frozen banana, milk, vanilla extract and ice cream. Blend until all the ingredients are creamy, smooth and frothy (about 20-30 seconds). Taste for thickness and sugar: add a splash of milk and/or sugar if desired and reblend for only a few seconds.
- Pour into serving glasses, top with garnishes if desired and share with a straw.
To Garnish:
- Options for garnish include whipped cream or coconut whipped cream, fresh strawberries, chocolate shavings or syrup, mint or another scoop of ice cream!
To Store:
- This milkshake is best enjoyed directly after whipping it up. However, if there are leftovers, store in a freezer container for up to one week. While the shake still tastes great, it looses its creamyness to crystallization and it turns hard, somewhere between ice and ice cream.
These are absolutely summer perfect Traci! I got my love of strawberry ice cream from my grandmother. She always loved Neapolitan ice cream with the strawberry portion as her favorite. Can’t wait to make a few of these milkshakes this summer!
Thank you Mare! You’d love this and I just know Mr. P would enjoy it too. What a treat!! Ohhh yes, Neapolitan – strawberry part favorite. It’s SO good!