Strawberry Milk Recipe

Strawberry Milk

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A creamy drink that's fun for kids of all ages.

Southern Living Test Kitchen

Updated on September 13, 2023

Recipe tested by

Southern Living Test Kitchen

two glasses of Strawberry Milk — Photo:
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Rebecca Cummins

Active Time:

10 mins

Total Time:

1 hr 10 mins

Yield:

6 cups

Get ready to feel like a kid again with one sip of this creamy, dreamy strawberry milk. Fun for kids of all ages, this recipe is quick to make and a great way to use up an abundance of fresh strawberries. The more ripe the berries, the sweeter and more flavorful the milk.

Making strawberry milk from scratch means you can control the flavor and the sweetness, and it's all made naturally; no pink powder needed. Serve to brighten up breakfast or snack time, or add a splash of strawberry liqueur for an adults-only version.

This recipe for Strawberry Milk originally appeared in the April 2014 issue of Southern Living.

Ingredients for Strawberry Milk

Five ingredients is all you need for this strawberry milk, and you probably already have them on hand. To make it, you'll need:

Fresh strawberries: Hulled, blended, and strained for a fresh strawberry puree.
Granulated sugar: Sweetens the puree.
Vanilla extract: Adds a subtle vanilla flavor.
Kosher salt: Enhances the flavor—trust us! Sweet needs salt.
Cold milk: Any type will do, including low-fat and dairy-free versions. You can add a splash of cream or half-and-half for extra richness.

ingredients for strawberry milk in bowls and measuring cups — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Rebecca Cummins

How To Make Strawberry Milk

A blender and strainer is all you need for fresh strawberry milk. Full instructions are below, but here's a brief recap before you get started:

Step 1. Blend strawberries and sugar until smooth.
Step 2. Strain strawberry puree into a bowl; stir in vanilla and salt. Discard pulp (or save for spreading on toast).
Step 3. Combine strawberry mixture and milk.
Step 4. Chill 1 hour before serving.

What To Serve with Strawberry Milk

Strawberry milk doesn't just shine at snack time. Serve at breakfast with muffins or coffee cake, blend into smoothies, pour over cereal, or use as a post-workout pick-me-up.

For an adults-only treat, serve in shot glasses with a splash of strawberry liqueur, alongside a plate of warm cookies for the perfect dose of nostalgia.

How To Store Strawberry Milk

Refrigerate strawberry milk in an airtight container for up to three days. You can also freeze the strawberry puree up to three months (freeze in ice cube trays and transfer to zip-top bags for quick grabbing). Thaw and stir into milk before serving.

Editorial contributions by Katie Rosenhouse.

Ingredients

1 qt. fresh hulled strawberries
3 to 4 Tbsp. granulated sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 pinch kosher salt
3 to 4 cups cold milk

Directions

Blend strawberries:

Process strawberries and sugar in a blender or food processor until smooth, stopping to scrape down sides as needed.

Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Rebecca Cummins
Strain strawberries:

Press mixture through a wire-mesh strainer into a medium bowl, using back of a spoon to squeeze out juice; discard pulp.

Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Rebecca Cummins

Stir in vanilla and salt.

Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Rebecca Cummins
Combine strawberry and milk:

Stir strawberry mixture into cold milk.

Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Rebecca Cummins
Chill:

Chill 1 hour before serving. Refrigerate up to 3 days.

Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Rebecca Cummins

Spiked Strawberry Milk

Stir in 1/4 cup strawberry liqueur (such as De Kuyper Wild Strawberry) just before serving.

Frequently Asked Questions

What other types of milk can I use for strawberry milk?

While whole milk adds a creamy richness to this strawberry milk, you can swap for low-fat versions or even dairy-free milk.
Can I make this strawberry milk sweeter or less sweet?

Ripe strawberries make for a sweeter strawberry puree. If you want to start with half the sugar and add more as needed, you can. You can also add additional sugar if your strawberries aren't quite ripe enough.
How can I make this drink even more pink?

Add more strawberry puree or a drop of pink food coloring for a more vibrant color.
Can I use frozen strawberries for strawberry milk?

If strawberries aren't in season but you have a hankering for strawberry milk, frozen strawberries will do the job. Blend straight from frozen and use as directed.