Learn how to make the BEST homemade strawberry milk that’s low in added sugar and high in vitamin C, protein, and really fresh strawberry flavor.
Strawberry Milk
Adding fruity flavor to milk can transform it from basic to so super yummy—and help kids meet their calcium needs, mix up plain drinks, and add a dose of vitamin C into the day. Strawberry milk is clutch if your kids aren’t into plain milk or you just want to change things up.
This is also a much lower-sugar option than store-bought strawberry milk, which is a nice bonus.
You can make this flavored milk with any type of milk, though we prefer using whole-milk dairy since it’s super creamy and filling.
We love this with breakfast alongside something easy, like toast or muffins, or paired with snack or lunch. It’s really a nice option for any time of the day.
There are two ways you can make it: You can use fresh berries, frozen strawberries, or freeze-dried ones. I’ll outline the difference below. (You don’t need to make or use strawberry syrup or strawberry sauce, and this is a little less work than making classic Korean strawberry milk—but with all the flavor.)
You may also like Vanilla Milk, Banana Milk, and Homemade Chocolate Milk.
Table of Contents
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Ingredients You Need
To make this recipe for flavored milk, you’ll need the following ingredients. You can use either fresh or freeze-dried berries, so read through to see which one sounds best for your family.
- Milk: I use whole milk, but any milk you prefer will work. (Whole milk, soy milk, or a thicker style of nondairy milk will be creamier than something like regular almond milk.)
- Strawberries: You can use fresh or freeze-dried strawberries in this recipe.
- Maple syrup: You can use honey if that’s what you have on hand as the sweetener. (Though always avoid honey for kids under age 1.)
- Pure vanilla extract: This adds an undertone of flavor that tastes delicious.
Ingredient Substitutions
- You can sub in plain unsweetened nondairy milk (such as oat milk, cashew milk, coconut milk, or a plant milk) for the regular milk.
- Use honey for the maple syrup if desired.
- This recipe works with either freeze-dried strawberries or fresh ones. Freeze-dried ones have a more concentrated “strawberry flavor” and a brighter color than the fresh ones.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Here’s a look at the process involved in making this strawberry milk recipe. Scroll down to the bottom of the post for the full scoop, including the amounts and timing.
Step 1. Add the ingredients to a blender. (You don’t have to simmer anything in a saucepan, so this really is the easiest method for making strawberry milk!)
Step 2. Puree everything together. Blend until very smooth. If your blender doesn’t get liquids very smooth, pour through a fine-mesh strainer. Stop and taste. Adjust the sweetness if needed.
TIP: If you use freeze-dried strawberries, the mixture will thicken if you store to serve it later, so I recommend serving within 24 hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
The amount called for in the recipe is the same at ½ cup, and they are both nice options. The freeze-dried berries create a brighter color and more intense strawberry flavor. It’s also a flavor more similar to store-bought strawberry milk.
The fresh berries create a berry milk that’s a little bit less sweet and intensely flavored. They’re both nice options!
Strawberry milk tastes like a thinner version of a strawberry milkshake or like melted strawberry ice cream. So milk, with strawberry flavor.
My recipe for strawberry milk is made from milk and either fresh or freeze-dried berries. Plus vanilla and optional sweetener as you like.
How to Store
Store flavored milk in an airtight container for up to 24 hours in the fridge. Know that the mixture will thicken a bit if you make this with freeze-dried strawberries.
Best Tips for Success
- You can make this with fresh strawberries or freeze-dried ones, depending on what you have access to.
- The version with freeze-dried berries tastes more similar to store-bought strawberry milk; the one with fresh berries tastes more like fresh strawberries!
- You can play around with the amounts of the freeze-dried berries to make a more or less intense version.
- The version using freeze-dried berries does thicken as it sits, so expect that if you store it to serve later.
- You can thin it with a little more milk if needed.
- You can use honey instead of maple syrup if preferred. Use maple syrup and nondairy milk to make this vegan.
- Find the nutritional information at the end of the recipe below.
Related Recipes
I’d love to hear your feedback on this recipe if you try it, so please comment below!
Favorite Strawberry Milk
Ingredients
- 1 cup whole milk (or preferred type of dairy or unsweetened nondairy milk)
- 1/2 cup freeze-dried strawberries (or fresh strawberries, stems removed)
- 1-2 teaspoons maple syrup
- 1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Add the ingredients to a blender.
- Starting on low and working up to high, blend until very smooth.
- Serve immediately or store in an airtight container for up to 24 hours.
Equipment
Notes
- You can play around with the amounts of the freeze-dried berries to make a more or less intense version.
- The version using freeze-dried berries does thicken as it sits, so expect that if you store it to serve later.
- You can thin it with a little more milk if needed.
- You can use honey instead of maple syrup if preferred.
Nutrition
This post was first published August 2020.
Our daughter loves this recipe. We tried it because it’s been hard to get her to drink milk and this helped get her milk/calcium intake for the day.
So glad to hear that!
Hi! I love your recipes! If I wanted to add strawberry yogurt to this, how much do you recommend I add? Thanks!
Hi- Maybe 1/4 cup. Enjoy!
I thought it might be a little tart since freeze dried strawberry has some of the tart strawberry flavor and there isn’t a lot of sugar in this. But it was just enough sweetness and super tasty. I love it. And so does my kids. Going to make my own strawberry milk from now on.
I used freeze dried strawberries, honey, whole milk and vanilla extract. It was pretty good but I think I was expecting it to taste like Nesquick Strawberry Milk but it was definitely not as sweet. Also I may have blended it too much as it was very frothy.
Can I use frozen strawberries for this recipe? The fresh strawberries in the grocery store didn’t look very fresh and there were no freeze dried options!
Sure!
My kids liked the flavor, but the texture came out ultra fluffy, like whipped cream. And this actually makes sense to me since whipping dairy products with a little sweetener does usually make them fluffy. Yours looks like a more normal milk texture though. Any idea why the difference?
It depends a little on how long it’s blended and then how long it sits after as to how fluffy it will be. So maybe blend a little less if it was too much?
My two year old specifically requested this yesterday after strawberry picking because she remembered it from Valentine’s Day. She loves it.
That’s awesome and I’m so glad!
This is so yummy! So much better than strawberry syrup. I like it as much or more than my toddler ?
great post! Love this recipe! Thanks for sharing this healthy recipe!