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Looking for a fun, dairy-free milkshake? This is IT! This vegan milkshake is what summer nights and pool parties are made for. I love indulging in a good dessert yet I don’t love the way dairy affects my body, so this gorgeous milkshake is a great alternative.
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I grew up enjoying strawberry milkshakes on hot, desert summer nights. Nothing beats the sweetness of fresh strawberries! Yet I knew the stomach cramps and bloating would follow each shake, due to my dairy intolerance.
With this strawberry vegan milkshake, I’ve really upped my game. It’s a completely dairy-free milkshake and still full of creamy sweet flavor.
What Non-Dairy Milk is Best for Milkshakes?
While almond milk and oat milk def have their place in the world of great non-dairy milk options, coconut milk is the way to go for this vegan milkshake.
And make sure it’s the canned kind, none of that carton coconut milk! I want full-on creamy for this dairy-free milkshake, and canned coconut milk is the best.
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How to Make a Vegan Milkshake Without Ice Cream
The secret is in the can for this non-dairy milkshake. If you’ve ever opened a can of full-fat coconut milk without shaking it first, then you’ve seen the large layer of fat at the top, and the small amount of thin liquid at the bottom. Since a milkshake should be creamy and not just icy after blending, this cream is essential.
The Best Strawberries
I’m gonna be straight with you, not just any strawberries will work for this milkshake. If you’re looking for maximum sweetness + flavor, then skip out on those jumbo, waxy berries in the produce section that you KNOW have no flavor.
Instead, I recommend getting fresh strawberries from a roadside stand (or pick them yourself!) or using frozen strawberries. Frozen fruit is picked at its peak ripeness then flash frozen, trapping in all that flavor. Since this recipe has no refined sugar, you really need your strawberries to do the work for your sweet tooth.
More Kid-Friendly, Parent-Approved Desserts
I love being the house where the kids want to hang out. Yet I also feel the pressure of the best snacks for those hungry pre-teens. So I recipe test with my kids to ensure the snacks + vegan desserts I’m making are 100% kid-approved as well as filled with ingredients that I know are best. Dive into these yummy recipes:
- Vegan Peanut Butter Cookies
- Healthy-ish Rice Krispie Treats
- Banana Nice Cream
- Caramel Apple Dip
- Lime Pops
- Rainbow Smoothies
What are some of your kids’ fav treats? I’d love for you to leave a comment sharing your go-tos, as well as any tips you have for keeping kids full! And don’t forget to rate + review this recipe once you make it!
Strawberry Vegan Milkshake
Jen HansardIngredients
- 1 (14 ½-oz) can coconut milk
- 1 tbsp pure maple syrup
- 1 ½ cup strawberries frozen
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Combine the coconut milk, strawberries, maple syrup and vanilla in a blender and blend until smooth.
- Pour into glasses and serve immediately, or transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate for several days or freeze for several weeks.
Recipe Notes
- Make It Thicker: For an extra-thick shake, blend in 1/4 cup raw cashews, soaked at least 20 minutes, or 2 tablespoons cashew butter.
- Fruit Swaps: Use frozen peaches in place of the strawberries for a peach milkshake.
- Milk Tip: Use full-fat canned coconut milk for the thickest shake, and shake the can well before opening.
- Storing: Refrigerated leftovers thicken as they sit, so shake or reblend before serving. If you freeze it, let it thaw for about 15 minutes, then blend again.
Just made this and it was absolutely disgusting! I followed everything the recipe said and it was so bad I couldn’t even finish two sips of it. Waste of money.
Hi Tia! I hate to hear you didn’t like this one!
How would the recipe be affected by organic freeze dried sliced strawberries?
Hey Stephen,
If you were looking to substitute fresh for freeze dried, I would use about 1 oz. of freeze dried — that is about equivalent to 1 1/2 c. You may want to use less in order for the flavor to not be overpowering. You may also want to add a lighter milk or some water to make up for the juiciness that fresh strawberries provide.
Hope that helps!
Left out the maple syrup and it was very delicious.
Who needs fast food shakes any more? This is seriously yummy stuff.
Thank you for making a substitute for one of my childhood favorites! So, so good.
This was my childhood fav too!!! I could drink this every day now since it’s not full of corn syrup and junk. Woohoo!!!