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.
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.
Table of Contents
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, full-fat canned 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.
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 + 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 Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Healthy-ish Rice Krispie Treats
- Banana Nice Cream
- Caramel Apple Dip
- Lime Pops
- Rainbow Smoothies
- Creamy Vegan Ice Cream
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
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 can coconut milk 14-oz
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
- 1 ½ cups strawberries frozen
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- homemade protein powder optional
Instructions
- In a blender, combine the coconut milk, strawberries, maple syrup, and vanilla.
- Blend until smooth (puree).
- Pour into 2 glasses and serve immediately, or transfer to an airtight container.
- Keep refrigerated for several days or frozen for several weeks.
Notes
- For an extra-thick shake, add to the blender 1⁄4 cup presoaked raw cashews or 2 tablespoons cashew butter.
- Can also use frozen peaches and make a delicious peach milkshake.
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!!!
Love how this recipe feels like a decadent treat – it’s especially perfect for the summer!
Really enjoyed the taste. Looking forward to making this on a hot day. Refreshing
I didn’t have strawberries but had frozen mango so decided to make a lassi styled milkshake. Added a bit of cardamom and it was delicious! I think any frozen fruit would work. Will try again when I have strawberries.
Such a creative substitution Andrea. You’re such a rawkstar!
Thanks for a fun recipe to share with my toddler after nap today! She will loves this (and I will too!).
Wrong!! Im intrigued to try thiz recipe but The 1# allergy out there is peanut butter!!! Not milk.
Hi Caty— milk is the top food “sensitivity” whereas peanuts are the #1 food “allergy”. They are slightly different in that a sensitivity you might not even know you have (the symptoms could seem like a cold, acne, upset stomach, eczema, etc). Hope that helps explain what we shared in the article a little bit for you. Hope you try the recipe still and see how tasty it is!
I notice you didn’t put in the ‘percentage of daily recommended allowance’ for sugars.
It seems quite high in sugars.
Jenn, that will vary from person to person. This is not meant to be an everyday smoothie but rather a tasty dessert that’s dairy free. 🙂
Jen, your presentations are like little works of art! I so want to print and frame them . I’m running out to buy some coconut milk right now after I finish my smoothie. Thank you for all the healthy recipes. Happy 4th of July!
They are, aren’t they?! 🙂 Happy 4th to you, too!
I really wanted to like this recipe. Something about the taste seemed off. Perhaps the coconut milk? Plus, I put the ingredients into MyFitnessPal and it calculated 375 calories per serving. The coconut milk can itself listed 120 calories per serving for 1/3 cup (approx. 5 servings per container). So not sure how this recipe is 111 calories.
Hey Dawn, the serving size for this is 12 ounces, not 16 like our green smoothie recipes. But the nutrition facts may still be off. Thanks for bringing it to our attention and I will check on this and we’ll make changes, if needed.
Got it! I see the change! Thank you for taking the time to answer my review and reply and make the change. I’m enjoying the Green Smoothie Challenge! I splurged on making this strawberry smoothie today too! Thanks again!
Dawn, thank you for catching that! So glad you’re enjoying the challenge (and this delicious splurge, also!). 😀
Loved this so much! When a saw this recipe, I kept thinking a milk shake sounded really good. And the best thing about it is you don’t feel like you over indulged after having it! I used frozen mixed berries since strawberries weren’t available when we shopped.
Hey Kate, thanks for your review! And I bet a mixed berry milkshake would taste really good! My husband doesn’t care for strawberries so I’ll have to try making this with berries so I can share some with him. 🙂
I love everything coconut milk so I cannot wait to try this recipe!
This looks so YUM! It didn’t occur to me to make a milkshake with full fat coconut milk, & I must try it this weekend! Congrats on the release of your new book, it looks like a visual feast!!
I tried this and absolutely love it. It is so creamy and delicious. I am thinking of making popsicles out this next time (or freezer pops). Thanks for this great treat.
Jen, congratulations on the new book! This recipe looks amazing! So creamy, and pretty in pink. I can’t wait to try it out! I love that it is so easy, and healthy…it sounds delicious! I also like that it stores easily for a good amount of time in the freezer.
This recipe truly is delicious!! I know you are going to love it and your taste buds are going to be blown away.
Cheers!
I love your website, but I’m not understanding why you would have pizza advertising on your website, doesn’t make sense!
Hey PJ,
We advertise our own recipe for pizza which we think is pretty awesome for those who love pizza but want a healthy version of it! 🙂
How many carbs, sugar, fat and protein are there in one serving of the milkshake?
Hey Suzanne,
We personally don’t count calories, so we don’t include them in our recipes at this time. You’ll find that when you consume more nourishing whole fruits and veggies, you will not only feel full longer, but you’ll also have lessened cravings for high-calorie, nutritionally empty foods. So in the end it balances out. But we know many people would like to have calorie info. Three great resources for tracking calories are Self Nutrition Data, and the phone apps: My Fitness Pal and Lose It.