This dairy free milkshake recipe made with coconut milk and fresh strawberries adds a healthier twist to a sweet summer treat. It's gluten free and vegan, too!
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This dairy free milkshake combines the freshness of summer strawberries with the tropical-ness of coconut milk. It's bursting with flavor, and it seems a little lighter. Since it's gluten free and dairy free, you'll really feel like you're getting away with something!
For some reason, strawberry shakes are so much more - MORE. A vanilla shake, great. A chocolate shake, well, that's delicious. But a strawberry shake has some kind of special-ness, a not-every-day-ness that defines its appeal. A flavor that tastes better with summer.
Whether you avoid dairy or not, I think you'll find a place for this dairy free milkshake in your summer recipe repertoire.
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Try a dairy free milkshake for a lighter take on a classic!
- Just 4 ingredients!
- Coconut milk adds flavor and is lighter than heavy cream.
- It's vegan and gluten free!
- Flavor possibilities are endless!
Ingredients you'll need
- Fresh strawberries: Look for strawberries with a deep red color and no mushy spots.
- Coconut milk: You can use regular or light coconut milk. It will be a little thicker if you use regular.
- Non-dairy strawberry or vanilla frozen dessert made with coconut milk: You can find coconut milk 'ice cream' at Whole Foods and at most grocery stores.
- Sugar: We just need a bit of sugar to macerate the strawberries.
Recommended tools and equipment
- Chef's knife and cutting board: To slice the strawberries.
- Mixing bowl: For macerating the strawberries.
- Blender: To blend up our dairy free milkshake to the perfect consistency!
How to make a dairy free milkshake
Step 1: Slice, macerate and freeze the strawberries
Hull strawberries and slice into quarters.
Place in a bowl and dust with sugar. Toss strawberries in sugar to coat, and allow to macerate for about 10 minutes.
PREP TIP What does macerate mean? It means that we are going to add sugar to the strawberries so that they will soften and release their juices to create a syrup.
Then place strawberries in freezer until completely frozen, 40 minutes to one hour.
Step 2: Mix all ingredients in the blender
In a good blender, mix the whole pint of non-dairy dessert, ½ cup coconut milk and frozen strawberries (scrape that strawberry-sugar juice out of the bowl, too!)
You really don't want a liquid-y shake. You might have to blend a little, and scrape down a few times. If necessary, add the remaining ¼ cup of coconut milk. But if you are patient, you might be able to avoid it.
Pour into glasses and serve. Now go chill out on the front porch and enjoy the lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer.
Variations and substitutions
I'm making this dairy free milkshake with coconut milk and dairy free coconut milk ice cream, but there are lots of other dairy free options to choose from.
You may have to adjust your ratios to get the desired thickness because coconut milk is pretty thick.
- Oat milk and oat milk ice cream
- Soy milk and soy milk ice cream
- Almond milk and almond milk ice cream
Other fruits and flavors to try
Swap out the flavors of your dairy free milkshake to suit your moods and the seasons. Try these ideas!
- Chocolate (of course!) Use a chocolate dairy free ice cream, and a vanilla dairy free milk.
- Blueberries or blackberries: Use vanilla components as the base.
- Cookies and cream: Just make sure the cookies are vegan.
- Mango would be amazing! It would pair well with the coconut milk base here.
More dairy free recipes with strawberries
Just put strawberries in everything and I'm happy!
- Strawberry Arugula Salad with Basil and Mint is a wonderful light summer salad.
- Strawberry-Basil Prosecco Punch will have all your friends talking at your next party.
Recipe
Dairy Free Strawberry Milkshake
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pint non-dairy strawberry frozen dessert made with coconut milk
- 1 cup fresh strawberries hulled and sliced into quarters
- ½ to ¾ cup coconut milk light or full-fat
- 1 teaspoon sugar
Instructions
- Hull strawberries and slice into quarters.
- Place strawberry slices in a bowl and dust with sugar. Toss strawberries in sugar to coat, and allow to macerate for about 10 minutes. Then place in freezer until completely frozen, 40 minutes to one hour.
- In a blender, mix the whole pint of non-dairy dessert, ½ cup coconut milk and frozen strawberries (scrape that strawberry-sugar juice out of the bowl, too!)
- Pour into glasses and serve. Chill on the front porch and enjoy the lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer.
Notes
- You really don't want a liquid-y shake, so you need a pretty good blender. You might have to blend a little, and scrape down a few times. If necessary, add the remaining ¼ cup of coconut milk. But if you are patient, you might be able to avoid it.
- You can substitute the coconut milk and dairy free coconut milk ice cream for oat milk and oat milk ice cream. The oat milk and oat milk ice cream will not be as thick as coconut milk, so you may have to adjust the ratios to get your desired thickness.
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