Fresh Strawberry Milkshake

What’s not to love about a homemade strawberry milkshake? This summer-ready recipe combines fresh strawberries with thick scoops of vanilla ice cream for a cool, ultra-creamy drink that’s just sweet enough. Ripe, peak-season berries add lots of bright, sweet strawberry flavor here, but standard grocery store strawberries work too (you just might need to add a little extra sugar depending on their ripeness). The real secret to the best strawberry milkshake? A pinch of salt. Yes, you read that right. Like everything else you cook, a milkshake requires seasoning. Though virtually undetectable in the final product, a small dose of salt rounds out the sweetness of the strawberry shake and heightens its fresh flavor. And yes, you should be adding salt to your smoothies and cups of coffee too.

This simple strawberry milkshake recipe requires minimal prep time and is highly adaptable. Use strawberry ice cream instead of vanilla to double the fruity fun, or chocolate ice cream for a Valentine’s-worthy dessert. Add a dollop of cream cheese for an extra-creamy texture and a strawberry-cheesecake-like effect. Want to go vegan? Swap the dairy milk for almond milk, coconut milk, or any other alt-milk you like, and use your favorite plant-based ice cream too). Want to achieve an electric pink color? Trade the granulated sugar for a squeeze of strawberry syrup or toss in a handful of freeze-dried berries. Top with a large dollop of whipped cream and garnish with sliced strawberries.