Roasted Strawberry Milkshake

This roasted strawberry milkshake with a pistachio cacao nib crumble is a grown up and healthier version of the classic treat. Perfect For Valentine’s Day or using up fresh summer strawberries.

There’s one very tragic and unfortunate thing about this roasted strawberry milkshake — it comes with a severe case of the Milkshake song getting stuck in your head for hours on end.

If you’re anything like me, it goes something like this: “my milkshake brings all the boys to the yard and they’re like, it’s better than yours”…repeat x54234756 because you have absolutely no idea what she says after that since you’re so preoccupied with how utterly annoying the song is in the first place.

There are two songs from this century so far that I absolutely, 100% cannot stand:

1. “Crazy” by Gnarles Barkley  — Gnarls? Is that even for real?
2.  Kelis’ “Milkshake”

Thankfully, the actual strawberry milkshake is pretty damn good and worth the annoyance.

I’m not really a milkshake person. If I’m getting ice cream, I usually want to be able to see it, eat it or lick it, not drink it. A soft-serve vanilla cone with cherry dip or rainbow sprinkles is much more my style.

My only memory of a milkshake is actually from college. It involved my two best college friends, a loooong happy hour at the local bar, the Gingerbread Man with a few too many whiskey sours, a 2 mile walk to Dairy Queen where local neighborhood trash cans were picked up, put on our heads and moved down the street and a really delicious strawberry cheesecake milkshake of some sort. The walk back also involved a sober friend with a car picking us up, people flailing about on the sidewalks and passing out in bed by 9pm but that’s beside the point. We’ve grown up a bit since then.

But every now and then, you can’t go wrong with a decadent milkshake. With Valentine’s Day on the horizon and a few grown up twists (like roasting the strawberries and a pistachio crumble you won’t find at any Dairy Queen), I can think of no better better treat to gift yourself or your significant other than this strawberry milkshake recipe. 

Homemade Strawberry Milkshake Recipe with a Twist

This recipe takes your classic strawberry milkshake and gives it a fresh twist! We’re using fresh strawberries, which means you get real strawberry flavor with every sip, not artificially pink food dyes claiming to be fruit or gross artificial flavor. 

It’s also a healthier milkshake option, thanks to ingredients like Greek yogurt and almond milk that accompany the ice cream, so you can indulge without the guilt (or as much of the stomachache that normally comes with a milkshake). The roasted strawberries add a layer of sweetness that’s perfectly balanced by the freshness from basil and the pistachio and cacao nib crumble bring sophisticated texture that makes every sip and spoonful stand out.

Simple Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need to make this delicious milkshake:

• Fresh Strawberries: Roasted to bring out their natural sweetness and used in both the shake and as a topping.
• Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk: A lighter, non-dairy option that adds flavor without the calories. Oat milk is a good substitution option that’s also dairy free as it’s a bit creamier than almond milk. Alternatively, you can use whole milk which will make the milkshake recipe even creamier and more decadent.
• Strawberry Ice Cream: Half goes into the blender, while the other half is the perfect topper for your shake. Make sure to choose a good quality ice cream with wholesome ingredients. It makes all the difference in flavor!
• Plain Greek Yogurt: Adds creaminess and a little extra protein while cutting some of the overwhelming sweetness of traditional milkshakes.
• Fresh Basil: A few leaves make this milkshake extra refreshing. It may sound weird, but it’s the perfect accompaniment to the strawberry flavor!
• Pistachios and Cacao Nibs: These add a crunchy, nutty crumble on top, making each sip more fun.

How to Make This Strawberry Milkshake

Making this strawberry shake couldn’t be easier. Start by roasting the strawberries in the oven until they become juicy and caramelized (this brings out the sweetness in them and is an excellent tip for enjoying out of season strawberries). 

While they’re cooling, add the almond milk, ice cream, yogurt, vanilla, sweetener and basil into a blender. Blend it up until it’s smooth, then add some of the roasted strawberries and blend again for extra flavor. Pour the milkshake into glasses, top it off with an a scoop of ice cream, and spoon some of the remaining roasted strawberries on top. Garnish with the pistachio crumble and enjoy!

How to Customize Your Strawberry Milkshake

Looking for ways to switch things up? This milkshake can be easily customized to your taste.

• If all you have is vanilla ice cream, you can use that too. The roasted strawberries bring plenty of strawberry flavor without the need for strawberry ice cream. 
• Adjust the thickness to you taste. If you like a really thick milkshake start out with less almond milk. For a thinner shake, you can always add more.
• Feel free to add or experiment with other flavors such as frozen banana, fresh berries, chocolate chips, swirl in some cream cheese for a cheesecake vibe or peanut butter for a pb&j effect.

The possibilities are endless with a milkshake!

More Milkshakes To Try

This healthier copycat McDonald’s shamrock shake is perfect for St. Paddy’s Day celebrations or anytime of year if you’re craving something minty. Kids love the green color and you’ll feel good about it being a natural green.

Can’t decide between a milkshake or cookie? Have both with this chocolate chip cookie milkshake. With cookies blended into the milkshake and crumbled on top, it’s a double doozy dessert!

This chocolate peanut butter smoothie may not be a milkshake exactly but its indulgence barely makes it a smoothie either. Give it a try for a sweet tooth craving.