Strawberry Milk
With just 2 ingredients, homemade strawberry milk is so easy to make and tastes so much better than store-bought. This strawberry milk recipe is perfectly sweet and loaded with fresh strawberry flavor. This delicious drink is also customizable from the amount of sugar to the type of milk you use. You’re going to love sipping on this childhood favorite!
I loved drinking “pink milk”, as we called it, when I was a kid. Did your school’s cafeteria serve those little cartons of strawberry milk, too? I think my kids’ school actually still offers them. Anyway, we loved them! So sweet, creamy and refreshing! Well, guess what? You can still enjoy deliciously rich “pink milk”, as an adult.
To sweeten and add fresh strawberry flavor to any type of milk you’d like, from almond milk to indulgent whole milk, we’re using my simple recipe for strawberry simple syrup instead of the store-bought strawberry syrup. Not only is it better for you because it has no chemicals or dyes, but you can also taste the real strawberries used to make it!
Plus, you’ll feel better about drinking strawberry milk with homemade simple syrup. Of course, you’ll feel better about giving it to the kiddos, too!
If your family is like mine and loves strawberry-flavored everything, make this treat for brunch or an after-school snack. It will be such a fun surprise and it’s also so perfect for Valentine’s day!
ingredients needed to make strawberry milk
The ingredients for this fun milk recipe are very few – only 2, in fact!
- Strawberry simple syrup. This easy mixture is made by simmering strawberries, sugar and water. Once thickened, you simply strain out the solids and you’re left with a sweet, bright red strawberry syrup. This syrup is not only great for making pretty pink milk, but also cocktails, strawberry lemonade and much more!
- Milk. You can use any type of milk, dairy or nondairy. Use whole milk for super rich, decadent strawberry milk or unsweetened vanilla almond milk to make a lower calorie drink.
how to make strawberry milk
This recipe is almost as easy as mixing up Nesquick strawberry milk! Simply stir the chilled strawberry simple syrup into a glass of milk and drink up!
I recommend adding about 3-4 tablespoons of strawberry simple syrup to a glass with about 3/4 cup milk in it. You might want to start with 3 tablespoons (or less, if using a sweetened plant-based milk), taste and add more simple syrup as desired. Depending on how much simple syrup you stir into each glass of milk, you will most likely have enough to make 6-8 servings.
tips for success
This recipe is SO easy to make, but here are a few tips to make sure your drink is perfect every time!
- Fresh or frozen strawberries. When making the strawberry syrup, you can use fresh or frozen strawberries. If using fresh, make sure they’re at peak ripeness, or use frozen instead.
- Make ahead. I recommend preparing the strawberry simple syrup at least an hour (longer would be better) in advance, so that it can cool before adding it to the milk. The syrup can be prepared up to 2 weeks in advance.
- Plant-based milk. If you’re using a sweetened plant-based milk, you might want to add a little less syrup. Taste the drink and adjust as desired.
- Food coloring. If your drink isn’t quite pink enough, you can add a couple of drops of food coloring to your beverage. I would start with two drops per glass of milk. Totally optional!
is strawberry milk healthy?
I’m not a nutritionist, but if I were wanting healthy strawberry milk, I would use a plant-based milk product and probably only add about 3 tablespoons of the strawberry simple syrup to the milk.
Another option is to use monk fruit sweetener in place of the sugar when making the strawberry simple syrup. You can find monk fruit sweetener down the sugar aisle of the grocery store. It is a 1:1 ratio with sugar, but check the container of your monk fruit sweetener for directions and adjust accordingly.
Interested in learning more about monk fruit sweetener? This article is very comprehensive and can tell you all about the sugar-free sweetener.
substitutions and variations
There are so many different ways to change things up and add new flavors to this delicious treat! Here are a few of my favorite ideas:
- Feel free to add about of 3 teaspoons of pure vanilla extract to the full batch of strawberry simple syrup, once it has been removed from the heat. Surprisingly, the vanilla will actually amplify the strawberry flavor.
- For other fun flavors, when making the simple syrup, you can sub out the strawberries with another favorite fruit, like blueberries, cherries or raspberries. You’ll follow the same recipe method.
- As mentioned, you can use any kind of milk you want for this recipe. This recipe is completely vegan, if you use a plant-based milk. However, if you’re looking for a rich, super tasty drink, I recommend whole milk. For even more rich creaminess, try adding a splash of heavy cream or half-and-half! My favorite non-dairy alternatives are unsweetened vanilla almond milk or unsweetened vanilla cashew milk.
- Try using this pink milk to make a strawberry milkshake. Yum! Combine the strawberry milk with a few scoops of vanilla ice cream and blend for a scrumptious milkshake. The creamy vanilla and strawberry flavors are a classic combination!
storage
Store strawberry syrup in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. For best results, stir the syrup into the milk just before serving.
more delicious strawberry recipes:
Trying to make use of juicy strawberries before summer ends? Give these tasty recipes a try!
- Spinach Strawberry Salad
- Blackened Salmon with Strawberry Avocado Salsa
- Strawberry Salsa
- Strawberry Banana Muffins
If you try this strawberry milk recipe, let me know! Leave a comment and if you love it as much as I do, be sure to give it a five star ⭐️ rating! Also, tag @kimscravings on Instagram with a picture of your creation. It’s so fun to see what you’re cooking! Be sure to subscribe to our mailing list to receive more healthy delicious recipes straight to your inbox.
Strawberry Milk
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups strawberry simple syrup
- 4 1/2 cups milk (any kind works great!)
Instructions
- Pour ¾ cup of milk into a glass and add syrup to taste (I add about 3-4 tablespoons).
- Stir and serve.
Notes
Did you make this recipe?
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