Strawberry Shortcake Smoothie

Based on the flavors of a classic American dessert and full of plant-based whole foods, it doesn’t get better than a strawberry shortcake smoothie. Learn smoothie basics and get all our best smoothie recipes.

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Why we love this recipe

This recipe hits the sweet (but not too sweet) spot between breakfast and dessert. It’s:

• Smooth and creamy
• Packed with fruity fresh strawberries
• Equally packed with nutrients

I first published a version of this recipe on Serious Eats in 2013.

What you’ll need

Here’s a glance at the ingredients you’ll need to make this smoothie.

The basics

• Frozen strawberries are the workhorse of this fresh and fabulous smoothie. Strawberries are always right at the top of the dirty dozen, so use organic ones if you can (or, if you’re the luckiest person alive, pick and freeze your own).
• Medjool dates are a brilliant whole-food source of sweetness for smoothies. They have a caramel-like flavor and, hey, also tons of dietary fiber and micronutrients. Pit them before using. If you have a high-speed blender, you can toss them in whole. Otherwise, mince them and blend with the liquid before adding the rest of the ingredients.
• I’ve called for almond milk because the flavor of actual almonds complements strawberry shortcake flavors. But no one in our house is a fan of most commercial almond milks. So when I’m not up for making homemade almond milk, I tend to use another nondairy milk.
• There’s a hint of vanilla extract in this recipe, but not too much because it has a bitter aftertaste when used raw in larger quantities. To amp up that flavor, you can use a vanilla-flavored milk if you like.
• Maca is a Peruvian root vegetable long considered to increase virility. These days it’s used as a superfood since it’s jam-packed with micronutrients that can be lacking in the standard diet. It has a subtle, almost malt-like flavor that I enjoy in smoothies. It’s 100% optional in this recipe. Buy it here if you like.

Optional addtitions

• A spoonful of strawberry jam deepens the strawberry flavor and sweetens things up a bit
• A scoop of your favorite protein powder adds staying power
• A tablespoon of ground flax adds healthy fats
• Two tablespoons of soaked raw cashews (high-speed blender only) or one tablespoon of cashew butter adds tons of creaminess

How to make it

Here’s what you’ll do to make a great strawberry shortcake smoothie.

1. If using a high-speed blender, add all the ingredients.
2. If using a regular blender, mince the dates, pour in the milk, and blend until smooth. Then add the rest of the ingredients.
3. Blend until perfectly smooth, creamy, and frosty. Depending on your blender, you may need to add a bit more liquid. (You can use water or more milk.)
4. Pour into a glass and serve right away.

Expert tips and FAQs

More favorite berry smoothies

• Strawberry lemonade smoothie
• Greek yogurt smoothie with raspberries
• Peanut butter and jelly protein shake

5 from 5 votes

Strawberry Shortcake Smoothie

By Carolyn Gratzer Cope

Based on the flavors of a classic American dessert and full of plant-based whole foods, it doesn't get better than a strawberry shortcake smoothie.

Prep: 5 minutes mins

Total: 5 minutes mins

Servings: 1

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Equipment

• Vitamix 5200 Blender

Ingredients

• ▢ 1 ½ cups frozen strawberries
• ▢ ¾ cups almond milk, here’s how to make it
• ▢ 2 Medjool dates, pitted
• ▢ ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• ▢ 1 teaspoon maca powder, optional

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Instructions 

• Combine berries, almond milk, dates, vanilla, and maca powder (if using) in blender. If you don’t have a high-speed blender, see note 2 below.
• Blend on high speed until completely smooth, about 1 minute.
• Pour into a glass and serve.

Notes

1. Frozen strawberries are the workhorse of this fresh and fabulous smoothie. Strawberries are always right at the top of the the dirty dozen, so use organic ones if you can (or, if you’re the luckiest person alive, pick and freeze your own).
2. Medjool dates are a brilliant whole-food source of sweetness for smoothies. They have a caramel-like flavor and, hey, also tons of dietary fiber and micronutrients. Pit them before using. If you have a high-speed blender, you can toss them in whole. Otherwise, mince them and blend with the almond milk before adding the rest of the ingredients.
3. I’ve called for almond milk because the flavor of actual almonds complements strawberry shortcake flavors. But no one in our house is a fan of most commercial almond milks. So when I’m not up for making homemade almond milk, I tend to use another nondairy milk.
4. There’s a hint of vanilla extract in this recipe, but not too much because it has a bitter aftertaste when used raw in larger quantities. To amp up that flavor, you can use a vanilla-flavored milk if you like.
5. Maca is a Peruvian root vegetable long considered to increase virility. These days it’s used as a superfood since it’s jam-packed with micronutrients that can be lacking in the standard diet. It has a subtle, almost malt-like flavor that I enjoy in smoothies. It’s 100% optional in this recipe. Buy it Buy it here if you like.
I really prefer to make smoothies right before drinking them. But if you’re anticipating a busy morning, you can make this the night before and store it in an airtight container in the fridge. Fill it all the way up to the top if possible to minimize oxidation.

Nutrition

Calories: 249kcal, Carbohydrates: 50.3g, Protein: 5.8g, Fat: 4g, Fiber: 8.2g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Smoothies

Cuisine: American

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