Easy Strawberry Banana Smoothie (Light Milkshake)

Why To Make This Strawberry Banana Smoothie

I associate milkshakes and smoothies with summer, as my mum always makes some to use up the extensive seasonal produce.

This recipe is super simple, even my brother has learned how to make it - no doubt this easy fruity milkshake will become your favourite soon! You’ll only need a few ingredients and basic kitchen equipment.

A handheld blender (stick blender) and a deep bowl or container is all you need to make it. Alternatively, you can use a food processor.

This smoothie is full of vitamins (vitamin C, B6, E, K), minerals (potassium, folate, magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, manganese, selenium, zinc), protein, fibre and antioxidants and therefore it’s great for a healthy and balanced diet. Ideally, drink it in the morning to make the most of its health benefits. It also contains many natural sugars, which could ruin your sleep at night, so avoid drinking it before bedtime.

Like I said at the beginning, the recipe is fantastic for using up leftover (surplus) fruit. Fresh strawberries get soft quickly when ripe, and whilst they can’t always be used in recipes where they are supposed to look ‘pretty’, they are perfect in jams, conserves or in drinks like this light milkshake or strawberry virgin mojito.

Key Ingredients for Strawberry Banana Smoothie

This recipe contains only 4 basic ingredients, all of which can be found in most kitchen cupboards and are available in shops throughout the year.

• Strawberries – for best flavour, use ripe fresh strawberries with stems removed. You can also use frozen strawberries straight from the freezer.
• Bananas - ripe or overripe fresh or frozen bananas are very good in smoothies and shakes, giving the drink a sweet flavour.
• Milk – semi-skimmed cow’s milk is ideal for this recipe. For vegan and lactose-free options, please see the substitutes section below.
• Vanilla extract – adds a bit of the delicate vanilla flavour and brings another dimension to this milkshake.

Optional ingredients are ice, sugar, honey, maple syrup or other sweetener – depending on taste. If you like, you can turn this smoothie into an indulgent milkshake by adding whipped or spray cream on top.

Garnishes are also optional; this milkshake will look nice with a slice of strawberry and fresh mint leaves.

Detailed measurements can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Substitutes & Variations

You may be wondering if there are ways of making this smoothie just as delicious even though summer has passed and strawberries are no longer in season (or as tasty as they would be in full summer). Luckily, there is an easy hack for this:

• Good quality strawberry jam or conserve – this common pantry staple is an absolute saviour of the sweet and fruity flavour of strawberries. Use it in this recipe instead of fresh or frozen strawberries and enjoy this milkshake all year round without losing out on flavour!
• Vegan-friendly - use plant-based or dairy-free milk (oat, soya, almond or similar), sweetener, and dairy-free cream (if using).

Variations

This milkshake recipe is flexible and can be adjusted to your liking and produce that you have.

• Add a variety of berries - fresh or frozen raspberries, blackberries or blueberries. Check it is sweet enough and not too sour, and sweeten with sugar, or honey if needed.
• Add chia seeds for extra fiber.

Turn it into a yummy milkshake by adding:

• Strawberry (or raspberry) dessert sauce - decorate the insides of a glass with before serving and add some on top of the cream.
• Chocolate sauce into the glass before serving, and sprinkle with chocolate (cocoa) powder on top.

Find more details and exact amounts in the recipe card below this article.

How To Make Banana and Strawberry Smoothie

This delicious and light shake is ready in 3 simple steps:

1. Clean and dice the fruit.
2. Add it to a blender, add milk, ice and sugar (the two later are optional).
3. Blend until smooth and serve with garnish.

For a more detailed recipe, please see the recipe card at the very end of this post.

Top Tips

Here are some ideas on how to make this super easy milkshake even better:

• Although all of the ingredients go into a blender, cut the fruit into chunks – it only takes a minute but the milkshake will be smoother and made quicker as the texture will be more balanced.
• To make this smoothie thicker, add Greek-style or natural yogurt.
• If the smoothie is too thick, add a dash of milk.
• When making this light milkshake in advance, shake it well before serving. This will help combine the milk and water from the fruit that may have separated.

Storage

You can make this strawberry smoothie in advance. It will keep fresh for up a day from blending. Store it in an airtight food container in the fridge for up to 24 hours. Shake it well before serving or give it another blitz in the food blender (processor).

Can You Freeze a Strawberry and Banana Smoothie?

It is very easy to freeze any leftover smoothies. There are several ways around it, all of them save you time next time you fancy this smoothie - find one that meets you need:

• Option 1: transfer the smoothie into a freezer-safe container, seal and freeze – this option is good for batch cooking. Defrost on the kitchen counter for at least 15 minutes and stir (or shake) it thoroughly before serving.
• Option 2: freeze the smoothie in an ice cube tray, and place in the freezer for 4 hours or until just solid, then take the ice cubes out, place them into a freezer-safe bag and freeze, later you will be able to defrost just as much as you need – this is great for prepping individual portions. Leave it to thaw for about 15 minutes and give it a stir before serving.
• Option 3: freeze only the diced fruit, add the rest of the ingredients (liquids) and blend it when ready to serve. You will be able to blend the frozen fruit after 10-15 minutes of thawing at room temperature. This option gives you flexibility on adjusting the recipe just before serving and on the usage of the fruit – you can use it in cakes, desserts, pancakes, overnight oats etc.

Note: Options 1 and 2 save you washing up the blender before each serving. Never re-freeze items that had been previously frozen and defrosted.

FAQs

More Summer Drink Recipes

• Strawberry mojito mocktail
• Alcohol-free Pimm’s cup
• Elderflower cordial
• Cold brew iced latte
• Homemade hazelnut iced latte