A milkshake is allowed to be a drink enjoyed for pleasure. It need not be marketed as a complete meal or an especially effective sports product. Our recipe idea makes two small portions or one larger one, depending on glass size. Adjust sweetness and texture to your taste.
A strawberry milkshake with few ingredients
| Ingredient | Amount | Variation |
|---|---|---|
| Chilled pasteurized milk | 250 ml | Choose a personally suitable alternative if needed |
| Fresh strawberries | 150 g, prepared | Wash carefully beforehand |
| Vanilla | A small pinch | Optional |
| Vanilla ice cream | Approximately 40 g, optional | Add for a sweeter dessert version |
Wash the strawberries, remove the green tops and cut larger fruits into pieces. Put milk and fruit into a suitable blender. Blend briefly according to the appliance instructions, add vanilla and optional ice cream, and blend briefly again. Serve fresh.
Adjust the texture deliberately
Add a little milk for a thinner shake. For a thicker version, begin with slightly less liquid rather than loading the blender with more and more hard frozen ingredients. Use an appliance only with ingredients it is designed to handle. Taste the mixture before adding syrup or sugar.
Without ice cream, it remains a fruit-and-milk mixture. Adding ice cream changes flavor, energy and composition. Neither version needs a label such as sinful or perfectly healthy. What matters is the portion you wish to enjoy and how the drink fits your routine.
Treat fresh and frozen fruit differently
BfR recommends thoroughly heating frozen berries before eating to reduce infection risks. For a cold shake, they then need to be cooled hygienically. The recipe idea above therefore uses fresh, washed strawberries rather than uncooked frozen berries. [1]
Clean the blender thoroughly after use and keep milk and prepared mixtures refrigerated. Do not carry a shake around unrefrigerated for hours. Small freshly prepared amounts and a suitable cooling method are simpler choices for taking it out.
Check allergies and nutrition separately
Lactose-free does not mean free from milk proteins. With milk-protein allergy, even a lactose-free dairy product must therefore be avoided or replaced with a suitable alternative. Plant-based substitutes can contain their own allergens. [2]
Anyone specifically aiming to add protein should calculate the actual amount rather than relying on the word shake. Medical dietary requirements need an individually adapted recipe.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need ice cream?
No. It is an optional addition for the dessert version.
Can I add frozen berries straight from the freezer without cooking?
The cited BfR recommendation calls for thorough heating first, followed by hygienic cooling.
Is lactose-free milk suitable for milk allergy?
Not automatically, because milk proteins may still be present.
Is every milkshake a protein shake?
No. The actual ingredients and protein amount need assessment.
Further reading
Making a quark protein shake and making egg-free ice cream in a machine.
Sources
Editorially updated: September 27, 2026. Our own recipe idea, not individually calculated nutritional or allergy treatment.
