Strawberry Shortcake Smoothie Recipe

Learn how to make the best homemade Strawberry Shortcake Smoothie that tastes exactly like the classic dessert in drinkable form! This easy baking recipe transforms fresh strawberries, vanilla cookies, and cream cheese into a refreshingly thick treat perfect for breakfast or dessert. Ready in minutes but tastes like you spent hours creating it!

Difficulty:

Beginner

Prep Time:

10 mins

Cook Time:

0 mins

Serves:

2 large smoothies

Ingredients

<ul class="ingredients-main-list"><li class="ingredients-single-item">300g fresh strawberries, hulled (plus extra for garnish)</li><li class="ingredients-single-item">60g vanilla shortbread cookies or vanilla wafers</li><li class="ingredients-single-item">60g cream cheese, softened (or Greek yogurt for lighter version)</li><li class="ingredients-single-item">250ml milk (dairy or plant-based)</li><li class="ingredients-single-item">15ml vanilla extract</li><li class="ingredients-single-item">30g honey or maple syrup (adjust to taste)</li><li class="ingredients-single-item">120g ice cubes</li><li class="ingredients-single-item">Whipped cream for topping (optional)</li><li class="ingredients-single-item">1 tsp vanilla bean paste (optional)</li></ul>

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

🍽️ Serving Size: 1 smoothie

🔥 Calories: 285 calories

🥑 Fat: 8 g

🧈 Saturated Fat: 4 g

🍞 Carbohydrates: 47 g

🍭 Sugar: 32 g

🍗 Protein: 7 g

🫀 Cholesterol: 22 mg

🧂 Sodium: 180 mg

Equipment

<ul class="equipment-main-list"><li class="equipment-single-item">High-powered blender</li><li class="equipment-single-item">Measuring cups and spoons</li></ul>

Directions

<ol class="no-list-style"><li class="MethodStepper"><h4 class="step-title">Step 1</h4>Prepare your strawberries by washing them thoroughly under cold running water. Remove the green tops (hull them) and slice any larger berries in half. Setting aside a few small strawberry slices and cookie crumbles for garnish will elevate the presentation of your finished smoothie.</li><li class="MethodStepper"><h4 class="step-title">Step 2</h4>Add the cream cheese to your blender first, followed by the milk. This order helps the cream cheese blend smoothly without sticking to the sides. Pulse a few times until the cream cheese is incorporated into the milk - this creates a creamy base that mimics the richness of traditional shortcake.</li><li class="MethodStepper"><h4 class="step-title">Step 3</h4>Add the vanilla extract, honey or maple syrup, and vanilla bean paste (if using) to the blender. The combination of these ingredients creates the characteristic "shortcake" flavor profile that makes this smoothie special.</li><li class="MethodStepper"><h4 class="step-title">Step 4</h4>Break the vanilla cookies into pieces and add them to the blender. Don't pulverize them completely into powder - keeping some small cookie pieces will give your smoothie authentic shortcake texture and a more authentic dessert experience.</li><li class="MethodStepper"><h4 class="step-title">Step 5</h4>Add the strawberries and ice cubes to the blender. For the best texture, try using frozen strawberries or freezing fresh ones for 30 minutes before blending - this creates a thicker, milkshake-like consistency without diluting the flavor.</li><li class="MethodStepper"><h4 class="step-title">Step 6</h4>Blend everything together until smooth and creamy, about 30-60 seconds depending on your blender's power. Stop and scrape down the sides if necessary to ensure even blending. The perfect consistency should be thick enough to coat the back of a spoon but still pourable.</li><li class="MethodStepper"><h4 class="step-title">Step 7</h4>Taste your smoothie and adjust sweetness if necessary. The natural sweetness of strawberries varies greatly, so you might need to add more honey or maple syrup to achieve the dessert-like flavor profile of strawberry shortcake.</li><li class="MethodStepper"><h4 class="step-title">Step 8</h4>Pour the smoothie into chilled glasses for the best temperature and experience. Top with a swirl of whipped cream, a few reserved strawberry slices, and cookie crumbles to recreate the classic strawberry shortcake presentation. Serve immediately with a straw and spoon for the perfect dessert-inspired treat!</li></ol>

FAQs

Find answers to your most pressing questions about this delicious recipe right here.

What ingredients are used in Strawberry Shortcake Smoothie?

This smoothie combines fresh strawberries, vanilla shortbread cookies, cream cheese (or Greek yogurt), milk, vanilla extract, honey or maple syrup, and ice cubes. Optional ingredients include whipped cream and vanilla bean paste for an authentic dessert-inspired flavour profile.

How to cook Strawberry Shortcake Smoothie at home?

Learn how to cook Strawberry Shortcake Smoothie by starting with a cream cheese and milk base for richness, then blending in vanilla cookies, fresh strawberries, sweeteners, and ice until smooth and creamy. No actual cooking is required - just blending the ingredients in the right order to achieve the perfect dessert-inspired texture and flavour.

Can I make this smoothie dairy-free while maintaining its creamy texture?

Absolutely! Replace dairy milk with almond, oat or coconut milk, and substitute the cream cheese with dairy-free alternatives like silken tofu, coconut cream, or plant-based cream cheese. The vanilla cookies can be swapped for dairy-free biscuits to maintain that authentic shortcake flavour.

What's the best way to achieve the perfect thickness in a dessert smoothie?

For the perfect thickness, freeze your strawberries beforehand or use frozen berries. Add ice gradually until reaching desired consistency. The cookies also contribute to thickness, but don't over-blend them. For extra thickness without diluting flavour, freeze cubes of plant milk or yoghurt to use instead of ice.

How can I reduce the sugar content while preserving the strawberry shortcake flavour?

Reduce sugar by using extra-ripe strawberries which are naturally sweeter, replacing honey/maple syrup with stevia or monk fruit sweetener, choosing sugar-free vanilla cookies, and using plain Greek yoghurt instead of cream cheese. The vanilla extract and optional vanilla bean paste help maintain the signature shortcake flavour.

Want to try something else in ...