Do you love milkshakes but find yourself also craving ice cream, donuts, and fresh strawberries? Then my Strawberry Monster Shake is exactly what you need! It’s sweet, it’s huge, and yes, it’s an absolute calorie bomb. But honestly? It is unbelievably delicious and the ultimate treat for hot summer days.
Finally, the sun is out, the weather is warm, and you can enjoy this ice-cold, refreshing strawberry freakshake in the sunshine.
We are talking about nearly a pound of fresh strawberries, banana, milk, strawberry puree, vanilla extract, and creamy vanilla ice cream all blended into one heavenly drink. But the real magic happens on top: it’s loaded with a strawberry donut, a mountain of whipped cream, a strawberry skewer, and—of course—a sprinkle of candy hearts.
The result? A heavenly, berry-loaded masterpiece that is bound to turn heads. You can even grab a lid and take it to go!
Now, the only question left is… where are you going to start eating first?
WHAT IS A MONSTER SHAKE OR FREAKSHAKE?
The very first time I tried a Monster Shake—sometimes called a Freakshake—was in Amsterdam, and I was instantly hooked! Fast forward a year and a half, and I finally decided to make one myself. Honestly, looking back, I have no idea why I waited so long! It is incredibly quick, super easy to make, and tastes absolutely amazing.
At its core, a Monster Shake is just an over-the-top milkshake with a serious upgrade. You start with a classic base—whether that’s vanilla, chocolate, or strawberry is completely up to your personal taste. Once you have your base, you simply match the rest of the ingredients to your flavor theme. Because what truly defines a freakshake is the jaw-dropping topping. Here, your imagination is the only limit!
EPIC MONSTER SHAKE TOPPINGS. GO WILD!
When it comes to topping a freakshake, the rule is simple: the bigger, the better! You can load your shake with:
- Sweet treats: Candy bars, marshmallows, cookies, sprinkles, lollipops, cotton candy, and chocolate or caramel syrup.
- Bakery favorites: Donuts, cupcakes, fudgy brownies, and waffles.
- Crunchy & fun twists: Nuts, pretzels (for that perfect salty-sweet combo!), and fresh fruit.
- Adult versions: A splash of your favorite liqueur.
Anything goes, and whatever your favorite candy is, toss it on! It’s also the perfect excuse to raid your snack cupboard. The goal is to make it look colorful, sweet, and wonderfully freaky.
The Freakshake Motto: What is a milkshake without a pile of cookies, half a cake, and maybe three candy bars balanced on top?
What you get in the end is a drink, a dessert, and a bakery treat all rolled into one. For my version, instead of marshmallows and endless candy, I crowned my shake with fresh strawberry skewers, a glazed strawberry donut, and a mountain of whipped cream.
Be honest: who could resist a sugar rush like this sitting right on top of a delicious strawberry bomb?
MILKSHAKES FOR STRESS RELIEF
Did you know that sipping a milkshake can actually help fight stress? It turns out researchers have discovered that the secret lies in the straw. The simple act of sucking is deeply soothing.
Sucking is a natural reflex that instantly relaxes our nervous system and calms our breathing. You can easily see this in babies—whether they are nursing, drinking from a bottle, using a pacifier, or just sucking on their own thumbs, it comforts them immediately. It triggers a deep, positive sense of fullness, comfort, and satisfaction.
Plus, pulling a thick, cold milkshake through a straw creates a wonderfully rich and creamy texture in your mouth. So, the next time you’re having a stressful day, just remember: enjoying a delicious freakshake isn’t just a treat—it’s pure relaxation!
SIP SUSTAINABLY – SAY GOODBYE TO PLASTIC STRAWS
Did you know that billions of single-use plastic straws are thrown away every single year globally? Most of them are used for just a few minutes before landing in the trash, and tragically, far too many end up polluting our oceans.
Fortunately, there are plenty of fantastic, eco-friendly alternatives out there! For my freakshakes, I love using reusable straw-spoon combos (like stainless steel*). They are an absolute game-changer: you get a sturdy straw for sipping and a handy little spoon built right into the end to scoop up every last bit of thick ice cream and topping.
They are super easy to clean, infinitely reusable, and help you ditch single-use plastic for good. It’s a tiny switch that tastes just as good and does our planet a massive favor!
STRAWBERRY FREAKSHAKE INGREDIENTS
450 g (approx. 1 lb) fresh strawberries
½ ripe banana
4 scoops vanilla ice cream
300 ml cold milk
1 tsp lemon juice
1 tsp vanilla extract*
INGREDIENTS FOR THE STRAWBERRY SKEWERS
12 fresh strawberries
INGREDIENTS FOR THE MONSTER SHAKE ASSEMBLY
4 extra scoops vanilla ice cream (for building layers)
Homemade strawberry puree (to taste)
INGREDIENTS FOR THE EPIC TOPPINGS
250 ml fresh heavy whipping cream
Candy hearts* (to taste)
STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS
1. Prep Your Shake Base & Fruit
First, pop your serving glasses* into the freezer for a few minutes. This is a pro-tip to ensure your monster shake stays ice-cold while you assemble the toppings!
Wash the strawberries, dry them thoroughly, and remove the stems. Cut your half-banana into slices. Put all the shake ingredients into a high-speed blender* (or use a hand blender*) and process until completely smooth and creamy. Place the strawberry shake base in the fridge to keep cold until you are ready to assemble.
2. Prepare Your Toppings
The Strawberry Skewers:
Thread 3 fresh strawberries onto each of your 4 wooden skewers. Set them aside for the grand finale.
The Whipped Cream:
For this recipe, I didn’t use any sugar or cream stabilizer —just fresh, pure organic whipping cream! Whip the cold heavy cream with a hand mixer until stiff peaks form. Alternatively, you can use a professional whipped cream dispenser* for that perfect bakery look.
Tip: If you prefer a firmer texture that holds up under pressure, feel free to add a packet of whipped cream stabilizer*.
Tip: If you have a sweet tooth, mix in a packet of vanilla sugar* while whipping!
3. The Grand Finale: Assemble Your Monster Shake!
Now comes the fun part, bringing the monster to life! Grab your chilled glasses from the freezer and follow these steps:
- The Base Layer: Drop one scoop of vanilla ice cream into the bottom of each glass.
- The Drizzle: Take a spoon and drizzle your homemade strawberry puree along the inside rims of the glasses, letting it artfully run down the sides.
- The Pour: Pour your chilled strawberry shake into each glass, leaving just a bit of room at the top.
- The Construction: Carefully place a strawberry skewer and your eco-friendly straw-spoon into each glass, then balance a strawberry donut right on top of the rim.
- The Crowning Glory: Pipe a massive mountain of whipped cream directly onto the donut, and decorate it generously with candy hearts*.
Now, grab your spoon-straw, take a picture for Instagram, and dive right into this heavenly strawberry bomb!
The Ultimate Strawberry Monster Shake Recipe
An over the top strawberry milkshake for a hot Summer Day.
Ingredients
STRAWBERRY FREAKSHAKE INGREDIENTS
- 450 g approx. 1 lb fresh strawberries
- ½ ripe banana
- 4 scoops vanilla ice cream
- 300 ml cold milk
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
INGREDIENTS FOR THE STRAWBERRY SKEWERS
- 4 wooden skewers
- 12 fresh strawberries
INGREDIENTS FOR THE MONSTER SHAKE ASSEMBLY
- 4 extra scoops vanilla ice cream for building layers
- Homemade strawberry puree to taste
INGREDIENTS FOR THE EPIC TOPPINGS
- 4 strawberry donuts
- 250 ml fresh heavy whipping cream
- Candy hearts to taste
Instructions
STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS
Prep Your Shake Base & Fruit
-
First, pop your serving glasses into the freezer for a few minutes. This is a pro-tip to ensure your monster shake stays ice-cold while you assemble the toppings!
-
Wash the strawberries, dry them thoroughly, and remove the stems.
-
Cut your half-banana into slices.
-
Put all the shake ingredients into a high-speed blender (or use a hand blender) and process until completely smooth and creamy.
-
Place the strawberry shake base in the fridge to keep cold until you are ready to assemble.
Prepare Your Toppings
-
The Strawberry Skewers:
-
Thread 3 fresh strawberries onto each of your 4 wooden skewers. Set them aside for the grand finale.
-
The Whipped Cream:
-
For this recipe, I didn’t use any sugar or cream stabilizer —just fresh, pure organic whipping cream! Whip the cold heavy cream with a hand mixer until stiff peaks form. Alternatively, you can use a professional whipped cream dispenser for that perfect bakery look.
-
Tip: If you prefer a firmer texture that holds up under pressure, feel free to add a packet of whipped cream stabilizer*.
-
Tip: If you have a sweet tooth, mix in a packet of vanilla sugar while whipping!
The Grand Finale: Assemble Your Monster Shake!
-
Now comes the fun part, bringing the monster to life! Grab your chilled glasses from the freezer and follow these steps:
-
The Base Layer: Drop one scoop of vanilla ice cream into the bottom of each glass.
-
The Drizzle: Take a spoon and drizzle your homemade strawberry puree along the inside rims of the glasses, letting it artfully run down the sides.
-
The Pour: Pour your chilled strawberry shake into each glass, leaving just a bit of room at the top.
-
The Construction: Carefully place a strawberry skewer and your eco-friendly straw-spoon into each glass, then balance a strawberry donut right on top of the rim.
-
The Crowning Glory: Pipe a massive mountain of whipped cream directly onto the donut, and decorate it generously with candy hearts.
-
Now, grab your spoon-straw, take a picture for Instagram, and dive right into this heavenly strawberry bomb!
Have you cooked this or maybe another delicious recipe of mine? Feel free to leave me a comment below. If you tag your picture on Instagram with @labsalliebe and use the hashtag #labsalliebe, I won’t miss a post and will be happy to leave you a comment as well. Can’t wait to see your creations.
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