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Strawberry Julius Recipe (4 ingredients)

This Strawberry Julius Recipe is a copycat of that popular smoothie everyone adores. All natural ingredients, nothing artificial, and tastes every bit as good as you remember.

Two mason jars filled with Strawberry Julius with straws.
This Strawberry Julius is super easy to make using just 4 ingredients!

Why This Recipe Stands Out

There’s just nothing like refreshing summer drinks. Here’s why you’ll love this recipe:

  • Easy to Make: Just toss everything into a blender and blend until it’s nice and smooth.
  • Refreshingly Delicious: It’s the perfect combination of sweet, creamy, and refreshing, just like our Orange Julius recipe.
  • Uses Frozen Strawberries: Picked luscious strawberries lately? Freeze them and whip this famous mall drink in just 5 minutes!
  • All-Natural: Nothing artificial here! Like our Tropical Green Smoothie, this recipe uses all-natural ingredients.

Key Recipe Ingredients

  • Strawberries – We recommend using very cold fresh strawberries or frozen strawberries for the best results.
  • Whole Milk – We use whole milk for a creamy texture, but you can use low-fat or almond milk as well.
  • Powdered Sugar – Powdered sugar blends into the smoothie seamlessly. You can use less if your strawberries are very sweet, or more if they are somewhat tart.
  • Crushed Ice – Crushed ice blends much easier and smoother than cubed.

SUBSTITUTIONS AND VARIATIONS

Here are some of our favorite variations and substitutions for this delicious drink recipe:

  • Different Berries: The recipe calls for strawberries, but feel free to substitute with other berries like raspberries or blackberries.
  • Add Protein: Blend in some Greek yogurt or your favorite protein powder for added protein. It’s great with our Protein Granola Bars.
  • Different Sweeteners: You can also use other sweeteners such as maple syrup or agave nectar as we do in our Tropical Mango Smoothie.

STEP-BY-STEP RECIPE INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Combine all ingredients in a blender.
  2. Blend until smooth and frothy. Serve immediately and enjoy!

For full list of ingredients and instructions, see recipe card below.

HOW TO PREP AHEAD

Take a look at our best prep-ahead strategies for this recipe:

  • Make a Large Batch: This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled to make a larger batch. It stores well in the fridge for a day, so you can enjoy it throughout the day.
  • Pre-Slice Berries: Fresh strawberries can be sliced, covered, and frozen for up to a week prior to using.
A glass filled with Strawberry Julius with a white straw with red dots.
No more trekking to the mall when you’re craving a cold, frothy Strawberry Julius!

WHAT TO SERVE WITH Strawberry Julius

Breakfast or Brunch

Lunch or Snack

  • This refreshing drink is perfect for sipping on a warm day. Enjoy it with a light lunch, such as this Caprese Pasta Salad.
  • It can also be a great afternoon snack, especially when served with some fresh fruit or veggie sticks.

Party or BBQ

  • If you’re hosting a gathering, consider making a big batch of this Strawberry Julius!
  • You could also serve it along with some appetizers or finger foods at your next summer barbecue.

Commonly Asked Questions

Can I use fresh strawberries instead of frozen ones?

Yes, you can use fresh strawberries, but make sure they are very cold. You may also need to add more crushed ice to get the desired slushy consistency.

What makes Strawberry Julius too thick?

If your Strawberry Julius comes out too thick for your liking, try adding a little more milk to the blender. Start with just a splash and blend again until it reaches your desired consistency

Can I make this recipe dairy-free?

Absolutely! Simply substitute the milk with your favorite non-dairy alternatives, such as almond milk or coconut milk.

How long does this Strawberry Julius recipe keep?

Although it’s best to enjoy this Strawberry Julius immediately after making it, you can store any leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. Be sure to give it a good stir or shake before drinking, as it may separate as it sits.

Did you make this?

Please give us a rating and comment below. We love hearing from you!

A glass filled with Strawberry Julius with a white straw with red dots.

Strawberry Julius Recipe

5 from 1 vote
This Strawberry Julius Recipe is a copycat of the famous mall drink everyone flocks to. It’s super easy, with just 4 ingredients! All natural, nothing artificial, and tastes awesome.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 3
Author: Amy Dong

Ingredients  

  • 3 cups strawberries, very cold or frozen, sliced
  • 1 ½ cup milk, whole milk preferred, but low-fat or almond milk can work.
  • ½ – 1 cup powdered sugar, use less if berries are very sweet, more if berries are somewhat tart
  • 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • ½ cup crushed ice

Instructions

  • Combine all ingredients in a powerful blender. Blend until mixture is smooth and frothy. May need to scrape down sides/bottom intermittently.
  • Blend until the mixture is smooth and frothy. You may need to scrape down the sides/bottom intermittently.
  • Serve and enjoy immediately!

Notes

  • The key to a perfect Strawberry Julius is to use very cold or frozen strawberries. This not only makes your drink nice and cold but also eliminates the need for extra ice, which can water down the flavor.
  • There is variation in the amount of sugar, as it largely depends on how sweet your berries are, to begin with. The sweetness/ripeness of your natural berries will make a big difference!
  • Whole milk is preferred for a creamier texture, but you can also use low-fat or almond milk for a lighter version.
  • If your mixture is too thick, add a little more milk. If it’s too thin, add more strawberries or ice.
  • Serve your Strawberry Julius immediately for the best flavor and texture.
 
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Nutrition (per serving)

Calories: 127kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 15mg | Sodium: 50mg | Potassium: 407mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 215IU | Vitamin C: 85mg | Calcium: 175mg | Iron: 1mg
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: American
Diet: Vegetarian
Method: blending, Mixing

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5 from 1 vote

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Recipe Rating




6 comments

    • ZaSu Pitts
    • 5 stars

    I skip the ice and just make a milk based fruit smoothie that borders on a milk shake (yes, I know Juliuses are ice based not really closed to shakes) and just use more strawberries (or whatever fruit I’m adding to the strawberries; cranberries are good when fresh in season) or even freeze some milk into cubes to save money over high-priced berries and use a tube of strawberry water flavoring for the low calorie sweetness and a boost of strawberry flavoring (you can even get caffeinated tubes ;-). In fact if you use cheap artificial vanilla (it’s water based instead of alcohol which can mess with the taste), add some whey powder and a very small touch of cream, you get really close to the taste of a fast food strawberry shake if you don’t add much ice (or none at all), not so much a Julius which is just a flavored proprietary powder, ice, and water in a blender. Any of these copycat recipes that use real fruit actually taste better and are more or less a milk based fruit smoothie which were what the Juliuses are trying to mimic without the expensive fruit and milk.

    • Diane

    Too many ads. It’s a battle getting to the recipe. I usually give up. But thanks anyway. On

      • chewoutloud

      Diane, I’m so sorry…working with our site tech to fix that. Are you experiencing this on mobile or desktop?

    • Annika

    It is good, but there could be a little bit less vanilla.

    • teigs1

    🙂 This taste amazing!! Two little ones who enjoyed it as well. I will be using this and making icy poles. Thank you

      • chewoutloud

      Yay! So glad to hear it; thanks for coming over to let us know! 🙂

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