A strawberry shortcake smoothie topped with thin slices of strawberry in a glass on a light background.

I love this strawberry shortcake smoothie because the nutty flavor of the almond butter makes it taste like an actual strawberry shortcake! The dates provide a sweetness that pairs well with strawberry’s natural flavors, while the almond butter and nut milk give this smoothie a rich, creamy texture. I’d have to say, this is one of my favorite dessert smoothie options.

What ingredients do I need to make a strawberry shortcake smoothie?

The ingredient list for this strawberry shortcake smoothie recipe is refreshingly short. Youโ€™ll need:

  • Frozen whole strawberries
  • Unsweetened nut milk
  • Unsweetened almond butter
  • Medjool dates
  • Ground cinnamon
  • Vanilla extract
  • Optional: collagen, ground flax, chia or hemp seeds, Greek yogurt, and protein powder

Wholefully Protip

Look for big Medjool dates that are super soft. Theyโ€™ll add a sweetness thatโ€™ll complement the other ingredients in your smoothie. And donโ€™t forget to remove the pits from your dates before tossing them in the blender!

Donโ€™t I need ice?

Nope! Instead of iceโ€”which could water down the flavorโ€”opt instead for frozen whole strawberries. Theyโ€™ll give your smoothie the creamy chill it needs while keeping it tasting like a delicious strawberry shortcake.

Wholefully Protip

If you want to make this recipe with fresh strawberries, toss in a few ice cubes to thicken it up and cool it off.

How do I make this strawberry shortcake smoothie?

Once of the best things about smoothies is how easy they are to make. Simply take all your ingredients, toss them in a blender, and blend. In a few minutes, youโ€™ll have a delicious, easy treat thatโ€™s perfect for snacks, meals, or even dessert!

For best results, add the milk first, followed by the frozen berries and other ingredients. Pulse the blender a few times to break up the strawberries, and then blend on high.

A light pink, strawberry smoothie made without banana in a glass on a light background.

Can I make it vegan? What about paleo?

Good news! Because it uses nut milk in place of dairy milk, this smoothie is already vegan and paleo-friendly. Just be careful to choose vegan and paleo-friendly options if you choose to add any additional ingredients to your smoothie so that it still meets your dietary needs.

What blender should I use?

The blender you choose can make a big difference in the texture of your smoothie. A less expensive blenderโ€”like the Cuisinart hand blenderโ€”works well for thinner shakes, but may not be able to blend the dates in this recipe properly, leaving you with a chunky smoothie. I prefer to use a high-speed blender such as the VitaMix 5200 or the Ninja Professional. Both these blenders get the job done, leaving you with a silky smooth strawberry shortcake smoothie.

What can I add to my strawberry shortcake smoothie to make it more nourishing?

This strawberry shortcake smoothie has a nutrition-packed ingredient list, but itโ€™s easy to add a little more to make it even more filling. Try adding some healthy fats by using half an avocado or some seeds like flax or hemp. You could toss in some leafy greens, like spinach or kale, for a vitamin boost, or you could add Greek yogurt to make your smoothie extra creamy.

My favorite way to add nutrients to smoothies is by tossing in pre-mixed smoothie booster packs. You can make these ahead of time and toss them in your smoothie whenever youโ€™re ready to blend. The best part about smoothie booster packs is that they are completely customizable, so you can boost the protein, healthy fats, vitamins, or flavor of each of your smoothies however you’d like.

A strawberry shortcake smoothie topped with thin slices of strawberry in a glass on a light background.

Strawberry Shortcake Smoothie

Yield: 2 small servings or 1 large
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes

This simple but tasty strawberry shortcake smoothie is a quick drink that can fuel your family for the day.

Ingredients

  • 1 cupย unsweetened nut milk
  • 1 1/2 cups frozen whole strawberries
  • 1 tablespoonย unsweetened almond butter
  • 3ย pitted Medjool dates
  • 1/4 teaspoonย ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoonย vanilla extract
  • Optional add-ins: chia seeds, hemp seeds, protein powder, ground flax, collagen, Greek yogurt,ย lots of other options

Instructions

  1. Combine all ingredients into the carafe of a high-power blender. Blend on high until very smooth and creamy. Serve immediately.

Notes

  • The almond butter in this smoothie gives it a great nutty, roasted flavor profile that reminds me of a fresh baked strawberry shortcake!
  • Medjool dates are added for sweetnessโ€”make sure to find the big soft ones, and donโ€™t forget to remove the pits before blending.

Nutrition Information:
Yield: 2 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 217Total Fat: 6gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 95mgCarbohydrates: 40gFiber: 6gSugar: 31gProtein: 4g

At Wholefully, we believe that good nutrition is about much more than just the numbers on the nutrition facts panel. Please use the above information as only a small part of what helps you decide what foods are nourishing for you.

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6 Comments

    1. Hi Jennifer! We haven’t tried this with those particular swaps, but smoothies love to be customized! If you give it a go, please let us know how you like it!

    1. Hi Mike! The nutritional information is automatically calculated in our system so we always recommend using a free online nutrition calculator to put in your exact ingredients to get the most accurate info. But this definitely looks high, so I’ll take a look and see if I can get the system to recognize our ingredients better. Thanks for pointing it out!

  1. This was really yummy but it was too much cinnamon for my 2 year and 4 year old. I think I’ll try 1/8 of a tsp next time.

    1. We’re so glad you and your kiddos liked it, Hayley! Absolutely dial back the cinnamon if it’s too much for the little ones. That’s one of the best parts of making smoothies (or anything, really) at homeโ€”getting it exactly how you like it! =)