Strawberries And Cream Spiked Cocktail Recipe

Is there anything more evocative of summertime than a plump, ripe strawberry? Bright red and bursting with flavor, this summer berry is understandably one of the world's most beloved fruits; luckily, there are almost infinite ways to enjoy them. Plucked straight from the bush, baked into pies, blended into milkshakes, or tossed into fresh salads, strawberries always add a sweet freshness that everyone will be sure to enjoy. 

But these gorgeous berries don't need to be saved for meal times; they pair perfectly with alcohol too! With that in mind, Tasting Table recipe developer Jennine Rye has created the ultimate summer cocktail, combining two classic summer favorites: fresh strawberries and vanilla ice cream. With the addition of vanilla vodka and Baileys Irish cream, this classic childhood flavor combination is transformed into a very adult alcoholic beverage. 

This boozy milkshake is as fun as it is delicious and can be finished off with a swirl of whipped cream and a striped straw to give it a real retro feel. Rich, sweet, and wonderfully creamy, this cocktail is the perfect addition to any warm summer's day. Read on to find out just how easy it is to make this strawberries and cream spiked cocktail yourself.

To make this strawberries and cream spiked cocktail, first, you will want to gather the ingredients. First, you'll need fresh strawberries, of course. To make sure this cocktail is enjoyed at its best, you'll want to make sure you are using the freshest strawberries. As strawberries are seasonal, we recommend swapping fresh strawberries for frozen ones when they are out of season.

You'll also need vanilla ice cream, Baileys Irish cream, and vanilla vodka. You may also want to use whipped cream to finish off the cocktail, along with a recyclable or reusable straw. Rye uses red striped paper straws to give the drink a classic, diner-style milkshake feel. Additionally, you will require a food processor or smoothie maker to blend the ingredients to silky-smooth perfection.

There is such a wide array of different types of glasses that it can get a little confusing to figure out which will be best suited to a given cocktail. As this strawberries and cream cocktail is basically a boozy milkshake, we think the best glass to serve it in will be any type of milkshake glass — think tall and elegant, ideally with a little handle to keep warm hands away from the chilled drink.

To begin this cocktail recipe you will want to hull the strawberries, reserving one whole strawberry for a garnish. Although it is perfectly possible to consume the green leaves of a strawberry, and it is said that they are highly nutritious, for this cocktail recipe we will be removing them. Simply cut off the heads of the strawberries and place them to one side; these can be stored in the fridge to be added to a smoothie at a later date, or thrown in a compost bin. Then slice the strawberries in half if they are particularly large so they more easily fit in a blender. 

Once the strawberries are prepared, place them into a food processor, blender, or smoothie maker along with the vanilla ice cream, the Baileys Irish cream, and the vanilla vodka. If you prefer a slightly less boozy version of this cocktail, we recommend omitting the vanilla vodka at this stage and just using the Baileys. Either way, this drink is sweet and delicious and will be sure to please.

Once the ingredients are in, it's time to pop on the lid and blend the cocktail. Depending on the power of your food processor, blender, or smoothie maker, this could take as little as 10 seconds or up to 30 seconds. Use your eyes to figure out when the mixture looks blended to perfection; there should be no large chunks of strawberry or unmixed ice cream. The best way to check is to take off the lid and give the mixture a stir with a long spoon. If you find any unmixed chunks simply blend the cocktail for a little while longer.

Once the ingredients have been suitably blended, its time to serve the cocktail. Pour the mixture into your chosen milkshake glass, and then add your reserved strawberry to the side of the glass as a delicious, fruity garnish. Top with a big swirl of whipped cream if using, and a fun straw to finish off, before enjoying this sweet and cooling cocktail in the summer sunshine. It's best to serve and drink this cocktail straight away to enjoy it at it's best.