2-Minute Strawberry & Cream Frappé
The $7 Coffee Shop Save
Real talk: It’s 3:00 PM on a Saturday, we’re running errands, and my 7-year-old spots the green mermaid logo of the local coffee shop. She starts begging for a “fancy pink drink,” and while I’d love to treat her, I’m not about to drop $7 on a sugar-bomb that’s probably loaded with caffeine or artificial syrups.
I started making this 2-Minute Strawberry & Cream Frappé at home to satisfy that “cool treat” craving using exactly what I already have in my freezer. It’s a vibrant, healthy kid treat that is thick enough to eat with a spoon, and my kids think I’m a culinary genius. This homemade pink drink is a total parenting win.
Why This Strawberry Cream Frappé Works (No Watered-Down Drinks Here!)
The biggest mistake people make with homemade frozen drinks is adding ice. Ice is the enemy of flavor! When it melts, you’re left with watery pink milk.
By using frozen strawberries as our base, the fruit is the ice. This keeps the flavor intensely strawberry from the first sip to the last. Plus, frozen-at-peak berries are often sweeter than the “fresh” ones sitting in the grocery store plastic clamshells in the middle of winter.
Lily’s Quick Tips for the Perfect Strawberry Cream Frappé
As a busy mom, I don’t have time for complicated techniques, but these two little hacks make a huge difference for this caffeine free frappé for kids:
- The Liquid-First Rule: Always pour your milk and sweetener into the blender before the fruit. This creates a little vortex that pulls the heavy frozen berries down into the blades.
- The “Pulse-and-Shake”: Don’t just hit the “high” button and walk away. Use short pulses. If the blender stalls, turn it off, give the jar a good shake to redistribute the berries, and pulse again. If you’re struggling with your equipment, you might even try the no-blender frappé hack.
- The 60-Second Soften: If you have a second, let the frozen berries sit on the counter for just one minute before blending.
Make it Your Own
In our house, flexibility is the name of the game. If you want to switch things up, here are a few ways we’ve tested this 2 minute strawberry drink:
- The “Pink Creamsicle”: Swap half the strawberries for frozen mango chunks.
- Chocolate Chip Strawberry: Toss in a tablespoon of mini chocolate chips during the last 5 seconds of blending. If you want a more decadent dessert version, check out this Ultimate Oreo Cheesecake Frappé.
- The “Mom-Charge”: If you need a pick-me-up, add a splash of cold brew concentrate to your portion.
What to do with Leftovers?
On the rare occasion the kids don’t finish their frappé, do not throw it away. I pour the leftovers into popsicle molds to create a frozen strawberry snack for the next day.
Perfect is the enemy of fed, but sometimes—like with this 2-minute treat—you actually get pretty close to perfect. Enjoy the “fancy” drink vibes without the coffee shop chaos! If you love this, check out our full collection of the best frappes.
2-Minute Strawberry & Cream Frappé
Ingredients
Instructions
Pour the milk, heavy cream, sweetener, and vanilla extract into the blender first. Adding the liquid first prevents the frozen berries from getting stuck at the bottom.
Add the frozen strawberries on top of the liquid.
Pulse the blender in short 3-second bursts. If the blender stalls, turn it off and give the jar a good shake (or use a spatula to push the fruit down) rather than adding more liquid.
Continue to pulse until the mixture is thick and 'spoonable'—usually about 30-45 seconds total.
Pour into chilled glasses, top with a dollop of whipped cream, and serve immediately with a wide straw.