Strawberry Creme Fraiche Milkshake

This strawberry creme fraiche milkshake with balsamic vinegar drizzle is the perfect summer treat. Perfectly chilled and great for summer porch sipping.

Fresh vine ripe strawberries are of the pure pleasures of summer. Who cares if they are tiny  and take forever to pick – they are tasty! I would gladly eat fresh picked tiny strawberries over those weird ginormous flavorless things you find in the store. However, my only issue with fresh strawberries is the picking of the berries.

I suck at picking berries. I know you’re thinking to yourself “how can someone suck at picking berries?” Well, the first time I went berry picking (a few years ago) it was about 100 degrees out. I grab my little box and planned on picking my weight in delicious berries. Instead I lasted about 10 minutes before I ended up horking up my lunch because apparently the sun hates me and I get overheated like a tiny baby.

This also confirmed the harsh reality that I would not last as a farmer. 

The second time I went and picked berries was just last week with Gina. We get to the beautiful farm and the breeze is blowing and I thought to myself “this is the year I pick berries and it’s just as glorious as I think it’s going to be in my head.” So I start picking my berries and things are going good. I brought a drink with me so I would stay hydrated, I set myself a reasonable limit of picking and started off with my farming ways.

I did pretty well until I started sweating like a pig. Then I knew I was done for. So we slowly walked to pay for our berries and I had to stop because I was sure I was going pass out. Luckily this time around I made it through without totally loosing my lunch BUT I still thought I was going to die. But in my mind I was all “it’s worth it Brandy. You just got some fresh picked strawberries. Life is good!”

UNTIL I walked into the farm stand and saw that they had quarts of fresh picked berries for the same damn price as u-pick.

What. The. Hell.

The whole freaking point of u-pick is so you get a deal. Who honestly thinks it’s fun to sweat like a beast while standing under the hot summer sun to pick berries.

It’s all a lie. It ain’t fun.

So after I got my berries I came home for a little relaxation and thought about what recipes I should make with my berries. The hubs requested shortcake (which I still need to make) and I was thinking some sorts of delicious pie. BUT all of that changed when I got a huge craving for a milkshake.

I have always loved fresh strawberry milkshakes but this baby gets jazzed up with the addition of vanilla bean creme fraiche. It’s brings a big boost of flavor plus an added creaminess that I LOVE in a milkshake. The method to making this milkshake is really flexible. If you don’t have vanilla bean creme fraiche use regular creme fraiche. If you only have frozen berries uses frozen berries but be sure so bump up the liquid amount so that your mixture doesn’t get too thick.

I also threw in a little Truvia brown sugar blend because I’m a total sweet freak and love my milkshakes nice and sweet. The amount really does depend on the sweetness of your berries and ice cream. I think it’s best to start out little and add more as you go.

Also, that little drizzle on top? That is balsamic reduction. Strawberries and balsamic go together like 2 peas in a pod. The drizzle is crazy easy to make and can be made days in advanced and stored in your fridge for whenever you feel like getting your glaze on. However, if you’re not in the mood to make your reduction you can also order it online.

{Looking for more delicious strawberry recipes? Try my buckwheat crepes with strawberry rhubarb compote, strawberry goat cheese quinoa salad or my strawberry rhubarb coffee cake.}

Strawberry Creme Fraiche Milkshake

This strawberry creme fraiche milkshake with balsamic vinegar drizzle is the perfect summer treat. Perfectly chilled and great for summer porch sipping.

Yield: 2-4 servings

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 0 minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

For milkshake:

• 2 cups fresh strawberries, tops removed
• 1 cup vanilla bean ice cream
• 1/3 cup vanilla bean creme fraiche
• 1/3 cup whole milk
• 1-3 teaspoons Truvia brown sugar blend
• Whipped cream

For balsamic reduction:

• 1 cup good quality balsamic vinegar

Directions:

For milkshake:

In a high powered blender add strawberries, vanilla bean ice cream, vanilla bean creme fraiche, milk and Truvia. The amount of Truvia will depend on the natural sweetness of your berries and how sweet you like your milkshakes.

Blend on high for 30-60 seconds until smooth and fully blended. If the milkshake is too thick you can thin out with additional milk.

Top with whipped cream and a drizzle of balsamic reduction.

For balsamic reduction:

Set a small pot over medium low heat. Add balsamic vinegar and slowly cook down until reduced by half and syrupy in texture. This should take about 20 minutes. Do not try to cook down your vinegar faster (aka: jack the heat up) or you risk burning your vinegar which smells awful and is a real jerk to clean off your pot.

Let cool and store in the fridge.

Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Truvia. As always all opinions are 100% my own.