Korean Strawberry Milk Recipe (3 Ingredients)

Korean strawberry milk is a deliciously sweet and creamy drink made with strawberries and milk.

The pureed strawberries give it a rich and thick texture, while the sugar helps cut through the fruit's tartness. As a result, it's so refreshing to enjoy on a hot summer's day. Per its name, this refreshing drink hails from Korea.

Below, we'll share our super simple recipe. It only takes 5 minutes to make. 

Jump to:

• Korean Strawberry Milk Ingredients
• Korean Strawberry Milk Recipe
• Boiling strawberry puree
• No blender
• Layers for Korean strawberry milk
• Additional Toppings
• Korean Strawberry Milk Calories
• Popularity
• Korean Vs Japanese Strawberry Milk
• Where You Can Buy It
• Great Items To Pair It With

Korean Strawberry Milk Ingredients

To make Korean strawberry milk, you only need 3 ingredients: strawberries, simple syrup and milk.

Strawberries

Fresh strawberries are best for our recipe, but you can also use frozen strawberries. The sweetness will depend on the ripeness of your strawberries. Unripe strawberries will make the drink a little tart. However, you can make it sweeter by increasing the simple syrup or sugar.

Simple Syrup or Sugar

Our recipe uses simple syrup as our sweetener so that it dissolves easily into the drink. You can easily make this by dissolving 1 part of granulated sugar in 1 part of water in a pot over a stove. Turn the heat to medium and allow the sugar to dissolve completely in the water. Once fully dissolved, you have your simple syrup ready to use.

Strawberry puree mixed with simple syrup will float above full-fat milk because the strawberry mix has a lower density. We recommend using simple syrup if you're more focused on the taste of the drink rather than the aesthetics.

If you use sugar to make your puree, you'll be able to get a pink layer at the bottom and a white layer at the top. Remember that the sugar might not dissolve evenly, and you'll get a slightly grainy texture. You can use 1-2 tablespoon of sugar to replace the simple syrup in our recipe.

We don't recommend using honey or brown sugar as the taste will be overpowering. Similarly, we don't recommend using powdered sugar as it changes the texture of the puree.

Milk

We recommend using full-fat dairy milk, as its creaminess will make a rich Korean strawberry milk that is amazing to drink. However, use other plant-based alternatives like oat, almond, or soy milk. We suggest avoiding coconut milk due to its strong coconut taste.

Ice

Ice will help you create more vivid pink and white layers. This is regardless of whether you use simple syrup or sugar. Pour ice in between the strawberry and milk layers. When assembling, pour the strawberry puree into the bottom of the glass first. Then add your crushed ice. The ice will help prevent the strawberry layer from floating quickly while also helping suspend the milk layer.

Boiling strawberry puree

If you have time, you can boil your chopped strawberries with sugar. If you do this on medium heat, it'll make a thick paste. A thicker paste will stick easier to the glass. So you can create more interesting looks for your drink, like swirls and patches. 

However, we don't like this method as the flavour of the strawberries isn't as strong compared to freshly blended fruit with simple syrup. 

No blender

You can also make our Korean strawberry milk recipe without a blender. To do so, you'll need to chop the strawberries into small chunks. Then, add it to a bowl and mash it with a fork.

The final product will look more chunky but taste equally delicious and rich. For a visual demonstration, watch our video tutorial on YouTube.

Layers for Korean strawberry milk

For our recipe, we've shown you how to layer your drink to get a white and pink layer. Here are some additional tips for alternative looks.

Add the milk directly into the blender and blend with the strawberries for an evenly mixed look.

If you prefer a chunky, more non-uniform look, we recommend skipping the blender and hand-mashing your strawberries.

If you want the pink and white layers to spread sporadically, you can first smear the glass with strawberry puree. Then, add your ice and gently pour over your milk. 

Additional Toppings

While we love keeping our Korean strawberry milk toppings quite plain, there are many other toppings. 

Whole strawberries and whipped cream

You can always add whole or chopped strawberries. You can set them right in the drink or slice them to garnish the rim of your glass. We like to top it with whipped cream to make it a satisfying afternoon pick-me-up.

Boba pearls

You can add tapioca pearls to make a Korean strawberry milk boba drink. We like adding 2-3 tablespoon of cooked instant tapioca pearls to our drink. It adds a fun, chewy element that's also filling. In addition to regular boba pearls, you can also make strawberry tapioca pearls or crystal boba.

Caramel or Chocolate

This incredible drink is similar to a milkshake. So it only makes sense to top it with classic toppings. We love caramel because it adds a new depth of flavour and even more richness.

Chocolate is another classic milkshake flavour and a topping that will tickle your taste buds delightfully. Plus, you can't go wrong with chocolate and strawberries. This theory holds up when you add it to Korean strawberry milk.

Ice cream

If you're really in the mood for a milkshake, you can make this into one by adding ice cream on top. Although it won't be shaken and stirred the same way, you'll still get all the beautiful components. With the addition of ice cream, think of Korean strawberry milk as a deconstructed milkshake for a unique take.

Korean Strawberry Milk Calories

Our Korean strawberry milk has about 150 calories per serving of 250ml cup. Although it only has a few ingredients, it can be high in calories if a larger portion of sugar and milk is used.

Popularity

This drink has been popular in Korea for a long time. But, thanks to Korean strawberry milk binggrae, it has gained popularity, notably on TikTok.

Now, videos featuring recipes and people tasting the drink have gone viral, enticing others to try it.

This drink gained popularity not only because it's delicious. It also has distinct features. It has fresh strawberries right inside, giving it a delightful texture. Also, it has a lovely purée that is sweet and silky. All this makes it taste like a dream.

Korean Vs Japanese Strawberry Milk

There's no difference between Korean and Japanese strawberry milk besides their names. Sometimes, they are referred to as the other. Additionally, another name for the popular beverage is a strawberry latte. The Japanese commonly call it 'strawberry au lait' (いちごオレ). But, again, the name is the only difference between the two.

If you're looking for other drinks that are similar to this, try strawberry milk tea. This tasty beverage resembles Korean strawberry milk but includes tea and boba pearls.

Where You Can Buy It

You can buy a Korean strawberry milk box online to try the classic version. Binggrae is a popular brand, and they even have other flavours available. While widely available at cafés and convenience stores in Korea, it's not easy to find in different parts of the world. 

However, we highly recommend making this drink at home. When you're done, it's easy, flavoursome, and will make you feel like a real drink connoisseur.

Great Items To Pair It With

We get it if you want to indulge in this delicious beverage on its own. But if you're looking for something to pair it with, we've got you covered.

For a sweet pairing, we recommend making some hotteok. These Korean sweet pancakes are great for breakfast and perfect for your Korean strawberry milk drink. 

Have a Korean doughnut for an afternoon pick-me-up with your drink. These fried and twisted delights are a filling, sweet treat that will bring your mouth ecstasy when you taste the combination.

For a more savoury pairing, we love eating Korean egg bread. It's a lovely breakfast option that packs protein and flavour into a little bun. It's perfect for a portable breakfast and will have you begging for more.

Korean cheese corn is a savoury side dish you can make in the microwave. It's so cheesy and so tasty. We promise you'll love it. For the ultimate indulgence, make yourself some Korean corn dogs at home. It doesn't get better than crunchy fried food and sweet, fruity drinks.

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