Unlike the processed strawberry milk on the market, this creamy, delicious version includes real California strawberries. Strawberries have more vitamin C than an orange and are packed with essential vitamins, dietary fiber, potassium and health-promoting phytochemicals. In fact, did you know that research suggests eating just 1 cup of strawberries a day may improve heart health, lower blood pressure, reduce the risk of some cancers and support brain function? Sweet. Now that is an after school snack everyone can feel good about!

For a unique take on strawberry milk, this recipe is actually dairy free and made with homemade cashew milk! Have you ever tried to make cashew milk at home before? Turns out it’s quite easy – all you need are cashews, water, and a high speed blender! The first step is to soak the cashews in water overnight so they become soft and are more easily blended. The next morning, simply drain them and rinse. Then, you are ready to make cashew milk!

Pop the softened cashews into a blender with more water (full recipe details below), and blend until smooth (usually a couple minutes). Then, add your strawberries and a little pure maple syrup to taste. If you’d like the milk sweeter, add a full tablespoon of maple syrup. For less sweet, try a half tablespoon. Up to you! Blend another couple minutes until smooth.

Depending on how efficient your blender is, you may want to strain the strawberry milk before serving. This is optional!

Serve cold and enjoy! This creamy and slightly sweet treat will make a great healthy afternoon snack for both kids and parents. Any leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for about a week; just shake it before serving in case settling occurs.

If you’re not feeling the cashew milk thing, don’t have cashews on hand, or don’t want to wait until tomorrow to make this recipe (because the cashews need overnight soaking), feel free to simply make this recipe using whole milk or any store bought alternative milk (like almond or soy milk). Just skip steps 1 and 2 of the recipe, and add about 3 cups of your choice of milk to the blender with the strawberries and pure maple syrup. The possibilities are endless!

Here’s the recipe, enjoy!