Strawberry Shortcake Shake
A boozy strawberry shortcake shake with vanilla vodka, strawberries, cream liqueur and vanilla ice cream — sized for Margaritaville machines.
Jump to recipe ↓Strawberry shortcake as a boozy shake.
Crumbled cake on top makes it.
Strawberry Shortcake Shake recipe
Ingredients (1 drink)
- 1 oz vanilla vodka
- 1 oz Irish cream or strawberry cream liqueur
- 2 oz whole milk
- ½ cup frozen strawberries
- 3 Tbsp vanilla ice cream
Plus: a full ice reservoir. Garnish: Whipped cream, crumbled pound cake, strawberry. Glass: Milkshake glass.
Instructions
- Fill the ice reservoir.
- Add all ingredients.
- Run the cycle (Slides program).
- Top with whipped cream and crumbled pound cake.
How much to make in your machine
Every Margaritaville frozen concoction maker is designed around a particular volume of liquid — the shaver portions ice for it. The table scales this recipe to the margarita liquid volume printed in each model’s manual (Key West DM1000 / DM1946 3 × 12 oz drinks: 9.75 fl oz; Bahamas DM0500 / Fiji DM2000 3 × 12 oz drinks: 13 fl oz; Tahiti DM3000 per 24 oz jar: 8.67 fl oz; Bali DM3500 half chamber: 11 fl oz; Bali DM3500 full chamber: 22 fl oz). Amounts are rounded to the nearest ¼ or ⅓ oz.
| Ingredient | Key West DM1000 / DM19463 × 12 oz drinks | Bahamas DM0500 / Fiji DM20003 × 12 oz drinks | Tahiti DM3000per 24 oz jar | Bali DM3500half chamber | Bali DM3500full chamber |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| vanilla vodka | 2¼ oz | 3 oz | 2 oz | 2½ oz | 5 oz |
| Irish cream or strawberry cream liqueur | 2¼ oz | 3 oz | 2 oz | 2½ oz | 5 oz |
| whole milk | 4½ oz | 6 oz | 4 oz | 5 oz | 10¼ oz |
| frozen strawberries | 1¼ cups | 1½ cups | 1 cups | 1¼ cups | 2½ cups |
| vanilla ice cream | 6¾ Tbsp | 9 Tbsp | 6 Tbsp | 7⅔ Tbsp | 15¼ Tbsp |
Scaling is our calculation, not a manufacturer recipe. Fruit- and ice-cream-heavy drinks vary more; adjust with the Shave Only / Blend Only controls. The Key West DM1900 isn’t listed because we haven’t verified its manual yet.
Machine notes for this drink
- This recipe includes fruit. On the Fiji, Tahiti and Bali, choose the Daiquiris (or Smoothies) program so the cycle blends longer; on the Bahamas and Key West, hold Blend Only for a few extra seconds after the automatic cycle if you see chunks. Fruit adds volume, so keep an eye on the jar’s maximum line.
- Dairy and cream liqueurs make a thick, shake-like drink. Use the Slides setting on the Fiji (the Tahiti manual also lists Mudslides), soften ice cream for five minutes first, and rinse the jar soon after serving.
- The ingredient list is written for a single 12 oz drink, which matches the 1-drink setting on Key West and Fiji dials. Multiply by 2 or 3 and set the Number of Drinks dial to match.
- This batch uses about 4 fl oz of liquid for 1 drink. If your drink comes out watery, the manuals’ first fix is to follow the recipe volumes or manually shave more ice; if it’s too stiff, add liquid and Blend Only.
Why this recipe works
Strawberries and cream liqueur give dessert flavor.
About boozy milkshakes
Ice-cream drinks use the shaver differently: the fat and sugar in ice cream and cream liqueurs make the texture thick and creamy. Soften the ice cream for 5 minutes, measure it in tablespoons, and rinse the jar promptly afterward — dairy residue is harder to clean once it dries.
Tips for the best texture
- Pound cake crumbs.
- Rinse jar after dairy.
- Soft ice cream.
- Serve fast.
- Never put anything but ice in the ice reservoir, and don’t fill the jar past its maximum line — both are warnings in every manual.
- Too thin? Hold the toggle in Shave Only for a few seconds, then Blend Only to mix it in. Too thick? Add an ounce of liquid and Blend Only.
Serving & make-ahead
Garnish with whipped cream, crumbled pound cake, strawberry and serve in a milkshake glass. Serve boozy milkshakes in chilled glasses with whipped cream, a drizzle of chocolate or crushed cookies. They are rich, so a 6–8 oz pour is plenty per person. Rinse the jar and blade soon after, following your manual’s cleaning steps, because dairy dries onto plastic quickly.
Variations
- Banana: Add banana.
- Chocolate: Chocolate drizzle.
- Rum: Use rum.
Mocktail swap
Skip spirits; add milk and vanilla.
Frequently asked questions
Cream liqueur?
Any.
Strength?
Moderate.
Fresh berries?
Fine.
How much ice should I put in the machine?
Fill the ice reservoir with ice cubes — the machine shaves the amount it needs for the cycle (dial models size it to the 1, 2 or 3-drink setting). The manuals recommend ice that has been out of the freezer for 10–15 minutes.
Will this work in a regular blender?
Yes — add about 1½–2 cups of ice per 12 oz drink and blend until smooth. The texture will be coarser than shaved ice.
Please drink responsibly. Alcoholic recipes are for adults of legal drinking age (21+ in the US). Never drink and drive.
