Homemade Korean Strawberry Milk (3 Ingredients)

Fresh homemade Korean strawberry milk made using only 3 ingredients. This recipe is fragrant, entirely natural, and requires no cooking!  

If you’re like me and love all things milky, this recipe is for you! Silky smooth, sweet, and fragrant, this homemade strawberry milk is the perfect milky drink.

Made with fresh strawberries and milk, this recipe is very easy to follow and takes minimal effort. And the best part? No cooking is required at all!

As a big fan of strawberry milk, I can personally vouch that this is the most decadent type. This drink is 100% natural, sweet and tastes like summer.

Looking for more amazing summer strawberry recipes? Check out this delicious Strawberry Milk Tea or this refreshing Strawberry Simple Syrup that’s perfect for all drinks. And if you’re in the mood for cakes and bakes, have a look at this light Japanese Strawberry Shortcake, quick and easy Strawberry Crunch Cheesecake Cones or this no-bake Strawberry Crunch Cheesecake.

What is Korean strawberry milk?

Korean-style strawberry milk is a sweet drink made with fresh strawberries, sugar, and milk. In Korean it’s called 생 딸기 우유 (saeng ttalgi uyu), which translates to “fresh strawberry milk”.

The base for this drink is strawberry syrup with large chunks, known in Korean as 딸기청 (ttalgi chong, which means 'strawberry preserve'). Fresh cold milk is added on top of this strawberry syrup. The syrup usually sinks to the bottom, so the milk needs a good shake before consuming.

Fresh strawberry milk has become in demand in Korean cafes over the past few years. It’s particularly popular in summer when strawberries are in season and taste the best. On extra hot days, ice cubes are added to make this milk drink even more refreshing.

Follow this recipe to make your own Korean-style strawberry milk! You only need 3 ingredients and a few minutes to make it.

Is it healthy?

Homemade strawberry milk is a much healthier alternative to store-bought strawberry milk. Unlike commercial versions, this milk is entirely natural without any preservatives or other additives. Only fresh, natural ingredients are used.

The sugar content is also much lower and can be adjusted to personal preference or diet requirements. Sugar levels can be reduced all the way to 1:0.1 ratio (1-part strawberries, 0.1-part sugar).  

Why this recipe is great

• Only 3 ingredients: all you need to make this homemade strawberry milk are fresh strawberries, sugar, and milk. It’s that easy!
• Entirely natural: all ingredients used in this recipe are natural, with no artificial additives or preservatives. No flavour enhancers are used.
• More delicious than store-bought: This recipe tastes very authentic and fresh, boasting juicy, natural strawberries. No artificial flavour enhancers are used.
• Easy to make: It only takes 5 minutes to prepare this recipe! No blender or other special equipment is needed.
• No cooking required: This strawberry milk recipe does not require any cooking. You only need to chill the strawberry mixture in the fridge until soft and juicy.
• Adjustable sugar levels: You can add as much or as little sugar as desired according to your dietary requirements.

Ingredient round-up

In addition to being extra easy to make, this recipe only requires 3 ingredients.

• Fresh strawberries: choose ripe, fresh, and juicy strawberries. I recommend getting seasonal, organic strawberries for the best flavour. Frozen strawberries are not recommended for this recipe, as they become too soft once thawed.
• Sugar: I like to use light brown sugar, as it gives a more caramelised flavour. You can also use plain granulated sugar. I do not recommend using dark brown or muscovado sugar, as it can become overpowering for the delicate flavour of strawberries.  
• Milk: fresh full-fat milk is recommended for this recipe. You can also use semi-skimmed milk for less calories if needed. For dairy-free diets, choose a flavourless plant milk like oat milk or unsweetened almond milk.
• Optional – vanilla bean paste: Add more flavour to your Korean strawberry milk by adding 1 teaspoon of vanilla bean paste or pure vanilla extract. Use 100% natural vanilla if possible.
• Optional – heavy cream: Brings more creaminess and makes the drink velvety smooth. Although optional, I highly recommend it for an authentic flavour. However, heavy cream will also add extra calories (but so worth it in my opinion).

How to make Korean strawberry milk

1. Wash and hull the strawberries. Dice them into smaller chunks. Add into a bowl, then sprinkle all the sugar on top.
2. Mix everything well, without crushing the strawberries. Cover with plastic wrap, then chill in the fridge until the strawberries become soft and the sugar is fully dissolved.

Once the strawberry mixture has become syrupy and the fruit is soft, we can begin assembling the drink.

If using cream and vanilla paste, mix them into the cold milk beforehand.

1. Add a few tablespoons of strawberries and syrup into a glass or bottle.
2. Pour cold milk on top and add ice cubes if desired. Mix the drink well before consuming.

Success Tips & Tricks

• Fresh strawberries – for the most authentic texture and flavour, fresh strawberries are essential. All the flavour comes from strawberries, so pick ripe and juicy fruit of the highest quality.
• Chill the strawberry mixture – it’s important to let the strawberries macerate with sugar in the fridge for at least 1 hour. This way the sugar will dissolve by itself, without requiring any cooking. The strawberries will also become soft and release a lot of juice and become more flavourful.
• Mix, but do not crush the fruit – Korean milk needs to have actual strawberry chunks floating in the milk to be authentic. Fruit chunks add texture and give a pleasant, sweet surprise. When mixing the fruit with sugar, do it gently without crushing the strawberries.
• Cold milk – for the most authentic homemade strawberry milk, the drink needs to be extra cold. Ensure the milk is used straight from the fridge. Add a few ice cubes on extra hot days!
• Consume on the day – for the best texture and flavour, this homemade strawberry milk should be consumed within the day. Leaving it for too long can make the strawberries too soft and mushy, which is not a great texture.

How to store

I do not recommend making this recipe too long ahead. Strawberries become too soft if left in sugar for long, which takes away from the texture of the strawberry milk.

For the best authentic flavour and texture, consume this Korean strawberry milk within 1 day.

Frequently asked questions