Korean strawberry milk is beloved, made with fresh homemade strawberry syrup. Just 4 ingredients, no cooking needed. Indulge in this delightful, natural, and unique beverage. Don’t hesitate, give it a go!

Korean strawberry milk in a glass cup garnished with a piece of strawberry.

If you haven’t tried Korean strawberry milk yet, this easy homemade recipe with fresh strawberries and natural ingredients is worth trying!

The fresh flavor comes from the homemade strawberry syrup, made with just three simple ingredients and no cooking required. This will make it hard for you to ever go back to the store-bought version.

Korean strawberry milk presented in a glass cup garnished with fresh strawberries.

What is Korean strawberry milk?

Known as “ddalgi uyu (딸기 우유)” in Korean, this strawberry drink has captured the hearts and taste buds of people worldwide. With just fresh strawberries and milk, it boasts a sweet, creamy, and refreshing taste that perfectly combines the two ingredients.

Thanks to social media platforms, the popularity of this Korean drink, along with banana milk and sujeonggwa, has only grown in recent years. Many people have taken to sharing their own recipes and variations, making it accessible to everyone.

Whether you’re a strawberry fanatic or just looking for a tasty new drink, this refreshing concoction is sure to please. No wonder many people around the world are trying to recreate the drink at home!

Fresh homemade strawberry syrup is used to make Korean strawberry milk.

Why use fresh strawberry syrup?

Many Korean strawberry milk recipes cook strawberries with sugar for a thick, jam-like syrup. While visually impressive, it may lack fresh strawberry flavor.

Authentic Korean strawberry milk uses “Strawberry Cheong (Ddalgi cheong, 딸기청),” a syrup of crushed strawberries, sugar, and lemon juice. Check out my Korean lemon syrup for the similar idea.

While this syrup can be used right away after the sugar is dissolved, the color may not be as vivid as desired. For the iconic red hue of Korean strawberry milk, refrigerate the syrup for a few days to intensify the color. This also allows the flavors to meld and deepens.

The best part? The homemade strawberry syrup can be stored for up to 2 months, ready to be used whenever you want to enjoy a refreshing glass of strawberry milk with a vibrant red hue of syrup.

Put the syrup on the bottom of the glass and pour milk on top. Other types of milk work great too, such as oat milk, almond milk, and coconut milk, etc. Enjoy the color contrast as you present, then stir gently and watch the red and white marble together.

A jar of fresh homemade strawberry syrup.

Versatile Uses for Homemade Strawberry Syrup

This syrup is versatile. Enhance anything with fresh strawberry flavor—strawberry milk or any other dish of your choice. Here are some ideas:

  • Use as a sweet topping for ice cream.
  • Add a fresh garnish to baked goods like cakes and cheesecakes
  • Mix with freshly squeezed lemon juice and chilled carbonated water for a refreshing strawberry lemonade.
  • Add to smoothies and milkshakes for a deliciously sweet twist.
  • Blend with oil and vinegar to create a flavorful strawberry salad dressing.
Milk and fresh strawberry syrup marbled together in a glass cup.

4 recipe ingredients

  • Fresh Strawberries: A star ingredient in the recipe. These sweet and juicy berries are packed with vitamin C and antioxidants, which make them healthy for your diet. Choose fresh, ripe strawberries for the best flavor and texture.
  • Sugar: To balance the tartness of the strawberries and give the drink a sweet taste. Customize sweetness by adjusting sugar amount. Consider the natural sweetness of strawberries and desired sweetness level for your drink.
  • Fresh Lemon Juice: To enhance the flavor of the strawberries and add a hint of acidity to balance the sweetness. Lemon juice’s acidity preserves strawberry color, preventing browning and maintaining the vibrant hue of the fruit.
  • Milk: Create a creamy texture by using your preferred milk: whole, skim, almond, or soy. The milk balances the sweetness and tartness, ensuring a well-rounded drink.

How to make Korean strawberry milk

A paper towel is wiping off the extra moisture of fresh strawberries.
Fresh strawberries crushed in a bowl.

Rinse the strawberries and wipe them with a paper towel to remove any water on the surface. Take a mixing bowl and add the fresh strawberries. Use a masher or your hands to crush them to your desired size.

You may leave a few small pieces for added texture or puree the strawberries if you prefer smoother texture.

Crushed strawberries combined with sugar and lemon juice in a mixing bowl.
Fresh strawberry syrup mixed with a spoon in a mixing bowl.

Add sugar and lemon juice and mix well. Let the mixture sit at room temperature until the sugar dissolves, stirring occasionally. This may take up to 30 minutes.

Once you have made the syrup, you can either use it right away or store it in an airtight container and refrigerate for a couple of days. This will help to blend the flavors and intensify the color.

Homemade strawberry syrup marbled with milk in a glass cup garnished with fresh strawberry pieces.

To serve, pour 3-4 tablespoons of the strawberry syrup into a glass and pour 1 cup of milk on top. Garnish with chopped fresh strawberries if desired, and enjoy the fresh goodness!

Serving tip: Wide straws are best for serving, allowing small strawberry pieces to pass. If using regular straws, crush or puree strawberries finely in the syrup to avoid clogging.

Storage

The fresh homemade strawberry syrup can last in the fridge for up to 2 months.

Other delicious Korean beverages to try

Korean strawberry milk has fresh strawberry syrup is in a glass cup garnished with a piece of strawberry.

Fresh Korean Strawberry Milk (No-Cook Recipe)

Servings: 12 people
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Chill time: 2 days
Savor the fresh taste of strawberries with Korean strawberry milk, made with homemade syrup from just 4 ingredients. No cooking needed.
5 from 6 ratings
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Ingredients

Fresh strawberry syrup

  • 1 lb (450 g) fresh strawberries
  • 1 cup (200 g) sugar
  • 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice

To make Korean strawberry milk

  • 4 tbsp fresh strawberry syrup, per serving
  • 1 cup (240 ml) milk, per serving

Instructions 

To make strawberry syrup

  • Rinse the strawberries and wipe them with a paper towel to remove any water on the surface.
  • Take a mixing bowl and add the fresh strawberries. Use a masher or your hands to crush them to your desired size. You may leave a few small pieces for added texture or puree the strawberries if you prefer smoother texture.
  • Add sugar and lemon juice and mix well. Let the mixture sit at room temperature until the sugar dissolves, stirring occasionally. This may take up to 30 minutes.
    Note: Once you have made the syrup, you can either use it right away or store it in an airtight container and refrigerate for a couple of days. This will help to blend the flavors and intensify the color.

To make strawberry milk

  • Pour 4 tablespoons of the strawberry syrup into a glass and pour 1 cup of milk on top. Garnish with chopped fresh strawberries if desired. The fresh strawberry syrup can last in the fridge for up to 2 months.

Notes

  1. Wide straws are the ideal choice for serving this milk, as their larger diameter allows small pieces of strawberry to pass through. If you prefer to use regular straws, be sure to crush the strawberries finely or puree them when making the syrup to prevent clogging.
  2. Other types of milk work great too, such as oat milk, almond milk, and coconut milk, etc.
Cuisine: Korean
Course: Drinks
Author: Holly Ford
Calories: 223kcal, Carbohydrates: 31g, Protein: 8g, Fat: 8g, Saturated Fat: 5g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g, Monounsaturated Fat: 2g, Cholesterol: 29mg, Sodium: 93mg, Potassium: 425mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 30g, Vitamin A: 400IU, Vitamin C: 23mg, Calcium: 306mg, Iron: 0.2mg
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