Step 1: Start with the Liquids
Pour the milk (begin with ½ cup), Greek yogurt, and the optional vanilla extract into the bottom of your blender pitcher. Adding the liquid and soft ingredients first allows the blender blades to spin freely, creating a vortex that helps pull the frozen fruit down for a more efficient blend.

Step 2: Add the Frozen Fruit
Next, add the 2 cups of frozen strawberries. If you’re using an optional sweetener, it’s best to wait until the end to add it, as the sweetness of strawberries can vary greatly.

Step 3: Blend to Silky Perfection
Secure the lid on your blender. Start blending on a low speed and gradually increase to high. Blend for 45-60 seconds, or until the mixture is completely smooth and creamy, with a uniform pink color and no visible chunks of strawberry. If the blender is struggling or the smoothie is too thick, pause it, scrape down the sides, and add a small splash of milk to help it blend.

Step 4: Taste and Finalize
Once smooth, taste your smoothie. Are the strawberries sweet enough on their own? If you’d like it a little sweeter, now is the time to add a teaspoon of honey or maple syrup. Give it a final, quick blend for about 5-10 seconds to fully incorporate the sweetener.