Recipe ReDux: Chocolate Milkshake

Sometimes, I just need a milkshake. Am I the only one with these cravings? The problem is that if I actually had a milkshake every time I wanted a milkshake, I would be in big trouble. And probably twice my size. I just really like milkshakes.

This month, I was inspired to create my own, healthier milkshake. The Recipe ReDux theme for September is No-Cook Desserts. At first I was annoyed because I’d already shared all of my my go-to no-cook desserts (chocolate mousse, oatmeal cookie balls, chocolate bark, and key-lime mousse). Then, I had one of my usual milkshake cravings, and I realized that milkshakes are totally no-cook desserts! So I set out to create a healthier milkshake that I could indulge in without feeling too guilty about it.

This milkshake comes together in a flash. If you’re like me, you always have frozen bananas on hand because you somehow always let your bananas almost go bad. Wait, you’re not like me? Ok, then this milkshake starts with peeling and freezing a few bananas. Frozen bananas, when blended, have the exact texture of ice cream - it’s amazing. I recommend breaking the bananas up before you freeze them for easier blending. Once you’ve got your bananas frozen, literally all you do is dump everything into the blender and let it go to town. 

A quick note about coffee. The coffee here is essential. You don’t taste the coffee in the final product, you need just that tiny bit of coffee to make the chocolate pop. I don’t know how it works. It’s magic. Just trust me and add the coffee. Between the coffee, the sweetness of the dates, and the touch of vanilla, this milkshake is rich, chocolatey, decadent, and involves zero cooking. I may or may not have thrown some chia seeds in there and just called it breakfast. That’s ok, too.

Chocolate Milkshake

Serves 3

Ingredients:

3 bananas, peeled and frozen
4 medjool dates, pitted and roughly chopped
3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
2 cups unsweetened almond milk (can substitute other non-dairy milk)
1 tablespoon unsalted, smooth peanut butter (can substitute other nut butter)
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup strong, black coffee

Handful of ice

Directions:

Put everything except the ice into a blender.  Blend on high until smooth.  If you are not drinking this immediately, chill in the freezer for up to half an hour.  If you are drinking it immediately, add the ice in and blend again until the ice chunks are gone.  Drink cold.

Enjoy!