Oreo Banana Milkshake with Date Purée: A Sweet & Healthy Twist

Kids will love this one! With the creaminess of ripe banana, the natural sweetness of dates, and the crunch of Oreos, this Oreo banana milkshake with date puree is wholesome, nutritious, and delicious. It's the perfect solo treat and also a great after-school refreshing yet filling treat for cranky and tired kids (and parents too!) when you're looking for something rich, chocolatey, and cold, without being overly sugary. We also added a section on homemade chocolate syrup to give that cafe-style look to an otherwise plain-looking milkshake for a bit of fun! This recipe is for 1 person, but you can easily double or triple this recipe, depending on the number of mouths waiting to be treated.

Oreo Banana Milkshake for 1

Ingredients:

For the Smoothie:

• 4 Oreo cookies
• 1 cup vanilla ice cream
• 1 ripe banana
• ½ cup milk, chilled
• 3 dates, pitted (adjust to taste)

For the Homemade Chocolate Syrup:

• 2 tbsp Cadbury Cocoa Powder
• 1 tbsp sugar (to taste)
• 2 tbsp water
• A pinch of salt
• ¼ tsp vanilla extract, optional

Instructions:

To Make the Chocolate Syrup:

1. Add the cocoa powder, sugar, water, and salt into a small saucepan, and whisk them to mix.
2. Put the saucepan on medium-low heat, stirring continuously until it begins to thicken. This shouldn’t take more than 2-3 minutes.
3. Once the liquid is smooth and glossy, remove it from the heat. Pour the vanilla extract, if using, and mix. Set it aside to cool.

To Make the Smoothie:

1. Start with presoaked dates; if they are on the firmer side, then add them into the blender with a little milk. Run the blender until it's a smooth puree. Scoop out 1 tablespoon from the blender and set aside.
2. Break the Oreo cookies into small pieces using your hands, and add them to a blender with the date puree.
3. Then, with the Oreo pieces, also add the vanilla ice cream, milk, and banana. Blend until smooth and creamy. Taste and add a little more date puree if you prefer your milkshake sweeter.
4. Drizzle the cooled chocolate syrup along the inside of your serving glass using a straw or the end of a spoon, or scoop up a few spoonfuls at the bottom of the glass.
5. Pour the freshly made milkshake into the glass, and top with a bit more chocolate syrup or crushed Oreos.
6. Serve immediately and enjoy the rich milkshake!

Tips & Tricks:

Chill your milk:

• Always use cold milk straight from the fridge to ensure your milkshake stays thick and refreshing, for a filling version. Warm or room-temperature milk can cause the ice cream to melt too quickly, resulting in a thinner, less filling milkshake. If your milk isn’t chilled for some reason, toss in 2-3 ice cubes during the blending process to instantly cool the mixture without watering it down.

Choose soft dates:

• Medjool dates work best in milkshakes because they're naturally soft and have a deep, caramel-like flavor that blends easily. If you're using firmer varieties, be sure to soak them in warm water for about 10 minutes beforehand. This softens the flesh, making it easier to blend into a smooth puree without straining your blender or leaving behind chunks.

Make it thicker:

• For an extra-indulgent milkshake, try reducing the amount of milk slightly or adding an extra scoop of vanilla ice cream. This will create a richer, creamier milkshake that’s more like what you'd get from a cafe known for its shakes. If you're aiming for a spoonable consistency, like a thick shake you can consume with a straw, start with just a splash of milk and adjust slowly.

No vanilla ice cream?

• If you don’t have vanilla ice cream on hand, frozen yogurt or vanilla-flavored Greek yogurt are excellent substitutes. They still give the shake creaminess, with a slight tang that complements the sweetness of the banana and dates. You can also add a few ice cubes and a bit of honey to round out the flavor if the yogurt isn't sweet enough on its own.

Want to prep ahead?

• The homemade chocolate syrup can be prepared in advance and stored in an airtight jar in the fridge for up to a week. Just give it a quick stir before using. This not only saves time when you're making the milkshake, but also means you’ll always have a rich, cocoa drizzle ready to take any drink or dessert up a notch.