How To Make The Best Vegan Chocolate Milkshake At Home - Quick & Easy Recipe!
This chocolate banana milkshake recipe is thick and creamy and made in just a few minutes with simple plant-based ingredients. This vegan chocolate milkshake is completely plant-based and has no highly processed refined sugars - a naturally sweetened dessert.
Everyone loves a good milkshake, and now there’s no need to miss out on the delicious creamy goodness because you are vegan or trying to eat clean. This quick and easy recipe for a homemade vegan chocolate milkshake will give you a heavenly treat without compromising on flavor.
All you need is a blender, some vegan-friendly ingredients, and a few minutes of your time. You’ll be whipping up a vegan milkshake that tastes as good as the real thing in no time. So grab your ingredients, get your blender ready and let’s get started!
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What makes this milkshake healthy?
Since the vegan chocolate milkshake is made with whole-food plant-based ingredients it is actually a guilt-free dessert.
This milkshake is sweetened with fruits, and no processed refined sugars are added to this recipe. Sugar that comes from fruit is much easier on digestion because the fiber has not been stripped away from it like processed sugar. Making it better for health, regulating blood sugar levels, and feeding good gut bacteria.
Read more about the benefits of sweetening with dates.
This milkshake is vegan and dairy-free - instead of using dairy milk (like animal or cow's milk), we use plant-based milk and coconut cream. Dairy (from cows) has been shown to cause inflammation, acne, and other skin conditions, and increase the risk of cancer and the majority of people have lactose intolerance (lactose is the sugar present in cow's milk).
Read more on why you should ditch cow's milk here.
To make this milkshake cream we use healthy fats from hempseeds and coconut cream. These plant-based fats not only make the milkshake creamy but have health benefits.
Hemp seeds are a good source of nutrients, they are high in protein (3 tablespoons have 9.5 grams of protein), and other nutrients like iron, vitamin E, manganese, magnesium, b-vitamins, and zinc. Hemp seeds have been shown to help heart health, have anti-inflammatory properties, improve skin, and promote brain health.
Coconut cream is high in fat, which makes this milkshake super creamy and thick but it is also a great source of potassium, magnesium, calcium, iron, vitamin c and some protein.
Ingredients
This healthy chocolate milkshake recipe only requires a few simple vegan-friendly ingredients - all of which you can easily keep on hand either in the freezer or pantry. Which makes it easy to whip up this quick vegan treat on a whim.
Here is what you will need to make this vegan chocolate banana milkshake:
- frozen bananas - frozen bananas are used to add creaminess and sweeten this dessert, it is important the bananas are frozen so the milkshake is thick and creamy like ice cream
- milk alternative - a creamier milk alternative is recommended, like soy milk, oat milk, coconut milk or try this cashew milk recipe
- hemp seeds - hemp seeds add an additional level of creaminess and health benefits
- cacao powder - make sure to use good quality cacao powder, which can alter the flavor of this recipe; milk chocolate vs dark chocolate: try 2 tablespoons for milk chocolate, and 3 tablespoons for a dark chocolate milkshake
- vanilla extract - enhances the flavor; if you purchase store-bought milk with vanilla you could omit the vanilla extract
- dates - dates are used to sweeten the milkshake without using highly processed sugar, which is a healthier option - make sure the dates are pitted or you remove the pits before blending
- coconut cream - coconut cream (ideally from a can) gives the vegan milkshake the same creamy, decadent texture you’d expect from a traditional milkshake made with ice cream
- espresso - add in some espresso or strongly brewed coffee and make a mocha milkshake, make sure to reduce the milk so the milkshake does not get thinned out or watery
See the recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
The first step to making your vegan milkshake is to prepare your ingredients. Make sure you have frozen bananas on hand, and refrigerate your canned coconut cream ahead of time which helps separate any additional cream from water, plus you want to have the coconut cream chilled to create the right creamy texture of a milkshake.
Once the ingredients are prepped you have this milkshake recipe stocked and ready to go for whenever you want a sweet creamy dessert.
Grab your blender and add the frozen bananas to the blender first - break the banana up into chunks. Then add in the rest of the ingredients, adding the milk last and making sure the pit and cap are removed from the dates.
Add the milk in last so that you avoid adding too much and making your milkshake thin and watery. Since bananas can range in size, you want to make sure you only add enough milk to barely cover the bananas - less is more. Note: you can always add more milk in but once the milkshake is blended it is hard to adjust the recipe.
Blend the milkshake starting the dial on low and working up to high speed. Note: make sure not to over-blend as this can heat up the shake.
Add more milk if need a little at a time and use the blender's plunger to push the ingredients down so less milk is needed.
Once you’ve blended up your vegan milkshake to perfection, it’s time to serve it. Transfer your shake to a serving cup or glass, and garnish it with anything else you’d like. We topped ours with some additional hemp seeds and cacao nibs.
Add in any other vegan-friendly toppings and mix-ins you like. Add some whipped cream, some ground cinnamon, a few strawberries or cherries, or whatever you like to make your milkshake even more delicious! See our suggestions below.
Add a reusable straw to make drinking your vegan milkshake easier and more enjoyable.
Substitutions & Additions
- Cinnamon - top with a sprinkle of ground cinnamon to give your vegan milkshake that classic chocolate-and-cinnamon flavor combo.
- Nuts & Seeds - top or mix in some chopped nuts or seeds to add a little crunch and texture to your vegan milkshake
- Caramel - drizzle some caramel atop the milkshake for a chocolate caramel milkshake - try our date-sweetened caramel sauce for a healthy alternative
- Cacao Nibs - add cacao nibs for some texture and crunch and dark bitter chocolate flavor
- Whipped Cream - add some coconut whip atop the milkshake for extra creaminess
- Sweetener - if you do not have dates on hand you can use other healthy sugar alternatives like maple syrup or agave syrup - sweetened to taste
Equipment
A high-speed blender.
Storage
Best consumed right away as the banana starts to come through, luckily all these ingredients can be kept on hand in the freezer and pantry and easily brought together to make a fresh milkshake.
Tips for a Delicious Creamy Milkshake Every Time
Now that you know how to make your own delicious vegan chocolate milkshake, here are a few tips to help you make the perfect shake every time.
Use frozen bananas: Freezing your bananas beforehand makes them the perfect consistency for making vegan milkshakes. They’re the perfect thickness for blending up into a delicious vegan milkshake that tastes great.
Refrigerate coconut cream - Not every can of coconut cream is created equally some contain more water than others and some you luck out and get an amazing creamy can of coconut cream. Refrigerating the coconut cream at least 24 hours in advance helps separate the coconut milk from the coconut water. It also keeps the milkshake cold which keeps it thick and creamy for consumption.
Use high-quality ingredients: Using the best ingredients will help your vegan milkshake taste better. So choose a good quality cacao powder, canned coconut cream without any added thickening agents, or a creamy milk alternative you enjoy the taste of
Have fun with your toppings and mix-ins: Your vegan milkshake doesn’t need to be all work and no play! You can add whatever toppings and mix-ins you like to make it even more delicious and fun.
FAQ
Coconut milk has a thinner consistency than coconut cream. Coconut cream is made by separating the water from the cream.
Why do you put a banana in a shake?
Frozen banana is a great base ingredient for milkshakes, it improves the texture of the milkshake by adding creaminess and adds a natural sweetness.
Is drinking a banana chocolate milkshake healthy?
Not all banana chocolate milkshakes are made the same and with the same quality of ingredients. Our chocolate banana milkshake is made with health-conscious plant-based ingredients that have health-promoting benefits and it is naturally sweetened with bananas and dates.
Recipe
Vegan Chocolate Milkshake Recipe
Equipment
- High-Speed Blender
Ingredients
- 4 bananas frozen
- 1 ½ cups milk alternative like oat or soy
- ¼ cup hemp seeds
- 2 to 3 tablespoons cacao powder good quality
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 dates pitted
- ¼ cup coconut cream refrigerated
OPTIONAL
- probiotics
- cinnamon powder
- coconut cream powder
Instructions
- The first step to making your vegan milkshake is to prepare your ingredients. Make sure you have frozen bananas on hand, and refrigerate your canned coconut cream ahead of time which helps separate any additional cream from water, plus you want to have the coconut cream chilled for to create the right creamy texture of a milkshake.
- Once the ingredients are prepped you have this milkshake recipe stocked and ready to go for whenever you want a sweet creamy dessert.
- Grab your blender and add the frozen bananas to the blender first - break the banana up into chunks. Then add in the rest of the ingredients, adding the milk last and making sure the pit and cap are removed from the dates.
- Add the milk in last so that you avoid adding too much and making your milkshake thin and watery. Since bananas can range in size, you want to make sure you only add enough milk to barely cover the bananas - less is more. Note: you can always add more milk in but once the milkshake is blended it is hard to adjust the recipe.
- Blend the milkshake starting the dial on low and working up to high speed. Note: make sure not to over-blend as this can heat up the shake.
- Add more milk if need a little at a time and use the blender's plunger to push the ingredients down so less milk is needed.
- Once you’ve blended up your vegan milkshake to perfection, it’s time to serve it. Transfer your shake to a serving cup or glass, and garnish it with anything else you’d like. We topped ours with some additional hemp seeds and cacao nibs.
- Add in any other vegan-friendly toppings and mix-ins you like. Add some coconut whipped cream, some ground cinnamon, a few strawberries or cherries, or whatever you like to make your milkshake even more delicious! See our suggestions below.
- Add a reusable straw to make drinking your vegan milkshake easier and more enjoyable.
Notes
- The milk should barely cover the bananas and then add more as needed from there. This ensures the milkshake is creamy and not too runny.
- The creamier the milk the creamier the milkshake - coconut milk or oat milk are great options.
- Milk chocolate vs Dark chocolate: 2 tbsp for milk chocolate, 3 tbsp for dark chocolate.
Enjoying Your Vegan Milkshake!
Finally, when your delicious vegan milkshake is ready, sit back, relax, and enjoy! Enjoy every sip of this decadent, creamy vegan milkshake!
There you have it - how to make the best vegan chocolate milkshake at home. If you liked this recipe, please share it with your friends and family so they can make the best vegan chocolate milkshake too!
More Healthy Dessert Recipes
Try this strawberry banana milkshake recipe that is thick and creamy and made in just a few minutes with simple vegan-friendly ingredients.
Try this vegan vanilla milkshake without ice cream, it is thick and creamy and made with whole-food plant-based ingredients! Super-quick, easy recipe.
Try these vegan rice crispy treats that are naturally sweetened with dates and require no marshmallows.
Try this sticky toffee pumpkin pudding recipe is a decadent dessert that is sweetened with dates allowing it to remain a healthy dessert.
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