Date Milkshake
Whole dates, milk, cream and a pinch of cinnamon, blitzed into a thick shake in 10 minutes. Makes 2, no cooking, just cold glasses and a spoon that stands up.
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- 0 min
- Total
- 10 min
- Serves
- 2
Ingredients
What you’ll need — tap to tick off as you go
- 120 g
- 300 ml
- 150 g
- ¼ tsp
- 1 pinch
Process
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If the dates are firm, soak them in 100 ml of the cold whole milk for 10 minutes to soften, then drain and reserve the soaking milk.
Pit the dates and roughly chop them so the blender can break them down evenly.
Add the chopped dates, remaining cold whole milk, vanilla ice cream, ground cinnamon, fine salt, and ice cubes (if using) to a blender.
Blend on high for 45 to 60 seconds until completely smooth and frothy, scraping down the sides once if needed.
Taste and, if you prefer a thinner shake, blend in 2 to 4 tbsp more cold whole milk.
Pour into two chilled glasses, dust with a little extra ground cinnamon, and serve immediately with a wide straw.
Kitchen notes
Kitchen notes
- The most common mistake is using dry, hard dates straight from the packet; they stay gritty and never blend smooth. Soak them in milk for 10 minutes if they are not plump and sticky.
- Blend for a full 45 to 60 seconds, not 10 seconds. The shake is done when it looks uniform, pale tan, and no dark date flecks remain on the blender walls.
- A single pinch of fine salt is not optional in practice: it makes the date caramel flavour read clearly instead of tasting flat and sugary.
- Chill the glasses in the freezer for 5 minutes before pouring; a warm glass makes the shake separate and taste thinner within minutes.
Substitutions
- whole milk→oat milk or almond milk for a dairy-free version
- vanilla ice cream→frozen banana chunks plus 1 tsp honey for a lighter shake
- ground cinnamon→a pinch of ground cardamom or nutmeg
- dates→date paste (use 6 tbsp and reduce the milk by 50 ml)
Storage & reheating
This shake is best drunk within 15 minutes, while it is cold and frothy. If you must hold it, pour it into a sealed jar and refrigerate for up to 24 hours; it will separate and lose its foam. Stir vigorously or blend for 10 seconds with 2 extra ice cubes before serving. Do not freeze the finished shake, as the ice cream and milk separate into grainy layers; instead, freeze the pitted dates in a bag for up to 3 months and blend them straight from frozen with the milk and ice cream.
FAQ
The questions we get asked most
Why is my date milkshake gritty?
The dates were too dry or you did not blend long enough. Soak firm dates in milk for 10 minutes, then blend on high for a full 45 to 60 seconds until no dark flecks remain. A high-speed blender handles dates far better than a small bullet blender.
Can I make a date milkshake without ice cream?
Yes. Replace the ice cream with 1 frozen banana cut into chunks and 1 tsp honey or maple syrup. Blend with the milk and dates as written; the frozen banana gives the same thick, cold texture without dairy.
How do I make this date milkshake dairy-free?
Use oat milk or almond milk instead of whole milk and swap the vanilla ice cream for a dairy-free vanilla frozen dessert or frozen banana. The dates carry most of the sweetness, so the shake still tastes rich. Check that your frozen dessert is labelled dairy-free.
Can I prepare date milkshake ahead of time?
You can pit and chop the dates up to 2 days ahead and keep them in a sealed container in the fridge. The blended shake itself is best fresh; if held, it keeps 24 hours in the fridge but separates, so re-blend briefly with an extra ice cube before serving.
How many dates should I use per glass?
About 60 g of pitted dates per serving, which is roughly 3 large Medjool dates or 6 smaller Deglet Noor dates. More than that makes the shake pasty and overly sweet; less makes it taste like plain vanilla milk.
Why did my milkshake turn out too thick or too thin?
Thickness comes from the ice cream, ice, and dates, so adjust with milk one tablespoon at a time. If it is too thin, add 1 more scoop of ice cream or 2 ice cubes and blend again. If it is too thick to pour, blend in 2 to 4 tbsp cold milk.
Can I use date syrup instead of whole dates?
Yes, but the texture changes: use 3 tbsp date syrup and skip the soaking step. The shake will be smooth and lighter but less thick, so add an extra half scoop of ice cream if you want a spoonable consistency.
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