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It’s a healthy dessert day! I have a recipe for a rich and creamy Blueberry Date Shake for you. It reminds me of the old fashioned shakes I used to order at our late-night high school diner but this sneaky date shake recipe is made without ice cream. Grab your straw and a spoon, and let’s get sipping!

My love for milkshakes began in my childhood, when my dad would make vanilla shakes in the blender for my sisters and I as a special post-dinner treat.

The milkshake affair continued on to high school, where every Friday (and some Saturdays), my friends and I would end the night at the one and only 24-hour diner on our side of town. My order was always a large strawberry shake. I’d pressure my then boyfriend into ordering fries so that I could dip them (I KNOW. I’m one of those fry-in-the Frosty people).

In college, I worked at a late night on-campus eatery that served a variety of treats, including milkshakes. All the employees had to take a few Friday or Saturday night shifts, so I became intimately acquainted with the shake needs of rowdy undergrads at 3 a.m.

Now? I still love the taste, texture, and refreshing nature of milkshakes but not the heavy feeling they leave in my stomach afterward.

Date Shake — A Healthy Dessert Recipe

Since we all deserve a summer treat, I decided to revamp the iconic dessert into one that I could feel good polishing off any night of the week, which leads me to…

Healthy vegan date shakes made with almond milk, plump Medjool dates, and thick, creamy fruit! They have the same consistency as traditional milkshakes, but the sweetness comes entirely from the dates and frozen fruit. This is also a vegan date shake recipe, which means those with dairy allergies can enjoy them, too.

Date shakes are big in California and Arizona, but here in Wisconsin, they have yet to make a regular appearance. No matter. With a few simple ingredients, we can make homemade date shakes for a fraction of what you’d pay in Palm Springs.

Our star date shake ingredients are:

Dates : For the ultimate date shake richness, I recommend buying Medjool dates with the pits in – they’re incredibly plump, juicy, and sweet. On their own, dates almost taste like caramel. I find them in the bulk section of the grocery store.

: For the ultimate date shake richness, I recommend buying Medjool dates with the pits in – they’re incredibly plump, juicy, and sweet. On their own, dates almost taste like caramel. I find them in the bulk section of the grocery store. Almondmilk : I love Almond Breeze almondmilk Vanilla Unsweetened for this recipe. Its creamy texture is ideal for making healthy desserts that still taste decadent.

: I love Almond Breeze almondmilk Vanilla Unsweetened for this recipe. Its creamy texture is ideal for making healthy desserts that still taste decadent. Almond Butter : A tablespoon is all you need for some added richness. I find that with the almond butter, this recipe tastes like a milkshake; without, it is more like a smoothie (try both ways and see what you enjoy!).

: A tablespoon is all you need for some added richness. I find that with the almond butter, this recipe tastes like a milkshake; without, it is more like a smoothie (try both ways and see what you enjoy!). Frozen Blueberries and Banana : These frozen fruits add thickness to the date shake without adding ice cream. The blueberry flavor shines, while the banana is a supporting role for the texture.

: These frozen fruits add thickness to the date shake without adding ice cream. The blueberry flavor shines, while the banana is a supporting role for the texture. Pure Vanilla Exact: Because I can’t not.

Date Shake Recipe Variations

Swap the blueberries for any of your favorite summer fruits : I plan to recreate my high school favorite and use this recipe for a healthy strawberry dessert shake next.

: I plan to recreate my high school favorite and use this recipe for a healthy strawberry dessert shake next. Go tropical : Swap the blueberries for mango and sprinkle the top with toasted coconut.

: Swap the blueberries for mango and sprinkle the top with toasted coconut. Chocolate :Replace the blueberries with additional banana. Add a generous amount of unsweetened cocoa powder and a handful of chocolate chips. More chocolate chips on top doesn’t sound like a bad choice either.

:Replace the blueberries with additional banana. Add a generous amount of unsweetened cocoa powder and a handful of chocolate chips. More chocolate chips on top doesn’t sound like a bad choice either. Protein date shake:Feel free to add a scoop of your favorite vanilla protein powder to any fruit version. Chocolate protein powder in the chocolate version would be mighty tasty, too.

Other Healthy Smoothie Recipes