My Date Shake Smoothie is an energy boosting drink that tastes like delicious dessert. It’s a healthier alternative to the famous Palm Springs shake made with creamy yogurt instead of ice cream.
Anyone who’s driven from L.A. to Palm Springs knows the ritual: you pull off at Hadley’s in Cabazon for a date shake. If the billboards don’t reel you in, the desert heat and a dry throat definitely will. That thick, creamy shake made with local dates is practically a road-trip requirement, usually finished off in the blazing parking lot before the last stretch of I-10. This date shake smoothie is my fresher, lighter take on that classic ~ and I can’t wait for you to taste it.
Date shake smoothie ingredient notes
Ok, so the OG date shake was made with ice cream, but my yogurt smoothie is just as decadent and delicious. Both the dates and the almond butter are natural emulsifiers so it gets luxuriously thick.
- DATES: I used soft pitted dates for this shake. Medjool are the most common, but I used Deglet Noor dates. I couldn’t stop snacking on them, they literally taste like soft caramel candy. You can use any type of dates, but the fresher and softer the better. Packaged dates from the supermarket dried fruit aisle are fine.
- YOGURT: I use vanilla yogurt, it can be full fat, low fat, or non-fat, your choice. Thick creamy full fate yogurt makes this smoothie taste like dessert.
- ALMOND BUTTER: this gives extra boost of protein and body to the smoothie ~ fabulous flavor combo, too.
- MILK: if needed to thin your date shake smoothie down.
- VANILLA PASTE OR EXTRACT: it warms up and deepens the flavors.
- CINNAMON: just a touch. If you want to channel Middle Eastern date drinks, use cardamom.
Date facts
Dates are the sweetest fruit in nature, rich in fiber, minerals, and antioxidants, with sugars that absorb more slowly than refined sugar.
Medjool dates originated in Morocco and were brought to California in the early 1900s by USDA plant explorers searching for crops suited to the American desert ~ turns out they love it here.
Most dates you buy are somewhat dried; their softness depends on variety, ripeness, and storage. If your dates have pits, just slice them lengthwise and pop the pit out ~ it’s easy.
Your date shake smoothie questions
Of course, just add a scoop of your favorite protein powder.
Lots of ideas here:
~ cocoa powder
~ instant espresso
~ chia seeds or ground flax seed
~ protein powder
~ banana
~ tahini
~ cottage cheese
Yes, you can just omit it, or substitute peanut butter or tahini (sesame paste.)
Yes, this thick smoothie keeps well in the fridge for a day or two.
It’s healthy, but caloric. It offers fiber for digestion, protein from yogurt and almond butter, and heart-healthy fats, all with no added sugar. If you want to cut calories you might reduce the dates, use non-fat yogurt and reduce the almond butter.
I found amazing dates at a local coop, but you can also order them online, Hadley’s sells them here, for example.
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Date Shake Smoothie
Equipment
- blender
Ingredients
- 16 pitted dates*
- 24 ounces low fat yogurt (whole milk yogurt or non-fat yogurt work too)**
- 5 Tbsp almond butter
- 1 tsp vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon or cardamom
- 1/2 cup milk to thin, if needed.
Instructions
- Add all of the ingredients to a blender (I use a Vitamix).
- Blend until smooth. You may need to stop and readjust the ingredients once or twice, and use the tamper to make sure everything gets incorporated. If it's a bit too thick add milk to thin it down. Give it a little taste to adjust any of the flavors.
- Pour into chilled glasses and enjoy.
Notes
Nutrition
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