Why I’ve Been Making This Date Shake on the Daily

I bought a big container of dates at Costco and I’ve been putting them to use by making date shakes for breakfast every morning. My kids can’t get enough of them either! Here’s what makes them such a hit.

Naturally sweetened. No refined sugar here! Dates and banana provide all the sweetness you need.
Dairy-free. Whether you’re vegan or dairy just doesn’t agree with you, you’ll love that this date shake is thick and creamy without yogurt or dairy milk.
Protein-packed. A lot of date shake recipes skip the protein, which is still a delicious, naturally sweetened treat—but one that isn’t very filling. But adding protein powder makes this recipe appropriate for breakfast.
Quick and easy. Just blend and serve!

Ingredients for protein packed vanilla date shake.

What You’ll Need

The ingredients here are wholesome and easy to find! Scroll down to the recipe card to find the ingredient quantities and recipe instructions.

Raw cashews – If you don’t have a high speed blender, I recommend soaking these in water for 4 to 8 hours to soften them a bit, which will make them them easier for your blender to puree smoothly.
Dates – Make sure the pits are removed!
Vanilla protein powder – Whatever kind you like.
Ice cubes – For a frosty, frothy shake.
Unsweetened almond milk – Or another milk you like or have in the fridge.
Cinnamon – I love the warm, cozy flavor this adds!
Frozen banana – The riper the banana, the more sweetness and banana flavor it will add.

How to Make a Date Shake

There’s nothing to it! Here’s what you’ll need to do.

Pouring almond milk into blender with ingredients for date shake. — Add everything to a blender.

View into blender after pureeing ingredients for date shake. — Add everything to a blender.

Combine. Add the cashews, dates, protein powder, ice, almond milk, cinnamon, and frozen banana to your blender.
Blend until smooth. Blend on high until completely creamy with no chunks of dates or cashews.
Serve immediately. Pour into a glass and enjoy right away.

Tips and Variations

These additional pointers and variation ideas will help you make the perfect date shake!

Adjust the banana flavor. If you don’t like the flavor of banana, you can use an unripe banana, which will give your shake a rich, creamy texture without the banana flavor. (Because unripe bananas aren’t as sweet, you may want to add a drizzle of maple syrup.)
Give it a nutrient boost. Add chia or flaxseeds for more fiber, or hemp seeds for a little extra protein.
Make a coffee date shake. Replace the almond milk with cold brew coffee.

Straw in glass of protein packed vanilla date shake.

Serving Suggestions

Enjoy this date shake on its own, or with a blueberry breakfast cookie for something else that’s quick. For something more substantive, serve it with a plate of smoky bacon sweet potato hash and eggs!

How to Store

Date shakes are best enjoyed fresh, but if you have leftovers, they can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 24 hours. Stir well before serving.

Protein packed vanilla date shake in glass with sliced banana and cinnamon on top.

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