Date Smoothie Recipe with Almond Milk

Made with almond milk, dates, coconut, and banana, this date smoothie recipe is one of my favorite weekend breakfasts, especially for lazy mornings when I’m craving something sweet.

Why Make This Date Smoothie Recipe?

This date smoothie recipe is super simple to prepare, and takes just 10 minutes from start to finish.

The combination of chewy dates and flaky coconut, with an added boost of protein from the almond butter, create a filling breakfast smoothie. An ice-free version also works well as an afternoon snack. The latter is similar in consistency to a milkshake, but with a few added nutritional benefits (and a little less guilt!)

This recipe is dairy-free, gluten-free, and vegan. (Just be sure to use agave rather than honey if making a vegan version!)

Date Smoothie Ingredients

To make this date smoothie recipe, start by gathering the following ingredients:

• Unsweetened Almond Milk – I like unsweetened almond milk, but you can use flavored or sweetened milk, or substitute oat or coconut milk instead.
• Banana – Half of a peeled banana (fresh or frozen) works great, but feel free to add a whole banana for more creaminess and a stronger banana flavor.
• Dates – You’ll need about 6 dates, pitted and chopped into 1/4-inch pieces.

• Coconut – Opt for unsweetened shredded coconut, not dessicated or sweetened.
• Almond Butter – You’ll need about 1 tablespoon of almond butter. For more texture, substitute crunchy almond butter or blend in a handful of whole almonds.
• Agave Nectar – Use agave nectar for a vegan version, or sweeten with date syrup or honey.
• Vanilla Bean Paste – I love the depth of flavor provided by vanilla bean paste, but extract will work in a pinch.

Substitutions

I prepared my smoothie with almond milk, but any type of plant-based milk (almond, coconut, soy, oat) will work for this recipe. I like this vanilla-almond-coconut blend by Almond Breeze. I don’t care for overly sweet smoothies, so I usully opt for the unsweetened version, but you can use a sweetened plant milk if you prefer a very sweet beverage.

Sweeten your almond milk smoothie with agave nectar, honey, date syrup, or light brown sugar to taste. You can also omit the sweetener. Or, use sweetened flaked coconut for an ultra-sweet treat.

For a thicker, creamier smoothie, use less almond milk, add a whole banana, or replace the almond milk with canned full-fat coconut milk.

The smoothie photographed for this post does not contain ice. You can add ice (about 1 cup should work) or skip it for a milkshake-like smoothie.

Tips and Tricks for Making This Smoothie Recipe with Dates

Be sure you are purchasing pitted dates, or you’ll risk ruining your blender (and your teeth!) And be sure the dates are finely chopped before adding them to the smoothie. Whole dates will get stuck in the blender, and large chunks make it difficult to drink this smoothie through a straw. It took me a few tries to determine that small-but-still-chewable dates (about 1/4-inch pieces) work best for this recipe.

You can use a high-speed blender or a food processor for to make this smoothie. I prefer a food processor, because it’s easier to blend the dates into the smoothie.

Other smoothie recipes you might enjoy:

Pumpkin Pie Smoothie
Berry Smoothie Bowl

And if you do make these, or any of my recipes, don’t forget to tag me @bastecutfold or use the hashtag #bastecutfold on Instagram. I always love to see what you’re making!

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