Somehow this healthy and delicious smoothie tastes just like a thick vanilla milkshake, no vanilla or ice cream required!
This smoothie was a happy accident.
Our go-to smoothie is usually the easy and classic chocolate-banana-milk combo with a pinch of salt. One day we were out of cocoa and I was trying to think of a way to get some healthy fats into a raw milk smoothie for the kids (one of which will not touch plain milk).
I grabbed the coconut oil and and added a heaped tablespoon along with the frozen bananas, milk and salt. I threw a dash of cinnamon in for a little added flavor.
When I tasted it I was fully expecting hints of banana, coconut and cinnamon. I actually was hoping that my kids wouldn’t find the cinnamon-coconut combination weird.
However, I was shocked to find that I didn’t taste any of those flavors but instead it somehow all melded into the most vanilla-milkshake tasting smoothie I’d ever had- and one of the most delicious.
This flavor has trumped our usual chocolate. Never thought I’d see the day.
If you’re like me, vanilla extract is one of those things you buy when you really need it for a specific recipe, but otherwise skip to save money for more important ingredients.
Have you seen the price of vanilla lately? Especially if you go for organic?? Yikes.
Luckily this amazing smoothie achieves that iconic milkshake flavor without the splurge.
I’m noticing a money-saving theme in my posts lately… The economy must be hitting us harder than I even thought!
(See my Homemade Deodorant, Natural Cleaning Spray and Better Than Store Bought Yogurt posts for more ways to save money while improving your family’s health and quality of life!)
What You Need For This Vanilla Smoothie
- frozen ripe bananas
- milk (we love to use raw milk for the health benefits, any kind will work)
- virgin unrefined coconut oil
- dash of cinnamon
- pinch of quality salt
- high-speed blender (this is the one we love)
You can also add in collagen or gelatin for extra protein without altering the flavor! And if you’re on the homemade yogurt bandwagon and have some extra whey laying around, throw in 1-2 tablespoons for gut health!
Is Milk Actually Good For You?
This is a loaded question these days. I feel like we’ve gone full-circle in my lifetime.
When I was a kid it was all about the Food Pyramid and getting in your dairy and grains.
As I grew up the country seemed to lean into substitutes like margarine, soy milk, and low-fat everything.
Then came the anti-grain, anti-gluten, anti-dairy wave. Many people still believe that’s the best way.
At the end of the day, it comes down to the health of your individual family. Yes, dairy and gluten allergies are real, and at times there’s nothing you can do but cut those out. But for many, healing from sensitivities is possible.
Our family has always been tolerant to dairy and grains, and these days I just try to go for the most natural, highest quality options we can afford. I’ve learned a lot about how to prepare grains properly and what to look for and what to avoid with dairy.
Even so, I can’t afford to buy grass fed, pastured, organic, raw everything. Maybe one day!
But for now, I have to be content with where we are and let go of the guilt.
So in short, I believe milk is good for you. But you don’t have to agree with me š
Tips and Tricks
- I’ve only made this smoothie in our Ninja Foodi so I’m not sure how it would do with a lower speed blender BUT it doesn’t have any hard to blend ingredients like flax or spinach- just good ol’ frozen bananas.
- I wouldn’t try to make this without frozen bananas. You might be able to get away with regular bananas and ice, but it’s not going to be as creamy and vanilla-milkshake like.
- Don’t overdo the coconut oil or the cinnamon. The coconut oil is there to be more filling and balance out the natural sugar (also fat = creaminess), and the cinnamon is there to bring out the sweetness. Adding too much of either will result in a cinnamon or coconut smoothie (also delicious, but not vanilla flavored!)
- Don’t forget the salt! Not only does this add important minerals and help keep you hydrated, it also makes the sweetness pop.
This smoothie is great for a snack or dessert, and would go great alongside a bacon, egg and cheese English muffin for a well-rounded breakfast. Stock up on bananas to freeze so you can make it any time!
Vanilla Milkshake Smoothie
When you want a vanilla milkshake, but you don't have ice cream or vanilla and also you want it to be healthy š This smoothie uses a couple of unexpected ingredients to make the most delicious healthy treat with just a few readily available and inexpensive ingredients!
Ingredients
- 1 to 1 1/2 large frozen bananas
- 12 oz (1 1/2 cup) raw milk (or preferred milk or alternative)
- 1 Tbs coconut oil
- dash of cinnamon
- pinch of salt
Instructions
- Add all of the ingredients to your highspeed blender, making sure the lid is sealed.
- Blend and pulse to keep ingredients from sticking to the sides or bottom, or use 'Smoothie' setting if your blender has one.
- Keep blending until fully combined. The smoothie should be thick, creamy and a little frothy.
- Taste at this point and check if it needs any more coconut oil for creaminess and depth of flavor, another half a frozen banana to thicken, cinnamon or salt to contrast the sweetness.
- Once you're happy with it, pour into a large glass and add a straw. Enjoy your "vanilla milkshake"!
Notes
I like to add my liquid in first to make sure nothing sticks to the bottom of the blender cup.
Don't forget you can add an unflavored collagen or gelatin for extra protein without changing the flavor.
See post for the exact blender we use and love. It has a Smoothie button as well as a Smoothie Bowl function with a special cup that has paddles to scrape along the sides and keep the ingredients moving. In fact, these ingredients would make a delicious smoothie bowl as well!
Hope you love it!
-Tara
Leave a Reply