Tahini Date Shake

This 5-Minute Date Shake recipe is decadently creamy yet completely dairy-free! With protein-packed tahini, almond milk, dates, frozen bananas, and a dash of cinnamon, it’s the perfect power breakfast or afternoon treat.

When I started writing this post, I kept going back and forth on the name. Should I call it a date shake or a date smoothie? Technically, there is no ice cream involved here. But still, this tahini date shake earns the title 100%!

The combination of sweet ripe frozen bananas, sticky Medjool dates, and nutty tahini takes care of the richness and creaminess with no ice cream needed! Like our Mango Smoothie and Green Smoothie, it’s nutritious enough for breakfast but tasty enough for an after-dinner treat. Plus, it freezes well so you can make a big batch to store for healthy breakfasts throughout the week.

Table of Contents

1. Ingredients for this Date Shake Recipe
2. Ingredient Spotlight
3. How to Freeze Bananas
4. How to Make this Date Shake Recipe
5. How to Meal Prep this Date Smoothie
6. What to Serve with a Date Shake
7. More Date Recipes 
8. Tahini Date Shake Recipe

Ingredients for this Date Shake Recipe

You only need 5 ingredients to make this simple date smoothie: 

• Bananas: Frozen bananas are ideal as it’ll keep the date shake extra cold, but any ripe bananas you have will work. You can even chop up a bunch of bananas and freeze them in a single layer, transfer to a zip-top bag and use as needed.
• Dates: I love Medjool dates’ rich caramel flavor and sticky texture, but any dates you have will work in this recipe. Add an extra date or two if you’re using a smaller variety.
  • DIG DEEPER: Are Dates Healthy?
• Tahini: This ground sesame paste adds a nutty flavor and velvety texture (see Ingredient Spotlight below for more). 
• Ice: Helps prevent the date shake from being too thick. It also makes it extra cold so you get the milkshake vibes without the ice cream! Crushed ice blends well, but what you have will work fine. You can always add more or less depending on the consistency you want. 
• Almond milk: I like the nuttiness of almond milk to complement the tahini, but whole milk or any unsweetened alternative milk of your choice will work well. 
• Cinnamon: Makes this date shake a nostalgic cinnamon roll-like flavor.

Ingredient Spotlight

Tahini is the secret ingredient you might not expect in a date shake! Many people are familiar with something like peanut butter, almond butter, or even pistachio butter in smoothies and shakes, but if you haven’t tried tahini paste you are in for a treat. I like peanut butter fine, but tahini wins my heart!

Tahini is a creamy, rich vegan paste made by finely grinding roasted sesame seeds until buttery smooth. The best part? I use this Mediterranean pantry staple in SO many ways, from giving sweet treats like chocolate chip cookies an addictive nutty quality to bringing the velvety goodness to savory homemade hummus. 

Plus, did you know that tahini is loaded with nutrition? It’s packed with loads of protein (more than milk and most nuts!). It’s also a rich source of vitamin E, B vitamins–which can give you a great energy boost and help brain function, and important minerals, such as magnesium, iron and calcium. See the full breakdown of all that this wonder ingredient has to offer at the USDA.

• READ MORE: What is Tahini?
• TRY IT: Try my favorite Tahini, made from 100% organic sesame seeds. In this recipe, I used plain tahini, but chocolate tahini would be out of this world delicious as well.
• BEST SUBSTITUTE: Any nut butter of your choice. 

How to Freeze Bananas

To freeze bananas, peel them and cut into slices or chunks. Arrange the slices on a baking sheet lined with parchment or wax paper. Freeze for 1 to 2 hours (this prevents the slices from sticking together).

Once frozen, transfer the sliced bananas to freezer-safe bags or containers and return to the freezer for later use. (This works great for when you’re making banana bread as well. Don’t let ripe bananas go to waste!)

How to Make this Date Shake Recipe

If you froze your banana whole, you’re likely fine throwing it into the blender as-is. A powerful blender helps, but as long as yours isn’t dull, it’ll just need a few more pulses. If you have fresh bananas, that’s fine too, your smoothie just won’t be as cold. Here are the steps:

• Make the shake: To a blender, add 2 frozen bananas (sliced or whole), 1/4 cup of tahini, 1 1/2 cups of unsweetened almond milk, 1/4 cup of ice (about a handful), and a pinch of cinnamon. Tear 4 Medjool dates into pieces and add, discarding the pit as you go.
• Blend: Run until the shake is smooth and creamy, adding more ice or almond milk if necessary. Give it a taste: I find it plenty sweet, but you can always add a drizzle of honey and re-blend if you’d like.
• Finish and serve. Transfer to serving glasses and finish with a pinch of cinnamon. Enjoy!

How to Meal Prep this Date Smoothie

While this date shake recipe takes about 5 minutes in a good blender, it also makes for a great make-ahead breakfast (and 5 extra minutes of sleep!). To make it ahead of time:

• Blend the date shakes, then portion into Mason jars and close tightly.
• Store the shakes in the fridge for up to 2 nights. Separation may occur after the first night, but you can just stir the shakes and enjoy, totally fine!
• Store in your freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge one night before you plan to have them. If you store them in glass jars in your freezer just make sure you leave enough room for the smoothie to expand when frozen.
• You can also make smoothie packs. Use freezer-safe bags like these reusable stasher bags, add your sliced banana in a single layer, followed by your chopped dates and cinnamon. Make one bag per smoothie. When you’re ready to blend it, just put the contents of the freezer bag into your blender, add the milk, tahini, and ice then blend!

What to Serve with a Date Shake

I like this date shake as a quick grab-and-go breakfast, but it also makes for a delicious dessert. How about a Mediterranean twist to burger night? I love these Greek-style lamb burgers. Or, for a vegan feast, serve as a dessert after Harissa-Spiced Lentil and Carrot Stuffed Flatbread.

More Date Recipes 

Desserts

Date Bars with Chocolate & Tahini

Appetizer and Mezze

Easy Stuffed Dates

Lebanese

Maamoul (Date Filled Cookies)

Desserts

Chocolate Covered Dates

Browse all Mediterranean recipes.

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