4 Ways to Make Banana Drinks – MILKSHAKE

The real fun begins! It’s time for the dreamiest, most classic treat and the sweetest drink of all four. I’ll be ready this summer to have fun making iconic American and irresistible milkshakes. Let’s categorize them as retro comfort food, perfect with a burger and fries. Do you remember any movie scenes with milkshakes?

Milkshakes bring me back to my teenage years. I remember slurping up every last drop. Something about sipping with a straw or eating with a long, stylish spoon makes me feel nostalgic. They are so yummy and addictive that you’ll also try to sip the last drop, even when you’re with friends. Don’t worry, they won’t mind!

It’s best to make milkshakes at home. Homemade milkshakes are less expensive and even more delicious. The milkshakes found in stores are usually made with dairy milk, dairy ice cream, and artificial flavors, and contain a lot of sugar.

Don’t buy milkshakes because they are so easy to make. You can save money and even make a healthier version. Use whole milk if you want a taste similar to shop-bought milkshakes. Whole milk and quality full-fat ice cream will provide the full taste and texture. The best thing about homemade drinks is that you can control the amount of sweetness and know all the ingredients.

The thickness of a milkshake varies based on the proportions of liquid and solid ingredients used and the blending process. If the milkshake is very thick, it’s best to eat it with a spoon. To make the texture more drinkable, add more milk to the mixture.

Ripe bananas are the sweetest choice for milkshakes, while under-ripe bananas will give you a more neutral flavor. Use full-fat ice cream to make the creamiest milkshake. Better yet, make your ice cream so you can also control the amount of sweetness. Blend bananas, milk, and ice cream.

You can experiment with various flavors that you enjoy, and you might be surprised by the many different flavors that complement bananas. Get creative and add something different each time you make it. Try out various fruit combinations. Make the shake your own. Don’t worry, you won’t run out of ideas. Just be careful, because shakes are addictive.

Maybe I should set up a milkshake bar for a family party this summer? It could have different toppings and flavors. The best thing about milkshakes is the fun and creativity involved. There’s an endless array of stories. So don’t let the summer go by without a milkshake tale!

If you’re not a fan of desserts, give my banana milk a try!

BASIC

• Use less milk for a thicker consistency (eaten with a spoon) or more milk for a thinner consistency (sippable with a straw). Create a creamy consistency that can still be sipped through a straw. Using too much milk will result in a watery texture and lose its creaminess and flavor. If you add a lot of ice cream, you will need a spoon to eat it. The choice of perfect consistency is yours.

• You can enhance the creamy texture by adding coffee cream or yogurt.
• Also, consider using chocolate, strawberry, or banana milk instead of regular milk.
• While vanilla ice cream is the most popular choice, feel free to experiment with different ice cream flavors.

• Use fresh or frozen fruits. To enhance the flavor, increase the amount of bananas. Bananas with dark brown spots are the most flavorful. They should be ripe, but not brown, soft, and mushy. You can add nutritious ingredients like peanut butter, almond butter, and cashew butter, as well as pre-ground nuts small enough to go through a straw.
• You can leave out the sweeteners, or add healthy natural honey or maple syrup.

• Add the ice cream to the blender last to keep it cooler and thicker. It is better to use hardened ice cream, as blending can liquefy the drink.
• Soften the ice cream if you don’t have a powerful blender.

Freezing tips

• Slice bananas and freeze them before blending to prevent heating, or chill the milk in the fridge before blending. To freeze bananas, peel and chop them into chunks before freezing. Freeze bananas individually without overlapping them, and make sure they are not stuck to each other.

• For a sweeter taste, freeze ripened bananas for at least half an hour, or plan to freeze bananas a day before making a banana milkshake. Using frozen fruit will create a thicker, creamier, and extra-velvety texture, but it can be more challenging to blend. This is especially useful when making shakes without ice cream.

PRO TIPS

• I believe that adding maple syrup and vanilla to the drink enhances its aroma.

• You can add peanut butter for extra flavor without adding sugar. Keep in mind that peanut butter will make the consistency thicker, so you may need to add more liquid. For a creamy milkshake, add about 1 cup of milk and 3 scoops of ice cream.

• Ripe bananas blend easily, giving a smoother, creamier, and softer texture.

• To speed up the ripening of bananas, place them in a paper bag in a warm spot.

• If you prefer a less sweet drink, store bananas in a plastic bag in a cold place to keep them fresh for longer. You can use under-ripe bananas because shakes are already sweet enough due to the ice cream.

• The most recommended option is whole milk, but feel free to use any type you prefer, whether it’s dairy (whole or skim) or dairy-free (coconut, almond, oat, soy, cashew, pea, rice, quinoa) milk. Coconut milk provides the creamiest texture among dairy-free options.

• Add coarsely chopped nuts at the end so that they are small enough to be consumed with a straw.
• Lightly roast bananas to enhance their flavor.

Remember, the better the ingredients, the better the milkshake.

TOP PRO TIPS

• You can also make nut milk by blending nuts with coconut milk or water and your desired flavors until smooth.

• To make it extra delicious, add chunks of fresh bananas. For an extra creamy milkshake, add a few teaspoons of chocolate flakes.

• Additionally, you can make banana skewers by rolling up banana slices and heating them in a hot pan with sugar for a minute. Skewer a few slices onto sticks and let them harden.

Homemade syrup. Slowly melt all ingredients in a saucepan.
Chocolate syrup: Chocolate, sugar, and a few tablespoons of water.
Strawberry syrup: Fresh strawberries, sugar as needed, and a little water.
Try making different flavors such as peaches, caramel, white chocolate, etc.

BASIC MILKSHAKE VARIATIONS 

• Feel free to use a variety of fruits, such as blueberries, strawberries, peaches, mangoes, raspberries, and blackberries. The best choices are seasonal fruits. A popular combination is strawberry and banana.
• You can use either dairy milk or dairy-free milk.

• Include nutritious ingredients like peanut butter, almond butter, or ground seeds for a creamy consistency. Add more liquid for a thinner consistency.
• Enhance the flavor with caramel, cocoa powder, and chocolate sauce.

• To sweeten, add dates or dried fruits instead of sugar. Be cautious not to add too many because they may alter the color.
• Spice it up with some ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon, or turmeric.

FUN COMBINATIONS

Chocolate Brownie Milkshake: Chocolate milk, chocolate ice cream, chocolate and caramel syrup, chocolate chips, brownies, and peanut butter.

Triple-Chocolate Milkshake: Chocolate milk, chocolate ice cream, and chocolate syrup. Toppings: White, milky, and dark chocolate drops, and crumbled cookies.

Snickers Milkshake: Caramel, vanilla ice cream, peanut butter, chocolate, dates or maple syrup, and crumbled pretzels. Toppings: Caramel sauce and chopped peanuts.

Cookie Milkshake: Chocolate chip cookies, brownies, chocolate milk, chocolate ice cream, and melted chocolate.

Hazelnut Milkshake: Hazelnut spread, chocolate milk, pre-ground hazelnuts, vanilla ice cream, vanilla extract, and cookie straws.

Tiramisu Milkshake: Espresso, cocoa, coffee, cream, vanilla ice cream, crumbled cookies, vanilla extract, and chocolate syrup.

Banana Split Milkshake: Banana milk, frozen fruits, and ice cream. Toppings: Whipped cream, chocolate syrup, and cherries.

Strawberry Cake Milkshake: Vanilla ice cream, whole milk, frozen strawberries, cake crumbles or plain cookies, and strawberry syrup.

Malty Milkshake: Add 2-4 tablespoons of malted milk powder per 1 cup of milk for a milky sweetness.

Pro Milkshake: Homemade jam, homemade ice cream, and fresh seasonal fruits.

Dairy-Free Milkshake: Maple syrup, dates, dairy-free whipped cream, plant-based milk, and dairy-free vanilla ice cream. For a super creamy texture, use coconut-based dairy as it is thick and creamy compared to other plant-based milk.

Milkshake Without Ice Cream: Frozen bananas and strawberries, banana milk, ice, heavy cream, vanilla extract, dried bananas, and ice. You can substitute ice cream with frozen yogurt or milk and increase sugar.

Use frozen bananas so that you can skip ice cream. Thaw the frozen banana for a while if you don’t have a quality blender. You can also freeze bananas or milk. Pour the milk into ice cube trays and freeze for times when making milkshakes. The milkshake will be thick and creamy without ice cream because of frozen bananas. It is best to make it with whole milk and vanilla extract.

Light Milkshake: Use frozen yogurt or sherbet instead of ice cream. Add fruit juice instead of milk. For less sweetness, add a pinch of salt and peanut butter.

Healthy Milkshake: Frozen bananas. Omit the ice cream and sugar. Toppings: Finely grated dark chocolate.

Remember to mix and match ingredients and flavors to make a variety of milkshakes and impress your neighborhood.

CHIC DECORATION

• As a beverage, it can be served in tall glasses or recycled glass packaging, such as appropriate jars, to achieve a unique look.
• Toppings are mandatory because this is a sweet dessert.
• Chill the glasses in the freezer until they develop a beautiful frost.
• Drizzle jam, chocolate, or caramel syrup along the sides of the glass.
• Add cute long straws or long sundae spoons to enhance your experience.

CHIC TOPPINGS IDEAS and MIX-INS: vanilla extract, lemon flavor, white chocolate, chocolate chips or sprinkles, chocolate flakes, grated chocolate or syrup, hazelnut spread, different jams, strawberry syrup, caramel, different pieces of fresh fruits, sweet maraschino cherries, finely chopped or pre-ground nuts, crushed peanuts, pistachios, whipped cream, coconut cream, nutmeg, crushed or whole cookies, candies, dried banana chips, cinnamon, powdered cardamom, turmeric, chia seeds, toasted marshmallows, candy bars, shredded coconut, cake crumbles, waffles, pretzels, sweets, squirty cream, mint leaves

Whipped cream and maraschino cherries are essential for creating a classic indulgent milkshake. Consider adding herbs for a playful twist. Don’t forget, toppings are a must!

Make your shake look pretty!

STORAGE

Remember to store the banana milk in the fridge for up to 24 hours. To prevent the bananas from browning when exposed to air, add a few drops of fresh lemon juice. The acid in the lemon juice will help prevent browning, so add small amounts so as not to affect the taste of the banana milk. Before serving, add some ice and shake well.

Well-ripened bananas are sweeter. If you have very ripe bananas that you don’t know what to do with, making a banana milkshake is a great way to avoid food waste. I like the taste of green bananas, but well-ripened bananas work best for this recipe. I believe fresh food is healthier, so it’s better not to make too much banana milk at once. Making small, fresh batches will give you the best results.

If you need to prepare the milkshake ahead of time, you can freeze it in plastic cups. Before serving, let the frozen milkshake sit at room temperature for about half an hour and give it a good stir. Add a bit more milk to blend it up again. Although the milkshake may not be as creamy and fresh as when first made, it will still be tasty.

You can freeze and store it for up to 2 months, but I only recommend this if you have made the ice cream yourself and it has only been frozen once.

I never measure ingredients and add liquids based on a feeling. Use any milk you prefer. You are in control over the level of sweetness you add. Consider the flavor and consistency of different types of milk

*1 Tbsp = 15 ml, 250 ml = 1 Cup,  ½ tsp = 2.5ml

Blender: Handheld immersion blender, high-speed blender, milkshake, or drink machine.

No blender: No problem! It’s not difficult. Mash the banana with a fork and let the ice cream soften at room temperature. Put everything into a jar or container and shake vigorously until all the ingredients are well combined. Don’t forget to secure the lid. You can also use a large bowl and a whisk to mix the ice cream and milk.

BASIC DIRECTIONS

Use a hand blender to puree all ingredients until smooth and pourable. Start by blending with milk. Allow the ice cream to soften for a few minutes before blending, to avoid having to add more milk. Start by blending with less milk and add more if needed. Add the ice cream at the end to keep it cool. Don’t blend heavy cream, as it could turn into butter.

Avoid adding all ingredients until the end. Chop them up small, but not too small that they will over-blend and change the overall flavor and texture. Blend larger cookies or candies for an extra 30 seconds until they are small enough to drink with a straw.

Be cautious not to over-blend the milkshake, as the ice cream may begin to melt due to the heat. Opt for high-density ice cream, as dairy-free options tend to be thinner. For a thick milkshake, combine whole milk, cream, syrup, jam, and frozen banana.

To achieve the best results, slice and freeze the bananas before blending. Use a high-powered blender that can handle frozen bananas.

Using different mix-ins will enhance the aroma and sweetness. Experiment with different combinations. The essential ingredients for a milkshake are banana, milk, and ice cream. Serve the milkshake with creative toppings and drink it right away while it’s still chilled. Toppings and add-ins are necessary to accentuate the beauty and sweetness of the milkshake.

So gather some vanilla ice cream and begin the summer with a delicious milkshake. Get creative and customize your shake to your taste buds.