Banana Vanilla Ice Cream Milkshake

Introduction

Banana and vanilla ice cream give this milkshake a thick, smooth and creamy texture, and the optional pinch of cinnamon adds a warmer finish. You can make it in 5 minutes, so it fits as a quick dessert, snack, or cold breakfast-style drink.

Recipe Details

• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: 0 minutes
• Total Time: 5 minutes
• Servings: 2

Ingredients

• 1 large or 2 small bananas
• Vanilla ice cream
• Milk
• Sugar
• Ground cinnamon (optional)

Instructions

1. Blend the banana, ice cream, sugar, and milk as desired until smooth and creamy.
2. If desired, add a pinch of cinnamon.

Variations

• Swap the vanilla ice cream for chocolate ice cream if you want a deeper, richer flavor and a darker shake.
• Use frozen banana instead of fresh banana for a thicker, colder milkshake; you will usually need a little more milk to keep it blendable.
• Reduce or skip the sugar if your vanilla ice cream is already sweet enough; the banana flavor will come through more clearly.
• Replace the milk with oat milk or almond milk for a lighter texture; if you also use dairy-free vanilla ice cream, the shake becomes fully dairy-free.

Tips for Success

• Use ripe bananas with plenty of brown specks so the shake tastes more like banana and less starchy.
• Add the milk gradually when you blend so you can control how thick or thin the final texture is.
• Blend until you no longer see banana flecks; the shake should look evenly smooth and creamy.
• Add the ground cinnamon after the first blend if you want to control how noticeable the spice is.
• If your banana is not very cold, use colder ice cream and milk so the shake stays thick instead of turning loose quickly.

Storage and Reheating

Serve this right after blending for the best texture. If you have leftovers, pour them into a jar or other airtight container and refrigerate for up to 1 day.

The shake will separate and thin in the fridge. Stir vigorously or reblend before serving.

For longer storage, freeze it in a freezer-safe container for up to 1 month. Let it sit at room temperature for 10 to 15 minutes, then reblend with a splash of milk until smooth again.

Do not reheat this recipe.

FAQ

Can you make this without sugar?

Yes. If your banana is ripe and the vanilla ice cream is sweet, you can leave out the sugar and still get a balanced shake.

How much milk should you add?

Start with a small amount and add more only until the blender runs smoothly. Less milk gives you a thicker shake; more milk makes it easier to drink through a straw.

Can you use frozen bananas?

Yes. Frozen bananas make the milkshake thicker and colder, but you may need extra milk to help everything blend evenly.

How do you make it dairy-free?

Use dairy-free vanilla ice cream and replace the milk with a non-dairy milk such as oat milk or almond milk. The texture is usually a little lighter than the dairy version.