Here’s a naturally sweet smoothie so delicious it can sub as a dessert. It would fool you for a milkshake if you didn’t know better.
Flavored with “warm” spices like cinnamon and cloves, it gets a little kick from ginger, chili powder and cayenne (the hot spices are optional). It’s not a burn-your-tongue-kick but one you can feel creeping up the back of your throat.
The dates lend an earthy, syrupy sweetness and banana is a classic ingredient for smoothies, and a natural to include with these spices.
I’m entering this in Maman & Gourmand’s Smoothie/Shake contest to win a $200 Health Master Emulsifier from Healthmaster.com.
Update: The contest is over – I won – thanks for all your votes!
Spiced Banana Date Smoothie
(by Reeni)
1 cup Milk (I used Vanilla Soymilk)
4 Medjool dates, pitted, chopped
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ginger
1/8 teaspoon cloves
1/8 teaspoon Chile Powder*
1/16 teaspoon Cayenne Pepper*
3/4 cup sliced ripe banana
3/4 cup Ice
Add your milk and dates to a blender and blend on highest speed until
the dates are incorporated into the milk.
Add the rest of the ingredients and blend until smooth and creamy.
*Optional for a spicy kick.
Hi- clearly this is an old post but it’s always nice to hear good things so I just wanted to say that I’m primarily eating smoothies right now and this has been a wonderful addition; it’s great for the season and a great way to break up the monotony of fruit smoothies.
Thanks Andrea! I’m glad to hear it!
Delish!!!!!!!
I voted for you! Gooooo Reeeeniiii!
Visiting from SITS. I haven’t had breakfast yet and your blog is making me seriously hungry. Yummy!
I voted for you! Gooooo Reeeeniiii!
Visiting from SITS. I haven't had breakfast yet and your blog is making me seriously hungry. Yummy!
This looks beautiful girl. I LOVE smoothies and will be eating them everyday for lunch until my 20 year reunion so i can shed a few last unwanted pounds!
This looks beautiful girl. I LOVE smoothies and will be eating them everyday for lunch until my 20 year reunion so i can shed a few last unwanted pounds!
Mmmmm-wondeful! My fave is Mango milkshake !!
Mmmmm-wondeful! My fave is Mango milkshake !!
Wow!! That looks interesting and very appetizing!
Wow!! That looks interesting and very appetizing!
I think the best shake I ever had was a peanut butter chocolate one from Ruby’s in Newport Beach. So thick and oh so delicious! I’m sort of partial to cookies and cream though too! 🙂
That sounds deliciously healthy!
You definitely have my vote!
This looks so delicious! Beautiful photos!
I’ll be your campaign manager! Vote for Reeni!
Who can resist? This looks incredible!Totally heading over there to vote for you… can I borrow the machine when you win?? 🙂
I think the best shake I ever had was a peanut butter chocolate one from Ruby's in Newport Beach. So thick and oh so delicious! I'm sort of partial to cookies and cream though too! 🙂
That sounds deliciously healthy!
You definitely have my vote!
I need a gorgeous glass like this to serve my smoothies/shakes in! Love this combination of flavors with all the delicious spices! Excellent smoothie!
This looks so delicious! Beautiful photos!
looks good. you got my vote.
I'll be your campaign manager! Vote for Reeni!
All those flavors are totally intriguing my taste buds!!! Good luck!
Who can resist? This looks incredible!Totally heading over there to vote for you… can I borrow the machine when you win?? 🙂
Your smoothie looks so good. I love strawberry ones but I really will drink any!!!
What a lovely smoothie, this looks fantastic!
Voted!Looks like a run-away!Great ingredients, very creative.
What woinderful flavorings – this is definitely a creative, tasty smoothie. I love food and drink that is spiced with some sweet and some hot.
I need a gorgeous glass like this to serve my smoothies/shakes in! Love this combination of flavors with all the delicious spices! Excellent smoothie!
looks good. you got my vote.
All those flavors are totally intriguing my taste buds!!! Good luck!
Your smoothie looks so good. I love strawberry ones but I really will drink any!!!
What a lovely smoothie, this looks fantastic!
Voted!Looks like a run-away!Great ingredients, very creative.
What woinderful flavorings – this is definitely a creative, tasty smoothie. I love food and drink that is spiced with some sweet and some hot.
What an awesome flavor combination – yum! I just voted 🙂
wow, you are just sooooo goood!!!! i am glad i made it to vote 🙂
you’ve def got my vote! I once had a date smoothie type thing too, in a morroccan cafe…it was good!
that sounds incredible!!! you never fail to impress me with your creativity 🙂
Well done Reeni…that smoothie is happening & HOW!! Love the flavours in there…YUM!
What an awesome flavor combination – yum! I just voted 🙂
wow, you are just sooooo goood!!!! i am glad i made it to vote 🙂
yum!! delicious! i love a good smoothie 🙂
you've def got my vote! I once had a date smoothie type thing too, in a morroccan cafe…it was good!
This sounds great! Date shakes are so good, and this one is healthy. I usually make pretty basic smoothies at home, but I like a tropical one with coconut milk and mango when I’m ordering one at a smoothie counter.
You’ve got my vote for that!
that sounds incredible!!! you never fail to impress me with your creativity 🙂
Well done Reeni…that smoothie is happening & HOW!! Love the flavours in there…YUM!
Hi ReeniAnother of your great recipes.I have already voted for you.Good luck x
Dessert…I am going to make this for breakfast tomorrow! 🙂
very nice…looks spicy baby
yum!! delicious! i love a good smoothie 🙂
This sounds great! Date shakes are so good, and this one is healthy. I usually make pretty basic smoothies at home, but I like a tropical one with coconut milk and mango when I'm ordering one at a smoothie counter.
Tanled Noodle: And very sweet!
You've got my vote for that!
The spices and flavor combinations are exceptional! It’s cool and hot at the same time!
Hi ReeniAnother of your great recipes.I have already voted for you.Good luck x
Dessert…I am going to make this for breakfast tomorrow! 🙂
very nice…looks spicy baby
This looks damn GOOD!!!
Julie: You could sneak them in, she’d never know, their so sugary.Rosabela: There’s no chocolate in it.
This is absolutely amazing! And all the spices add so much flavor without tons of sugar. I was a protein shake drinker for a while – I would mix some cake batter flavored protein powder with a banana, some almond milk, and one of those skinny cow ice cream sandwich things. Mmmm really good! And probably really good even without the protein powder, but my brother went through this phase where he insisted I needed more protein.Happy mother’s day!
Wow! I can just taste this. I’m not usually a fan of mixing hot stuff with chocolate but this looks so tempting! Mmmmmm
Love the addition of spices! Fiery~~
I’m partial to banana ;o) Good luck Reeni!
Tanled Noodle: And very sweet!
The spices and flavor combinations are exceptional! It's cool and hot at the same time!
This looks damn GOOD!!!
Julie: You could sneak them in, she'd never know, their so sugary.Rosabela: There's no chocolate in it.
This is absolutely amazing! And all the spices add so much flavor without tons of sugar. I was a protein shake drinker for a while – I would mix some cake batter flavored protein powder with a banana, some almond milk, and one of those skinny cow ice cream sandwich things. Mmmm really good! And probably really good even without the protein powder, but my brother went through this phase where he insisted I needed more protein.Happy mother's day!
Wow! I can just taste this. I'm not usually a fan of mixing hot stuff with chocolate but this looks so tempting! Mmmmmm
Love the addition of spices! Fiery~~
I'm partial to banana ;o) Good luck Reeni!
Interesting…I was just thinking about trying to make a high fiber smoothie for my dtr. Not sure I could get her to drink dates though :)There’s a town here in southern AZ that has a place called Dateland where you can get date shakes!P.S. I hope you win!
MMMMM…what a lovely smoothie! A smoothie with a difference!!I love it all!!!
Oh Reeni what a great recipe you made. Good luck.
What a great combination of flavors! I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you!
love the addition of cayenne and chili!!
What a beautiful glass of Yum! I love all the ingredients you have combined…take a slurp for me!
Oooo…That looks good and healthy. Love bananas!Best of luck.
Good Luck, Reeni!Hope you and your Mom have a wonderful day togther tomorrow!~ingrid
Thank you for entering!!! I am working on the post right now!
Oh my gosh, Reeni! You always make me hungry…it’s always as if you make the food just for me. I love dates…and the spices in this- perfection. I must have one…any left in the blender jar? 😉
Oh how I love milk shakes, it doesn’t matter what the flavor is, they’re all good to me!!
Wow, I am visiting your blog for the first time and it is making me extremely hungry. What great photo’s and recipes. I am going to be visiting here often. Thanks for sharing.
Interesting…I was just thinking about trying to make a high fiber smoothie for my dtr. Not sure I could get her to drink dates though :)There's a town here in southern AZ that has a place called Dateland where you can get date shakes!P.S. I hope you win!
MMMMM…what a lovely smoothie! A smoothie with a difference!!I love it all!!!
Oh Reeni what a great recipe you made. Good luck.
What a great combination of flavors! I'll keep my fingers crossed for you!
love the addition of cayenne and chili!!
What a beautiful glass of Yum! I love all the ingredients you have combined…take a slurp for me!
Oooo…That looks good and healthy. Love bananas!Best of luck.
Good Luck, Reeni!Hope you and your Mom have a wonderful day togther tomorrow!~ingrid
Thank you for entering!!! I am working on the post right now!
Oh my gosh, Reeni! You always make me hungry…it's always as if you make the food just for me. I love dates…and the spices in this- perfection. I must have one…any left in the blender jar? 😉
Oh how I love milk shakes, it doesn't matter what the flavor is, they're all good to me!!
Wow, I am visiting your blog for the first time and it is making me extremely hungry. What great photo's and recipes. I am going to be visiting here often. Thanks for sharing.