Whether you’re a vegan or just trying to incorporate more plant foods into your diet, you might find that you miss some foods that don’t fall into your diet. Thankfully, there are plenty of modifications for all your favorites foods and drinks—treats like milkshakes, included. With no shortage of alternative plant-based milks out there, there’s no reason you can’t enjoy this sweet drink dairy-free. With a few substitutions and some helpful recipes, you can make your own vegan milkshakes easily at home. Here are five vegan milkshake recipes that will fulfill all your creamy blended needs—without the dairy.
White Chocolate Cake Strawberry Milkshake
This recipe by Brandi Doming of The Vegan 8 is sure to bring you back to your childhood. It gets its creaminess from the cashew milk and its cake-like consistency from the cashew butter. This Neopolitan-like shake combines all the classic flavors—vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry—for a vegan milkshake that will have you wishing that every day was your birthday.
Ingredients:
Makes: 2 small drinks or 1 large
1 1/4 cups unsweetened cashew milk
2-3 tablespoons pure maple syrup (or agave, 30 mL)
3 tablespoons cashew butter
1 teaspoon vanilla powder
1/8 teaspoon fine sea salt
3 tablespoons melted cocoa butter (40 g)
2 cups or one 10 ounce bag frozen strawberries (280 g)
Vegan sprinkles
Coconut cream, for topping (optional)
Directions:
Add all of the ingredients, except the frozen strawberries to a blender and process until very smooth. Add the strawberries and process just until combined and thick. Serve immediately. Top with whipped coconut cream and strawberries.
Green Milkshake
Aleyda Batarse, of The Dish On Healthy, created this nutritious smoothie after trying a Vietnamese Avocado Shake. She healthified this version by taking out the sugar and condensed milk and replacing it with coconut butter and banana. This drink is particularly rich in healthy fats, but it also contains greens, making this vegan milkshake as healthy as it is tasty.
Ingredients:
Makes: 1 drink
1 ripe frozen banana (peeled and sliced before freezing)
1 tablespoon coconut butter (or flaxseed oil or coconut manna)
1/2 large avocado (pitted)
1 cup of organic baby spinach
1 cup of coconut water
Raw honey or agave, to taste (as sweeteners; optional)
1 tablespoon hemp hearts or chia seeds (for protein)
Directions:
Blend on high until desired consistency is achieved. For a thicker smoothie, add less coconut water and a handful of ice cubes.
Peanut Butter Chocolate Milkshake
This recipe is printed with permission from Plant Protein Recipes That You’ll Love.
There’s nothing quite like the combination of peanut butter and chocolate, especially when it comes in a vegan milkshake. Although this milkshake might taste like dessert, it’s actually loaded with protein-packed, healthy ingredients, such as peanut butter and chia seeds. If you would like, you can top off your smoothie with some cacao nibs or chocolate pieces and a drizzle of peanut butter for extra flavor.
Ingredients:
Makes: 1 large drink
1 frozen banana, peeled and sliced
2 tablespoons unsalted creamy raw peanut butter
1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
¼ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup unsweetened almond milk
1 tablespoon chia seeds
Directions:
Add all ingredients to a blender and blend on high speed until smooth. Serve immediately.
Salted Caramel Milkshake
This recipe is printed with permission from Plant Protein Recipes That You’ll Love.
If you’re someone who likes Frappuccinos, you’ll love this homemade salted caramel milkshake. This drink doesn’t contain any refined sugar, and it gets its decadent caramel taste from the rich Medjool dates. Who says vegan milkshakes have to be bland?
Ingredients:
Makes: 1 large drink
1 frozen banana, peeled and sliced
3 Medjool dates
1 cup coconut milk
⅛ teaspoon salt
Directions:
Add all ingredients to a blender and blend on high speed until smooth. Serve immediately.
Vanilla Peach Milkshake
This recipe is printed with permission from Plant Protein Recipes That You’ll Love.
Get your fix of peaches and cream with this refreshing milkshake. To make sure that this drink is as pure as possible, make sure to get canned peaches that have no sugar added and that are canned in their natural juices, not syrup. If they’re in season, you can also use fresh peaches in this shake, as long as they are nice and ripe.
Ingredients:
Makes: 1 drink
1 medium frozen banana, peeled and sliced
3 no-sugar-added canned peach halves
3 tablespoons canned peach juice (not syrup)
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 ½ cups coconut milk
Directions:
Add all ingredients to a blender and blend on high speed until smooth. Serve immediately.
Vegan milkshakes are possible to enjoy without dairy, and they can even be nutritious, too. Whip these up as a post-workout or post-dinner treat and prepare to forget all about dairy.