Creamy Banana Date Smoothie

Rich, naturally sweet, and lusciously smooth, this Creamy Banana Date Smoothie is the solid blend of indulgence AND good-for-you ingredients. Ripe bananas and soft, caramel-like dates create a naturally sweet base, while a splash of vanilla adds warmth. Suited to a morning pick-us-up or anytime treat.

Eye level smoothie in a clear glass with a glass straw on a wood surface.

We're back on our date kick, and for good reason. Dates are a powerhouse when it comes to flavor, and it doesn't stop with baked goods. These days, we're popping them like candy, and we're not going to apologize for it anytime soon.

When you add dates to smoothies, the natural sugars will sweeten it up, similar to caramel. Throw in your favorite milk (or yogurt), and you have a 4-ingredient smoothie that tastes like a milkshake. Um, is that so wrong?

What you will need

You're only 4 basic ingredients away from a good morning smoothie!

Angled view of a banana smoothie with a straw in it.

Dates Medjool dates are softer and sweeter than Deglet Noor dates.
Bananas Choose ripe bananas for added sweetness. We always use frozen bananas in our smoothies for the creamiest results. If you are using fresh bananas, you will need to add ice to get that smooth consistency.
Milk or yogurt Use any milk (including plant-based). If you are going the yogurt route, we prefer plain yogurt (not Greek). We find that Greek yogurt adds too much of a sour flavor.
Vanilla Add a splash of vanilla for warmth and depth. If using vanilla-flavored milk or yogurt, you can omit the vanilla.
Cinnamon For topping, optional.
Salt Optional- to balance out the sweetness.

Full ingredient list is located in the recipe card.

Step-by-step instructions

Here is a quick overview of how to make a good date smoothie.

Collage of four images showing how to make a smoothie.

Step 1. If prepping, freeze sliced bananas ahead of time. Step 2. Remove the pits from the dates. Step 3. Soak the dates in hot water to soften. Step 4. Add the milk, dates, bananas, and vanilla to a blender and blend until smooth and creamy.

Expert tip

For the creamiest smoothies, use frozen bananas. To planchop your ripe bananas, place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet, and then place them in the freezer. When frozen, transfer them to a freezer-safe bag, such as Ziploc.

Swaps

Don't have an ingredient? Check out these variations.

Add peanut butter or tahini for a nutty twist.
Play around with spices such as nutmegcloves or allspice.
Add fruit such as blueberries or strawberries along with the bananas.
Blend with chocolate spread, such as Nutella, for the ultimate treat.

Date smoothie in a clear glass with a clear straw.

Storage and prep

Smoothies are meant to be sipped right away. So make only enough for what you can consume.

To ensure you can always have smoothies on the fly, freeze your bananas ahead of time. Buy a few bunches of bananas, allow them to ripen on the counter, and then cut, freeze, and store for later use. We portion them into individual baggies, enough for one smoothie at a time.

Serving suggestions

Some days, all we need is our morning date smoothie to keep us full until lunch. Other days, we like to have our smoothie on the side of a simple breakfast, such as overnight oats or this yogurt brulee.

Half drunk smoothie in a clear jug on a wood surface.

Kitchen questions

Where can we find Medjool dates?

Medjool dates can be found in well-stocked grocery stores, usually in the fruit aisle or near the nuts or bulk bin section. They can also be found online at popular retailers such as Amazon.

We are bananas for all things fruit!