I have to admit that for many years, I wouldn’t go near smoothies. It wasn’t that I disliked them, but that I associated a bad memory with them. My family and I took a trip to Hawaii when I was 15, where we all got our fix of macadamia nuts, shaved ice and smoothies. I happened to have a smoothie right before we took a drive on one of the scenic roads in Maui. For those of you who are also prone to carsickness, you’ll probably agree that many of those “scenic routes” turn out to be the most nausea-inducing. I felt terrible the rest of the day, and with the smoothie being the last thing on my stomach, my memory unfortunately linked it to nausea for many years.
I’ve luckily gotten over this unfortunate association and absolutely love smoothies now, with this banana date version being a new favorite. With almond butter for thickness (and deliciousness) and some cinnamon to add some spice and depth, this tastes exactly like banana bread batter. The dates add a bit of texture and a more complex sweetness than sugar, plus they’re packed with fiber. The smoothie may taste decadent, but it’s filled with simple ingredients that will make you feel great as you start your day.
I should also mention that it’s incredibly easy to make. I’m not one for fussy breakfasts! The most time-consuming part of this recipe is pitting the dates – but with just five dates total, this should take you about 30 seconds or less. If it’s any indication of how good the smoothie is, take a look at my naughty little Leo who got into the leftovers!
- 2 ripe bananas
- 5 large dates, such as medjool
- 2 cups almond milk
- 1 tablespoon almond butter
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- Pinch of sea salt
- 5 ice cubes
- Slice the dates lengthwise to remove the pits.
- Combine all of the ingredients in a blender, blending until smooth.
Notes:
Don’t have almond butter or almond milk? Sub in whatever nut butter or milk you have on hand – it will still be delicious!
Inspired by the banana date smoothie from The Kitchn.
I can’t blame Leo for sticking his face into this smoothie…I am sure I would lick the blender clean to get every last, tasty drop! Another must-try recipe for sure, as anything with dates is sure to satisfy my sweet tooth. And I forgot that you struggled with that long drive on Maui…sorry that it put you off smoothies for so long!
Yes, I can’t really blame Leo for doing that! I’ll just take it as a compliment 🙂 I hope you like this smoothie – as I told you, the medjool dates I used are from Trader Joe’s!
Like banana bread batter? Yes, please! Leo probably wishes he was a young kitty again so that he could fit into the blender to get his fill.
I’m actually surprised he didn’t have more of the smoothie all over his face! It was just that cute little smear across his brow. And yes, the banana bread batter analogy sounds pretty enticing, doesn’t it?
I have a smoothie every morning with banana and date as two of my favorite ingredients! But I’ve never tried putting almond butter in it! Sounds like a wonderful combination! Thank you, Julia!
Your sweet Leo obviously loves this smoothie too! That naughty boy! Did he spend hours cleaning up afterwards? Hehe…
Hi Traci! I think you’ll love the smoothie with some almond butter in it – it makes it a bit thicker and adds some protein, which is always nice. I wish Leo helped me clean up! He’s lucky he’s so cute 🙂
I have to admit, I’m not a much of a smoothie person because I get cold easily, but I’ve recently fell in love with dates so I think I may have to try this! That picture of Leo is adorable. I’m glad you’re a cat lover too 🙂 My little Grace is one of the best parts of my day.
Amanda, I get cold easily too! Since this doesn’t have much ice in it, it might not make you as cold. And yes, you can definitely count me as a cat lover – Leo also has a big sister named Pippa 🙂 You’ll have to put up a picture of Grace soon, because I’d love to see her!
Oh my goodness, I love your cat!! My mom used to make us green smoothies for breakfast every morning growing up, so I kinda got my fill when I was a kid and didn’t drink them very much until just a few years ago. I love them now though and bananas are one of my favorite ingredients. I haven’t tried dates in a smoothie yet, but I bet they taste amazing as well 🙂
I think I would get tired of green smoothies every morning too! Variety is so important. I hope you like this version with the dates – they add some nice sweetness but are still so healthy!
Except for the occasional weekend breakfast, I don’t want it to be fussy either. Smoothie bowls are one of my go-to breakfasts in the warm months, and this looks right up my alley. The combined flavor of cinnamon and dates is hard to beet. 🙂
I’m glad you agree about non-fussy breakfasts! I’m usually half-awake before I have coffee, so I can’t handle anything complicated. Thanks for visiting, Katie!
I need to shake my smoothie routine up – it’s usually banana, strawberry and yogurt – I’m going to try this next. Love your cat – aren’t pets the best – even when they are naughty 😉
Banana, strawberry and yogurt sounds great too! I’ll have to give that a try. And yes, pets are so wonderful, aren’t they? My other cat Pippa is better behaved, but Leo is the baby of the family and therefore gets away with everything 🙂