Date shakes are kind of a thing in Palm Springs… or they became one. For good reason: 90% of the world’s dates are grown in California’s Coachella Valley so it was only natural. Blend dates with some vanilla ice cream, a dash of cinnamon and 💥 easily one of the most deliciously simple desserts.
Inspired by the Palm Springs date shake, I wanted to make a healthier version with all the creamy flavor but dairy-free… and way less sugar. One you could drink for breakfast or a snack and feel good about it. And so the tahini date shake was born.
Why This Tahini Date Shake is Healthy
This tahini date shake is full of nutrients. It gets its sweetness from 100% natural, whole sources: the banana and the dates. Bananas contain fiber and prebiotics, which provide fuel for the beneficial bacteria in the gut. Dates are full of potassium, B6, niacin, fiber, and a small amount of iron.
And tahini! Tahini adds a nutty flavor and some healthy, creamy fat to replace the vanilla ice cream in a classic date shake. Made from ground sesame seeds (also known as sesame butter because of it’s rich and silky texture), tahini is super nutrient-dense (hello, copper, manganese, calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, selenium…I could go on) and pairs perfectly with the dates.
My Favorite Tahini Brands
Hands down, my favorite tahini brand is Seed + Mill. If you’re ever in NYC be sure to stop by the Chelsea Market and check them out! Amazing tahini-based desserts and… tahini of course.
You can also find great organic tahini and Whole Foods Market, Trader Joe’s, and (usually) in the International aisle of conventional grocery stores.
For Amazon shoppers, I like this organic brand.
Other Tahini Recipes
If you’re a tahini lover too, here are a few of my favorite tahini recipes on Loveleaf Co.:
Tahini Sauce, Two Ways
Kale Tahini Caesar Salad
Roasted Squash Tacos with Chipotle Tahini Crema
Za’atar Roasted Chicken with Green Tahini Sauce
Healthy Tahini Date Shake
- Prep Time: 5 Minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 1x
- Category: Drink
- Method: Blend
- Cuisine: American
Description
Tahini date shake – inspired by the famous Palm Springs date shakes, but healthier! This shake or smoothie is the perfect healthy breakfast or quick afternoon pick-me-up. Super creamy and full of flavor and nutrients. Dairy-free, vegan, and paleo.
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsweetened dairy-free milk
- 1/2 frozen banana
- 1–2 pitted Medjool dates, depending on sweetness preference
- 1 tablespoon tahini paste (I like Seed + Mill or this brand)
- 2 teaspoons chia seeds
- 1 serving of unsweetened protein powder or collagen peptides, optional
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- a pinch of sea salt
- a small handful of ice
- sesame seeds for serving, optional
Instructions
- Add all ingredients (except for sesame seeds) to a high-speed blender and blend until smooth and creamy.
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Top with a sprinkle of sesame seeds, if desired. Enjoy!
Keywords: tahini date shake, healthy date shake, tahini smoothie
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Karen says
What do you suggest as a sub for banana? I’m allergic, unfortunately!
Ally Milligan says
Hi Karen! I’ve heard that avocado is a good creamy substitute for banana, though I haven’t tried this myself. If you do try it, you might want to add another date to make up for the missing sweetness from the banana. Let me know what you think!