A quick and easy way to give your kids a powerhouse boost! This vegan almond banana milk is full of healthy ingredients and ready in only 5 minutes!
Originally published August 6, 2017.
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Silk. The opinions and text are all mine.
With the holidays coming to a close, having something super simple, but healthy to make for the kids is so nice! All 3 of my boys love this, and I can get it ready for them in just a few minutes.
Almond Banana Milk
Bananas are full of nutritious benefits and are kid friendly, which makes this recipe awesome! Plus because they have a natural sweetness there is no need for additional sweeteners making this a perfect healthy treat.
Is banana milk good for you?
Bananas are an awesome food. They are great for the body and a perfect source for many nutrients:
- packed with potassium
- a great source of vitamin C
- an excellent source of vitamin B-6 (something that can be lacking if you don't eat animal products)
- fiber
- they are powerhouses for energy since they have many good carbs
What is banana milk made of?
Banana milk can be as easy as 2 ingredients, bananas and milk. However I like to add a few extras to get the ultimate flavor in my base recipe. I love adding a touch of vanilla for an extra flavor boost. And also a touch of sea salt to help bring out all of the flavors.
I also like adding almonds or almond milk for an extra creamy result. I used the Silk brand almond milk here since I love the flavor it has and it is easy. You can also simply add almonds and water to your blender if you prefer, see the notes of the recipe to see how.
You can also add different ingredients to give this vegan banana milk an even bigger boost. Here are the three versions I tried:
- Protein boost. Feel free to use any nut butter (or seed butter) you want but we love the pair of bananas and peanut butter!
- Greens boost. There is a half cup of spinach in this banana milk! Add more or less, depending on how much green you can tolerate. Spinach is mild in flavor, and the banana taste covers it up well.
- Antioxidant boost. Berries are filled with them and are super flavorful. They add a little bit of extra sweetness too! Not that it needs it, as long as you are using a nice ripe banana you will have plenty of sweet.
What does banana milk taste like?
Bananas of course! It will also take on the flavor of anything else you add, like in the boosts I suggest. However the sweetness of the bananas covers up the spinach well.
Can you make banana milk ahead of time?
You can, but it will need to be shaken up a bit because it will separate when stored for too long. I do love making it ahead of time though because it is such a great snack to grab. Here are my favorite ways to use it:
- It's a great fast way to start the day: think rushing to school and quick breakfasts.
- Perfect lunch food: freeze the night before to keep cold until lunchtime.
- Great after school snack: kids come home with a depletion of energy, perk them back up with a quick nutrient dense drink.
What to serve with banana milk
This almond banana milk is great on its own, but it is also an awesome pair to other snacks, especially if you make the base version. Here are some of my favorites:
- Vegan Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
- Healthy Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Cookies
- Vegan Breakfast Cookies
- Healthy Peanut Butter Balls
- Easy Sushi Rolls
- Veggies and this vegan ranch
How To Make Banana Milk
- Blend all ingredients.
- Serve and watch them get excited!
You can also use the single serving almond milks for an easy no measuring needed version. I like to put mine in the freezer for about 20 minutes to get them ultra cold, then pour into the blender to get an ultimate cold treat.
Vegan Almond Banana Milk (3 Ways)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 ripe banana
- 2 cups cold almond milk , I used Silk brand (see note for using raw almonds instead or how to get a thicker result)
- ⅛ teaspoon vanilla bean powder or seeds from a vanilla bean , or use ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- dash of sea salt
Optional boosts:
- 2 tablespoons peanut butter , for protein boost
- 1 tablespoon hemp seeds , for protein boost
- ½ cup spinach , for greens boost
- 1 cup fresh mixed berries , for antioxidant boost
Instructions
- Put everything in a high speed blender (including one of the optional boosts) and blend until liquified. For the antioxidant boost, you may want to strain the milk because of the berry seeds.
Notes
- To make this with almonds use 3 tablespoons raw almonds soaked overnight and 1 cup water.
- Make sure you are using a ripe banana or the milk will not be sweet. You can also add a few dates for sweetness if your bananas aren't super ripe.
- Adjust the amount of milk depending on how thin you want the end result. 1 cup milk will give you a thicker drink.
- The serving size will change if you add less milk, it will be one serving if you only add 1 cup of milk and 2 servings if you add 2 cups.
- You can also add ice if you want it to be really cold, add more ice for a smoothie version.
- Nutrition facts are for the base only, not the added boosts.
Recipe by Veggies Don’t Bite, visit our site for more great plant-based recipes.
Nutrition
Nutrition and metric information should be considered an estimate.
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Emily Kemp
I love that you can have this 3 different ways, they all sound delicious!
The Vegan 8
I've heard of a lot of people using banana milk in their cereal! These look like such fun and healthy ways to eat more bananas! You are on a silk drink posting roll lately!! I know what it is, you got that new pool and you need to keep drinking to hydrate from being out in the heat all day, I see how it is, hahaha! Such adorable photos of your boys!
veggiesdontbite
I'm pretty sure this is your favorite recipe of mine. LOL!! And yes, I am all over poolside drinks right now!
Shubha
Your kiddos are so cute:) Yes , we are big fans of Silk Almond milk too.. loved the recipes:)
veggiesdontbite
Silk is the best!!
Trinity Bourne
You have a wonderful way of making something so simple, so fab! Your kids are shining with all that delicious vegan food you are feeding them 🙂
veggiesdontbite
Awe, thank you Trinity!
Cassie Autumn Tran
I've never tried banana milk before, but I have heard very mixed reviews about it. I think if I give this idea a go, I'll absolutely adore it!
veggiesdontbite
Yes, it definitely could be bad if you don't use a ripe banana. My kids love it though so it's a win for us!
Jenn
Your kids are so dang cute! I would be slurping this up too. This is pretty much how we start all of our smoothies around here - just with less of the milk. But I do love the idea of making it into "milk" instead of a thick smoothie. More thirst quenching that way. My kids would love this too! Side note - I LOVE your purple dish towel! 🙂
veggiesdontbite
Awe, thanks Jenn!! They are such dolls (most of the time, lol). The boys loved the thinner version, even though they do love smoothies too. Funny, I don't use that towel too often because I'm usually such a plain jane photo prop girl. Thank you!
Dianne's Vegan Kitchen
This is such a fun way to get extra nutrients into your day!
veggiesdontbite
Thank goodness my kids agree!!