Chocolate Banana Milkshake

Posted by laurel 25 March, 2010

The weather is finally warming up, and I’m looking forward to making more smoothies, fresh juices, and shakes again. I was craving chocolate today, so I made this yummy milkshake. It came out sooo good! Plus, it’s all natural and dairy free (no cholesterol or saturated fat). Try it out for yourself and let me know what you think! I included my homemade almond milk recipe too. You can use it in shakes, eat it with granola, or pour it in hot black tea in the morning.

Chocolate Banana Milkshake

1 cup homemade almond milk (see recipe below)
1 tsp. honey (optional)
1 heaping tbsp. cacao powder
1 heaping tbsp. almond pulp (see recipe below)
1 banana
7 or 8 ice cubes

Prepare almond milk ahead of time (recipe below). Add all the milkshake ingredients to a blender and mix until smooth. Pour in a glass and enjoy!

Tip 1: You can find cacao powder at any health food store. I use TerrAmazon’s organic cacao powder. If you don’t have a health food store close by, you can purchase cacao powder online here or here. Tip 2: This milkshake could easily be shared by two people. I had some leftovers that I’m saving in the freezer.

Homemade Almond Milk

2 cups raw almonds
6 cups water
1 tbsp. honey

Soak the almonds in a bowl filled with water overnight (at least 6 hours). In the morning, drain the water off the almonds and place them in a blender. Add 6 cups fresh water. Blend for a minute or two until smooth. Pour milk through a fine strainer or cheesecloth and save the leftover almond pulp in the refrigerator for later use. Pour the liquid milk back into the blender and add honey. Blend for a few more seconds. Store milk in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will stay fresh for about 5 days.

Tip: For added flavor, add a teaspoon of vanilla extract.

Here’s a picture of the almond pulp. I plan to use it in other shakes throughout the week. You can also use the pulp in baking (it would be perfect for a cookie recipe). Another idea is to make veggie burgers and use the almond pulp as part of the filling.