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Why You’ll Love This Date Smoothie Recipe
When your sweet tooth hits, you’re gonna want to blend this cinnamon date smoothie. It’s delicious without the guilt, thanks to the natural sweetness from the medjool dates, protein from plant-based milk and complex carbs from the rolled oats. If you’re not a date fan, no worries— this date smoothie recipe will take care of that at first sip.
Ingredients You’ll Need
It’s amazing the delicious and nutritious treats you can create in a blender. If you’re trying to eat better and lose weight, a smoothie is a great way to combat craving while helping you stay full and satisfied. All you need are a few pantry staples to create this Cinnamon Date Smoothie:
- Medjool dates: I’m using Natural Delights pitted Medjool Dates, which are grown in the beautiful, sun-drenched Bard Valley, grown with the help of the Lower Colorado River. Dates are a natural sweetener, bringing sweetness and nutrients to the smoothie.
Fun fact: dates pack in 16 essential vitamins, minerals and disease-fighting antioxidants. - Rolled oats: Adds the fiber and whole grains to the date smoothie recipe, which keeps you full. You can soak the oats ahead of time to remove the gritty texture while still making it a fiber-rich smoothie.
- Ground cinnamon and vanilla extract: These spices give it the flavor of a cinnamon roll without any harmful artificial ingredients.
- Non-dairy milk: I like to use oat milk or almond milk in this recipe. Read the labels to make sure they don’t contain added sugars. Some brands will even be higher in protein, which is a great option.
- Protein powder: This is optional, but a great way to add more protein in your diet and help you stay full longer. I like to use my homemade protein powder.
How to Make Cinnamon Date Smoothie
- Blend rolled oats until powdery. I do this in my Vitamix blender. You can also pre-soak the oats in the non dairy milk to soften them up and blend them with the liquid first, creating a fiber-rich smoothie.
- Add dates, non dairy milk, vanilla extract, and cinnamon to the blender, and blend again. Make sure your dates have already been pitted, or pit them yourself before adding to the blender.
- Pour into a glass containing 1 cup ice. Since we’re not using any frozen fruit in this cinnamon date smoothie, it requires ice to chill it down a bit. On a cold day, you can also serve this warm.
Date Smoothie Storage Tip
You can store any leftover cinnamon date smoothie in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 24 hours. Before drinking, make sure to shake it well, as the ingredients may naturally separate. For the best texture, consider blending it again for a few seconds to bring back the creamy consistency.
Health Benefits of Dates in Smoothies
- Dates offer natural sugars paired with good-for-you dietary fiber, ensuring a steady release of energy to power you through your day. This combination provides lasting energy without the crashes often associated with other sweeteners.
- Rich in potassium, dates contain 50% more potassium by weight than bananas, which helps with muscle recovery and enhances workout performance.
- As an excellent natural smoothie sweetener, dates support sustained energy and contribute to overall health.
Cinnamon Date Smoothie Tips
- Soak your dates if they are dry by placing them in warm water for 10-15 minutes to soften, which will result in a smoother texture.
- Remove your date pits before blending (I learned this hard way).
- Adjust sweetness by starting with fewer dates and adding more as needed to achieve your desired level.
- Customize your milk by experimenting with different non-dairy options like almond, oat, or coconut milk to find the best flavor for your smoothie.
- Add a boost with a scoop of your favorite plant-based protein powder or a tablespoon of chia seeds for extra nutrition.
- Serve immediately to experience the optimal texture and flavor. If storing in fridge, shake well before drinking as ingredients may settle.
Common Questions
To make a date shake recipe, blend pitted dates with non-dairy milk, ice, and a touch of vanilla extract. You can also add blended oats with dates for extra fiber and cinnamon for a warm, spicy flavor. The result is a creamy, naturally sweet shake recipe that’s perfect as a nutritious dessert or post-workout snack.
Yes, dates are an excellent addition to smoothies. They provide natural sweetness, are packed with dietary fiber, and help sustain energy levels throughout the day. Medjool dates in smoothies also add a caramel-like flavor when blended, making them a healthier alternative to processed sweeteners.
Absolutely! Dates are not only good in smoothies but are also a nutritious sweetener. They offer a combination of natural sugars and dietary fiber, which helps provide lasting energy without the crash. Additionally, dates are rich in potassium, which aids in muscle recovery, making them ideal for pre- or post-workout smoothies.
To blend dates in a smoothie, first ensure that they are pitted. For a smoother consistency, you can soak the dates in warm water for a few minutes before blending. Then add them to your blender along with your chosen liquid base (like non-dairy milk) and other ingredients. Blend until smooth, and enjoy a naturally sweet, nutrient-packed smoothie.
8 More Date Recipes To Try
Starting to crave more sweet things, like this cinnamon date smoothie? Look no further than these smoothies and snacks that use dates as a natural sweetener:
Cinnamon Date Smoothie
Ingredients
- ½ cup rolled oats
- 3 medjool dates pitted
- 1 ½ cups dairy-free milk ex: cashew, almond, or oat
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 serving homemade protein powder optional
- 1 cup ice optional
Instructions
- Blend oats until powdery.
- Add dates, non dairy milk, vanilla extract, and cinnamon to blender, and blend again.
- Pour into a glass containing 1 cup ice, for an extra cold beverage.
Equipment
Video
Notes
- Ice can be added to blender at blending stage, yet blades tend to dull over time when blending ice, so we like to add it to our drinking glass.
- If you prefer no ice in this smoothie, yet still want it to be cold, then place in freezer for 30 minutes before serving.
- Use the dairy-free milk of your choice.
- Swap homemade protein powder for unflavored collagen.
This was delicious
I always forget I can use oats in the smoothie. We love granola on top of them. Thanks for the reminder. Kids love dates but have never had them in smoothies great idea.
This sounds delicious. I love dates!
YUMMMMM – we have been enjoying just plain dates and this combination sounds so delicious! Thank you for sharing as you continue to learn and create new combinations! Lifelong learning is so important!
This looks delicious! A few months ago, I discovered Medjool dates in a shop in a neighbouring village here in Crete, Greece. So happy I no longer have to drive 30+ minutes to get them in a larger city, especially with the current lockdown. I love dates but use them sparingly. If I’m really craving something sweet, I sometimes take a single date and savour it slowly. Yum!
Oh my goodness – same! Love eating one date to satisfy that sweet tooth. So glad you’ve discovered them!
Love the cinnamon and dates! What an easy healthy treat!
Totally agree! Yummy!!
All the ingredients are so simple and have them all on hand every day. I am going to try this smoothie today for breakfast. I also like the tip of skipping the ice and popping it into the freezer.
So glad it will be an easy grab-and-blend smoothie for you Chandana! Be sure to come back and let us know what you think… 🙂
I just love dates and adding them to anything makes it special for me. Cinnamon is also one of those special ingredients for me. I was told my cholesterol is a bit high so that’s my go to.
Great work. Keep it up.
Awesome way to use foods to heal Stephanie!
This sounds delicious and I’m going to try is warm to go along with my seasonal eating! And so nice to learn about a Natural Delights!!
Not just saying this… Seriously the best dates I’ve ever tried (and this isn’t Jen typing – lol). You will love them! And great idea to try it warm – def check back in the comments and let us know how it was. 🙂
This smoothie looks like a great mid morning snack! Great idea
Yum! Good idea Lisa.
I’ve been craving something to replace my bedtime Cinnamon Toast Crunch bowl so I’m hoping this will do the trick! Looks delicious and filling with the oats. Love all the nutrients dates provide!
This is so perfect for that Holly! We’re so excited you’re gonna make that healthy swap for yourself. Rawk on!
I love dates! I did not know how to incorporate them into a smoothie. This recipe looks delicious!
Dates are a great way to sweeten any smoothie naturally. We know you’re gonna love this Carol!
This looks delicious! Thanks for the recipe! I am going to buy some dates.
Carolyn, it’s seriously so yummy. We know you’ll enjoy!
I am thinking of trying this with the homemade elderberry syrup too
Hi Jo! Great idea! Let us know what you think of it after you do… 🙂
Very easy and tasty smoothie. What would you recommend as replacement to oats?
Great question Natalie! The oats are acting like a flour here to thicken the smoothie (and provide some good fiber!), so you can swap them out for quinoa flakes or almond flour instead if needed.
Wow this looks great. I love dates especially as I have family in the Middle East and grew up on them. I currently don’t have dates at home but wondering if I could use date syrup substituting dates.
Thank you for the recipe
Also can I use quick/old fashioned oats instead of rolled oats? 🙂
Yes, any type of oats will work, since we are grinding them into a flour-type consistency here.