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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.
I really liked this one. Cinnamon is a favorite of mine so that helped. The smell of the cinnamon just made a great start to the day. Unfortunately, I thought I bought dates with the putts removed and didn’t check them. Lesson learned. I thought the combination of adding the oats was interesting and I might have to try that with some other recipes in the future. It wasn’t as thick as I thought it would be but I did add some ice when I blended it.
I’ve never had a date smoothie before and this one is so good! Thanks so much for sharing this recipe!
I love this smoothie I actually had this for dessert. To me I thought it was filling
This is delicious! Question. Where does the sodium in this recipe come from?
The sodium in your smoothie may vary depending on your plant-based milk. If the sodium level is of a concern for you, do read the labels of plant-based milk and go with the one with the lowest sodium content.
I wanted to try from this list of smoothies, i could not find the word healthy anywhere.I then went to the nutriton an was blown away at sugar an carbs.The list looks very good but not for healthy an diet. must keep looking.
This one is def meant to be a dessert smoothie for sure, Kenneth! We have lots of green smoothies that are much lower in sugar. Be sure to check out our Lower Sugar Fruits for Smoothies for some good ideas.
Jan—
You were right; it is delicious.
It’s like a cinnamon roll but good for you! SOOO good!
This tastes like a cinnamon roll!
Wow, I just inhaled my breakfast! When I made this smoothie, I subbed in the following ingredients:
1/4 tsp of cinnamon instead of 2 tsp (next time I will try 1/2 tsp)
1/2 frozen banana in place of 1/2 c up of ice
added 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
handful of pistachios
1/2 tsp maple syrup
The rest was per the recipe. It came out great! Next time I’ll try soaking the dates and blending those first because my Vitamix has trouble with them being so sticky and fibrous.
Thanks for the great recipe!
Really cool swaps and additions, Jessica! Love that Greek yogurt for the added protein and creaminess. Keep us posted on how the soaked dates go. 🙂
I used quick oats instead of rolled oats (it’s all I had) and the grain kind of stayed in the back of my throat. I used 1/2 teaspoon less cinnamon than called for and it was a bit much for me. This one is a pass for me though I love your other smoothies. Thank you for posting something new for us to try!
Thanks for giving it a blend, Lori! We’ve had other say that they liked it better when they blended the milk and oats together really well first, as it made for a smoother smoothie (say that three times fast!). Might be cool to try it again using that tip, plus a bit less cinnamon. Either way, we love that you love our other smoothies! 🙂
Add a couple of frozen bananas and less almond milk makes a great soft ice cream
What a delish suggestion Debra!!! Perfect as the weather starts to warm up.
I used this recipe as a base and then added frozen banana and about 2T leftover pumpkin purée since I had to finish up a can. Wow, it was so good!
Creative upgrade Colleen!! Love!
Tastes really good but a little chalky. I use a Nutribullet so maybe it didn’t ground the rolled oats enough.
Thanks for giving it a blend Anthony! Maybe try a bit more milk or a dif milk next time to see if that helps the consistency for you. 🙂
This recipe sounds yummy. With Medjool dates and oatmeal, how could it be NOT be delicious??? I am anxious to try it.
A creamy and delicious sweet treat! If you like cinnamon, you will love this!
I had to use soy milk as nuts aren’t safe for us. The end result was very liquidy. I was tempted to add a banana but usually try a recipe as written first. Next time I’ll add a banana for smoothness. I’ll also add flax meal, hemp hearts, and chia seeds for a nutritional boost. Thanks for sharing this recipe.
So awesome Colleen! Love that you are making great swaps for your family. Def keep us all posted on how your options work out!