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When your sweet tooth strikes, this cinnamon date smoothie is your secret weapon. Naturally sweet from medjool dates, creamy with non-dairy milk, and packed with satisfying oats, it’s like sipping a cinnamon roll—without the sugar crash. Not a fan of dates? You won’t even notice once it’s blended into this dreamy, dessert-like treat.
Why This Recipe Rawks
If you’ve ever wanted a sweet smoothie that actually does your body good, this one’s for you. It’s powered by dates—nature’s candy with benefits. Not only do they bring a rich, caramel-like sweetness, but they also deliver fiber, potassium, and long-lasting energy. Here are a few reasons this cinnamon date smoothie is a total win:
- Tastes like dessert: With warm cinnamon, sweet medjool dates, and a splash of vanilla, it’s basically a cinnamon roll in a glass—without the sugar crash.
- Ridiculously easy: Just toss everything in the blender and go. No chopping, peeling, or fancy ingredients.
- Naturally sweet: Medjool dates bring that rich, caramel-like sweetness—no need for added sugar. Plus, dates offer good-for-you dietary fiber, creating lasting energy without the crashes often associated with other sweeteners. Use any leftover dates in my Chocolate Covered Dates recipe.
- Actually filling: Rolled oats add a creamy texture and fiber boost, helping to keep you full longer.
Ingredients You’ll Need
This cinnamon date smoothie may be simple to make, but knowing exactly what to look for can make your shopping trip a breeze—and your smoothie even better.
- Medjool dates: Look for these in the produce section near the bananas or in the refrigerated area with dried fruits. They’re soft, sweet, and caramel-like—perfect for smoothies or snacking.
- Rolled oats: Find these in the cereal or baking aisle. Be sure to grab rolled oats (sometimes labeled as old-fashioned oats), not steel-cut or quick oats, for the best texture. If you want a smoother blend, soak them in water for 10–15 minutes before blending.
- Ground cinnamon & vanilla extract: Check the spice and baking aisle. Go for pure vanilla extract or use vanilla bean powder, not imitation, for the best flavor. Cinnamon adds that warm, cozy cinnamon roll vibe with zero added sugar.
- Non-dairy milk: Head to the refrigerated section or the shelf-stable milk aisle. Check out Best Almond Milk Brands and Best Oat Milk Brands to help you find a winner. Bonus if it says “no added sugar” and has 5+ grams of protein per serving.
- Protein powder: This is optional, but a simple way to add more protein in your diet and help you stay full longer. Try adding my homemade protein powder or a scoop of collagen—or both!
Storage Tip
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.
If you make this Date Smoothie recipe, I’d love to hear how it turned out in the comment box below. Your feedback helps me and all the readers in this community. And if you’re interested in more plant-based recipes (and exclusive content), sign up for my weekly recipe newsletter.
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 cup ice optional
Instructions
- Blend rolled oats until powdery. I do this in my Vitamix blender. (You can also pre-soak the oats in 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.
- Pour into a glass with ice. Since we’re not using any frozen fruit in this cinnamon date smoothie, the ice chills it down a bit.
Equipment
Video
Notes
- Remove date pits before blending— I learned this hard way.
- Add a serving of my homemade protein powder or collagen for a protein boost.
- Ice can be added to blender, yet blades tend to dull over time when blending ice, so I like to pour the smoothie over ice to chill it down.
- Soak dates if they’re dry and brittle. Soaking in warm water for 10-15 minutes will soften them, making it easier for your blender to get it creamy.
- Watching sugar? Start with just one date and add more as needed to achieve your desired level.
Nutrition
Common Questions
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.Additionally, dates are rich in potassium, which aids in muscle recovery, making them ideal for pre- or post-workout smoothies.
Medjool dates are the best kind to use in smoothies. They’re naturally soft, sweet, and have a rich, caramel-like flavor that blends beautifully. Unlike other dates that can be drier or tougher (like Deglet Noor), Medjool dates are moist and easy to blend—no soaking required in most cases. Just be sure to remove the pits before tossing them in!
I suggested adding 1 to 3 dates to a smoothie, depending what other fruits you’re using and how sweet you like it. Begin with one, blend, and taste—then add more if needed. It’s easier to sweeten gradually than to tone it down if it gets too sugary.
More Smoothies with Dates To Try
Enjoying dates in your smoothie? I have a whole collection of date smoothie recipes for you to enjoy:
I thought this would be another favorite but it lacked creaminess.
Daughter rated it a 4 for flavor but said it did not resemble a milk shake. Husband gave it a 1.
I added tsp of raw honey and scoop of vital protein to mine and that helped but definitely not a milk shake. Did not do ice cuz thought that would dilute it. Thought about 4 dates at the beginning but didn’t want it too sweet (wish I had now) and adding an extra one after most of ingredients mixed … it would not get chopped up well so that’s why I did honey.
I’m loving all these I have even told my daughter about this to help her get the greens into my 4year old granddaughter and she made the melon 1 and said she loved it xx
Taste like a cinnamon roll. Love this smoothie. A definite remake
Very tasty and filling.
Love it!
Both my husband and I really like this one. The only thing we did different is we added a few more dates.
I enjoyed this a lot. Added SGS protein powder to be more filling
Love the taste, cinnamon and vanilla and oats so yummy. I have never had dates, but this is really delicious. I only don’t love the texture of this smoothie. Texture is one reason I don’t like a lot of things, which is truly why I’m doing this challenge, to get more good nutritious fruits and veggies I don’t normally like. So far I’ve really gone out of my comfort zone….prefer the fruity smoothies which is such a surprise to me!
Had to substitute prunes for the dates because our neighborhood store didn’t have any dates. Couldn’t get a good consistency, finally added vanilla protein powder and it was finally good enough.
This recipe was ok, however I prefer the fruity smoothies.
Tasty, but grainy texture. I swapped barley in place of the oats due to allergy and only had coconut cream available since I can’t use almond milk, added extra 1/4 tsp of vanilla (I make my own and it is soooo much better than the store version) and blended with an additional cup of ice. I gather from other reviews that the oats also leave a grainy texture. Also upped it to a full meal with collagen proteins. I would make this again, but not my first choice.
This was a delicious and filling smoothie. It reminded me more of my overnight oats than a cinnamon roll. I used oat milk and only 1/2 a teaspoon of cinnamon per serving. After reading other suggestions, I soaked my dates in the oat milk. I would suggest soaking them for several hours or even over night. Also, this was not very cold, so you might want to make it and let it chill before drinking. Of course, you could put it over ice as the directions suggested.
Loved this recipe.
Not quite what I though it would be. A little thick. I will make this again with a few alterations.
It was very runny and not really a “smoothie.” The oatmeal also gave it a grainy taste. Maybe if the ice was blended into the drink, rather than the drink poured over it, it would help to hide the texture. The flavor itself wasn’t bad, but with the thin consistency, all of the oatmeal powder settled to the bottom of the glass and made for a very thick final drink. I’d skip this one.
Oh wow! This was surprisingly good and felt like drinking a milkshake! The cinnamon in there was delicious!!
I’ve made this right before I have to play softball, so put protein into it for a light dinner. I really enjoyed it. Now to win a softball game. 🙂