Vegan Banana Bread Shakes with Walnut Milk

Created by Laura Wright
5 from 1 vote

Creamy and rich vegan banana bread shakes that taste like dessert with healthy ingredients like walnuts, warming spices and cacao nibs.

An overhead shot of several banana bread shakes in slim, clear glasses on a brown paper background. Shakes are garnished with sliced banana, walnuts, and cacao nibs and finished with beige paper straws.
An head-on shot of several banana bread shakes in slim, clear glasses on a brown paper background. Shakes are garnished with sliced banana, walnuts, and cacao nibs and finished with beige paper straws.
An overhead shot of Emily Von Euw's "100 Best Juices, Smoothies & Healthy Snacks" cookbook on a brown paper background.

How’s everyone’s new year’s resolutions so far?

I know a lot of people are trying to eat a bit differently this time of year and maybe inspiration is just kind of meh around the third week of January. The enthusiasm is starting to cool a bit. I find smoothies, juices, herbal tea, and the like really help with transitioning to a feel-good mode of living. They’re just super fresh, ready quickly, and delicious!

I think Em von Euw understands what a huge role juices, shakes, and little wholesome bites can play in personal wellness! Their newest book 100 Best Juices, Smoothies and Healthy Snacks has so many vibrant and delicious ideas to keep anyone satisfied. Em’s passion for inspiring others to feel their best shines through these pages of inspired combinations and clever observations. That contagious enthusiasm will speak to the experienced and newbie health warriors alike.

I took their basic nut milk formula, using walnuts upon their recommendation, and I can tell you with certainty that it won’t be the last time I do that. I’ve made almond, cashew, macadamia, hemp, coconut, and brazil nut milk before, but this here is something special. As soon as I tasted that buttery and toasty milk, I knew I had to mix it with banana, cinnamon, vanilla, and cacao nibs for a creamy-sweet banana bread feel.

Emily’s ratio of nuts to water for homemade non-dairy milk makes for a richer texture, and with this shake it was so decadent, nourishing and perfect. Other things from the book I’m excited to try: the grapefruit mango immune booster, hippie hemp hummus, the herb happiness juice, and the dark chocolate chip, oat and hemp cookies.

If you like this smoothie, you’ll also love my Chocolate Banana Oat Breakfast Smoothie and my Peanut Butter Vanilla Green Shake.

4 photos showing the preparation of banana bread shakes. One with walnuts soaking in a ceramic bowl, One with the blended walnut milk in the blender, and two shots showing the banana bread shakes in slim clear glasses on a brown paper background.
An head-on shot of several banana bread shakes in slim, clear glasses on a brown paper background. Shakes are garnished with sliced banana, walnuts, and cacao nibs and finished with beige paper straws.
An overhead shot of several banana bread shakes in slim glasses on a brown paper background. Shakes are garnished with sliced banana, walnuts, and cacao nibs and finished with beige paper straws.

Vegan Banana Bread Shakes with Homemade Walnut Milk

Creamy and rich vegan banana bread shakes that taste like dessert with healthy ingredients like walnuts, warming spices and cacao nibs.
5 from 1 vote
raw banana bread shake // @thefirstmess
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings 2 -4

Ingredients

Walnut Milk

  • 1 cup raw walnuts, soaked for at least 4 hours
  • 3 cups filtered water

Banana Bread Shakes

  • 3 cups walnut milk
  • 2 cups sliced bananas, fresh or frozen
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 tablespoon maple syrup (optional)
  • ice (optional)
  • pinch sea salt
  • 2 tablespoons cacao nibs

Equipment

Notes

  • Walnut milk inspired by Emily Von Euw‘s 100 Best Juices, Smoothies and Healthy Snacks
  • You could definitely fill this out with a bit of protein powder and other superfood-y goodies to make this more breakfast-appropriate. It totally drinks like dessert :)

Instructions

Walnut Milk

  • Drain the soaked walnuts and place them in an upright blender. Add the filtered water to the blender. Blend the mixture on high for about 2 minutes, or until you have a fluid, creamy “milk.” Strain the milk with a fine mesh strainer over a large bowl or pitcher. Push the walnut pulp in the strainer with the back of a spoon to get all of the milk out. Pour the strained milk into a sealable container and refrigerate until ready to use.
  • The milk will separate, so just shake it every time you use it. Milk keeps in the fridge for about a week.

Banana Bread Shakes

  • In an upright blender, combine the walnut milk, sliced bananas, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla powder and maple syrup (and ice, if using). Blend on high until you have a creamy and smooth mixture. Add the cacao nibs and blend for 10 seconds more–just so that you have little cacao “chips” throughout the drink.
  • Pour the banana bread shakes into glasses and garnish with toppings if you like. Serve cold.

21/01/2015 (Last Updated 09/02/2023)
Posted in: beverage, breakfast, creamy, dessert, gluten free, grain-free, oil free, quick, raw, refined sugar-free, spring, summer, sweet, vegan, winter

290 comments

5 from 1 vote

Recipe Rating




  • CL

    I’d love a drinkable pavlova! x

  • Lynda

    How about a simple but oh-so-yummylicious ‘dark chocolate truffle’ smoothie?

  • Ursula

    I’d have to say key lime pie!

  • Jane

    I would love to drink pecan pie, chocolate chip cookies, gingerbread, or anything chocolate. But this banana bread is a must try too!

  • Melissa

    Baklava would be fabulous!

  • Lynette

    Lemon meringue pie would be my choice for drinkable dessert. Looking forward to drinking some banana bread soon, the recipe looks great!

  • Brian @ A Thought For Food

    Oh my gosh… I just don’t even make NY resolutions anymore. Why put that on myself? I’m not going to listen. Drink less? Eat better? What’s that?

    This is one awesome sounding shake. I love banana bread and could totally see those flavors in a shake. I’d go with the cheesecake smoothie as well. That just sounds so darn good.

  • Jess

    Chocolate chip cookies!!!

  • katie boyd

    First thought was tiramisu…that has many votes already, so i will have to go for baked alaska. Mostly because i think the process of creating it would be fun.

  • Becca

    A key lime pie smoothie would be a dream come true!

  • hilary

    Lemon sponge cake! Or zucchini bread/cake

  • Ashley

    I would love to see chocolate chip cookies (my all time favorite sweet treats!) Thanks so much for the giveaway!

  • Jenifer Smith

    How about Banana Foster drink:)

  • Rebecca

    I want drinkable Nutella!!

  • Jade Sheldon-Burnsed

    Give me coffee cake in drinkable form!

  • Tess Bundy

    I would love to see either carrot cake or a chocolate flourless cake in liquid form!

  • jessica z

    I would love bananas foster or creme brûlée in drinkable form

  • Laura

    I would want to see blackberry poundcake turned into s smoothie!

  • marie

    Cheesecake!

  • Christina

    Key lime pie in smoothie form would be amazing! Something sweet, sour and with a little tang (maybe with cashews added in, too?)!

  • Mary Ann

    German Chocolate Cake for sure!

  • Jaz

    Baked apple with all the fixings: dried fruit, nuts, spices and possibly some ice cream to top it off!

  • Elizabeth

    I’d love to have an apple pie smoothie!

  • Hannah

    Ooooh definitely tiramisu…or anything involving graham cracker crust goodness.

  • Rebecca

    Strawberry-Rhubarb Pie!

  • Lynette

    Butterscotch pudding!

  • Payal

    Chocolate chip coffe icecream. I could probably just let it melt.

  • jane

    I think it would be interesting to drink a cherry cheese cake.Yum!!

  • Phanie Pack

    God, I love it when I find a new recipe which i have all the ingredients for! Going to soak walnuts overnight and make tomorrow morning for me and my fam!

    What a fantastic book! I can honestly say that a fresh strawberry rhubarb ice cream smoothie would hit the spot right about now. It was a summer special a local ice cream shop Earnest Ice Cream and it was the last time they made it for the season. I’ve been in painful withdrawl ever since.

  • Kate

    I’m craving apple pie!

  • beth

    I’d love to see a vegan funfetti vanilla cake shake! (One that doesn’t use cashews – I’m allergic!) Thanks for the giveaway opportunity :)

  • Christine

    key lime pie would be delicious!

  • Allison

    Pie is my dessert weakness. Banana cream pie in smoothie form would be pretty amazing.

  • Tamara

    Strawberry rhubarb pie

  • Tina

    Not sure what I would do without my vitamix! Would love to have a drinkable sticky toffee pudding :)

  • Abby

    Carrot cake might be good, but chocolate chip cookie would be my first option. If any beverage of mine were to taste like a milkshake but also be healthy, I would be happy.

  • jeanne

    I’m with you on the banana bread, love it!

  • Cindy Karnitz

    My favorite dessert of all time is asian mango sticky rice. That combination of mango, jasmine rice and coconut milk would be amazing …

  • marie-eve

    JUST MADE IT! the whole family loved it!!!

  • Mary

    coconut macaroons dipped in dark chocolate

  • cel

    caramel rolo!

  • Aaron D.

    S’mores!

  • Tammra

    My fave, Coconut pie!

  • Becky M

    creme brulee!

  • Monika J

    Sounds awesome! I made the walnut milk. Smoothies for breakfast tomorrow!

  • Anna

    pavlova please

  • Jessie

    French Macarons!!!!!

  • Phoebe

    if your salted coconut caramel fudge brownies could be made into a smoothie, and i can pretend it’s all part of this complete breakfast, the world will be a better place.

  • Trisha

    I’d love a carrot cake, or angel food cake smoothie!

  • Alexandra

    Yum! This looks so good. I need to get a better blender. After some thought, I think a lemon vanilla cake in liquid form would be awesome.