Cashew Butter Banana Date Smoothie

… aka Dreamy Green Date Shake!

Okay, I accidentally just created dessert for lunch. I was looking for a quick-fix lunch so I could keep working on a post I was elbow-deep in the middle of. I decided a healthy, gluten-free, dairy-free smoothie or green shake would do just fine. I pulled out my high-speed blender (though I’m sure a regular blender works just fine because that’s all I used to own), and threw in the first things that popped out in front of me … banana, cashew butter, dates, and almond milk. I’ve been trying to get in more greens for the fiber and antioxidants so I tossed in a large handful of spinach leaves and a likewise amount of fresh, deep green kale (psst … there’s no spinach or kale flavor, but you can leave it out if you’re not looking to do greens).

Whizz … bam … pow … oh my goodness, it’s dessert for lunch. This combo is sooo good! Much like if you take a banana, slather it in honey nut butter, and pop it in the freezer for a few minutes. That’s a healthy and delicious snack or dessert, right? Well, we’ve gotta place this gluten-free, dairy-free Cashew Butter Banana Date Smoothie right up there in the healthy but YUM category as well. This can also be a vegan recipe if your nut butter doesn’t contain honey as mine does.

I’ll be making this again. Oh yeah! Very soon! As I always say, “Safe food is a journey … Thrive!” Oh, we’re thriving!

Gluten-free Dairy-free Cashew Butter Banana Date Smoothie

Prep time: 5 minutes

Cooking time: none

Makes: 1 8-ounce serving

Ingredients:

3 medjool dates, pitted

½ medium banana

2 huge scoops (probably about 2-3 Tablespoons) cashew butter – I used homemade

½-2/3 cup unsweetened almond milk

4-5 non-dairy milk ice cubes

½ to 1 cup organic baby spinach leaves, optional

½ to 1 cup organic kale leaves, spines removed, optional

Directions:

Place all ingredients in blender. Blend on very low speed, then gradually increase to highest speed and blend until smooth and ingredients are well combined. Pour, drink, and bask in the yumminess! (And don’t share!)

Safe food is a journey … Thrive!™

Other recipes you might enjoy:

Non-Dairy Milk Ice Cubes

Mocha Almond Shake

Macadamia Coffee Green Smoothie