Banana Milk

Before oat milk became a grocery staple, there was banana milk. One ripe banana, a cup of water, and optional vanilla in a blender. That’s it. The banana naturally sweetens and thickens the drink into something silky enough to use in cereal, coffee, or a smoothie base.

It’s fully dairy-free and vegan with no added sugar, and it costs almost nothing to make. The riper the banana, the sweeter and more intensely flavored the milk will be.

Vanilla is listed as optional, but it rounds out the banana flavor and keeps the drink from tasting too starchy. Worth adding.

Kitchen Tips

• Use a very ripe banana. Spotted or even heavily brown bananas give the most flavor and natural sweetness.
• Blend on high for at least 30 seconds until completely smooth. A partially blended banana leaves small fiber bits that settle at the bottom.
• Serve immediately or shake well before drinking. Like homemade almond milk, this separates as it sits.

Variations

• Add a pinch of cinnamon for a warm, spiced banana milk.
• Blend with a teaspoon of cocoa powder for a chocolate banana milk.
• Use as a base in smoothies instead of regular dairy milk.