The Date Shake, AKA the unofficial drink of Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley!
Date palm trees grow throughout the world, and dates have been harvested and eaten for thousands of years. With symbolic meanings in Muslim, Jewish, and Christian religions, dates are a hot commodity around the world, and are typically eaten whole, used as a filling or topping, baked into breads and cakes, squeezed into honey or syrup, or fermented in vinegar or alcohol.
The date palm likely originated in the Fertile Crescent, encompassing regions of modern-day Egypt, Mesopotamia, and surrounding areas, and has been cultivated for thousands of years. Date palms were introduced to California in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as part of efforts to cultivate new crops in North America. In 1927, plant explorers brought six offshoots of Medjool date palms from a Moroccan oasis to California, which became the foundation for the thriving date industry in the Coachella Valley today.
Dates are withered and sun-baked, but bite into one and you’ll get a deliciously flavorful burst of sweetness. Naturally sweet, dates do not need sugar, syrup, or any other added sweetener. Rich and filling, dates are more than just a snack, and when combined with almond milk, peanut butter, bananas, and chia seeds, you have a breakfast of champions in your hands; an energy bar in liquid form!
Is a Date Shake Healthy?
Dairy-free and preservative-free, this date shake recipe packs a punch with its health benefits. For starters, dates are high in fiber and antioxidants, and they also promote brain health. Almond milk is low in calories and high in Vitamin D, and is a great silky smooth milk alternative. Chia seeds are full of fiber alongside bananas, and peanut butter is loaded with healthy fats.
The History of the Date Shake
Popularized by local establishments like Shields Date Garden and Hadley’s Fruit Orchards since the 1930s, this creamy concoction typically combines dates, vanilla ice cream, and milk, creating a rich and sweet treat that’s perfect for cooling off in the desert heat.
Inspired by stories of Middle Eastern nomads who relied on dates and goat milk as staples, Coachella locals embraced the region’s burgeoning date industry and experimented with incorporating dates into new recipes. This experimentation eventually gave rise to the now-iconic date shake.
Today, date shakes are not just a local delicacy, but have become an iconic symbol of the Coachella Valley, often enjoyed by tourists and locals alike during events like the Riverside County Fair and Coachella Music Festival.
How to Make Ahead and Store
Date shakes can be made ahead of time, up to 24 hours in advance. Make sure to take the pits out of the dates ahead of preparation. The finished product can be stored in an airtight container in the freezer; when ready to enjoy, remove and leave at room temperature for 30 minutes or so to thaw.
Serving Suggestions
Date shakes are a power breakfast, or a quick lunch on the go, or even a filling snack.
To use up the rest of your dates, try these Date Energy Balls. For a fruit side, try this Fruit Soup. To top off your shake, try some Strawberry Whipped Cream. For more power shakes, try this Strawberry Protein Shake or this Peanut Butter Chocolate Protein Shake.
Ingredients
- 2 large bananas frozen and cubed
- 4 Medjool dates pitted
- 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons chia seeds
- 2 tablespoons natural peanut butter
Instructions
- Place bananas, dates, almond milk, cinnamon, chia seeds, and peanut butter into a high-speed blender.
- Blend on high for 2 to 4 minutes or until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
- Check the consistency. If the shake is too thick, add a little more almond milk and blend again.
- Pour the shake into glasses and serve immediately.
Nutrition Info:
Recipes written and produced on Food Faith Fitness are for informational purposes only.
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