This thick, creamy smoothie is like a grown-up peanut butter banana milkshake. It is naturally vegan & gluten free and almost tastes like drinking melted ice cream. I mean, really, how could you say no to that? 
Plus, there are only 6 ingredients in this simple smoothie:
Tahini adds a slightly bitter flavor and super creamy texture. If you’ve never tried tahini before, it’s sort of like grown-up peanut butter, with a more complex, distinct flavor from sesame seeds. It is also super nutritious; it contains 5 of the B vitamins, plus iron, calcium, potassium, fiber, and protein.
Dates give this smoothie it’s extra sweet, caramel-like flavor. Dates are also known to have more potassium than bananas, and to help lower blood sugar levels.
Frozen Banana gives the smoothie it’s cold, frothy texture. It also provides a creaminess that you just don’t get from fresh bananas. Among its long list of nutrients, I particularly love bananas for their feel-good properties. They contain tryptophan, which your body converts to serotonin, making you feel more happy, calm and relaxed. Depressed? Try a few bananas! (JK-see your Doctor. But also maybe eat a couple extra nanners too?)
Cinnamon is behind the warm, earthy, spicy flavors in this smoothie. Did you know cinnamon is also linked to lowering blood sugar and LDL (aka bad) cholesterol? Apparently, it’s scent also boosts brain activity, so you may want to start sniffing cinnamon more often. ? Cinnamon is truly a superfood, with an extensive list of health benefits. You can find 30 health benefits of cinnamon here, and revel in the sweet, spicy, comforting flavor of this healthy powder. 
All that’s left to add into your blender is a splash of vanilla extract and a cup of your favorite milk. Blend it all up and you’ve got a vitamin-packed super smoothie that makes for the perfect anytime snack. I particularly love it after I’m outside on a hot day when a frosty, creamy, melted-ice-cream-like drink is exactly what I’m craving. It’s also a welcome drink along side a muffin or scone for breakfast. 
I think you’re going to love this thick, tahini-infused smoothie as much as I do. If you try it out, let me know! Tag me #bakedgreens on Instagram so I can see your smoothies, or comment below to let me know how it turns out!
Tahini, Banana & Date Smoothie
Ingredients
- 1 frozen banana
- 2 medjool dates soak in warm water to soften if dates are very hard
- 2 Tablespoons tahini
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup milk of choice I used coconut milk, choose your favorite
Instructions
- 1. Add all ingredients to a blender and blend until fully pureed. In my Vitamix this takes about 1 minute, but it may take 2-3 minutes in a standard blender to get the dates completely pulverized. Pour into a glass, and drink! This smoothie is best when freshly made, though will last up to 24 hours in the fridge.