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 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.
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.
Vegan Banana Bread Shakes with Homemade Walnut Milk
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 Em Von Euw’s 100 Best Juices, Smoothies and 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.
How about chocolate peanut butter oatmeal cookies!? Yum!
Cherry pie would be my first choice! ;)
Carrot Cake smoothie?? Not a big dessert fan, but I do love carrot cake every once in a great while!
Black forest cake for sure – chocolate and cherries are a smoothie goldmine!
definitely a Reesee’s!
I am a huge fan of strawberry rhubarb pie! I really enjoy your thoughtful blog. Your writing is unique.
Wow…I wouldn’t have thought of German Chocolate cake. Sounds amazing! But until then, Banana Bread will have to do!! haha
My favorite oatmeal date cookies. Two thin wafery oatmeal cookies with date filling. This topic is good day dreaming material for the rest of the morning… Thanks :)
Almond Joy or blueberry pie… Ooh, or chocolate peanut butter brownie…
Oooooo, yummy key lime pie!
strawberry shortcake! in the 70’s I made strawberry milk for my toddler with fresh raw milk,a sprinkle of wheat germ our organic strawberries & our own honey. no vitamix then but it was still heavenly. would like a vegan/gluten free one right now-maybe hemp or bee pollen for the wheat germ.
the first dessert that jumped into my mind was carrot cake……I make my carrot cake with pineapple which would be delicious
Banana cream pie. MMM. With whipped cream, of course.
Would love serious business pineapple upside cake – maybe with a few toasted pecans on top? Mmmmmmm.
These photos are so warming and your kitchen seems so cozy in them ^_^ Btw, the shake is perfect for those gloomy mornings – oh yes, I live in Italy but we have a lot of them!
blueberry pie
I would like to try a carrot cake smoothie.
carrot cake. yum
I’d love to see birthday cake! Yum!!
Chocolate lava cake would be awesome in a drinkable smoothie
Wow! You’re photography really is inspiring me to go make this shake for breakfast! How about a red velvet cake smoothie? I would love to try making a quick fix velvet cake for vegans! Thanks for your delicious recipes.
Black forest cake, absolutely.
Cherry cheesecake would be delish!
Back forest cheesecake. Yum!!
raspberries
Chocolate chip cookies! Love my vitamix.
Carrot Cake (WITH frosting…frosting is key!)
Gingerbread pumpkin trifle. Yum!
Oh this sounds delicious! I’d love a drinkable carrot cake :) and I think this walnut milk would go great in that. Can’t wait to give this a go!
I love your “resolution.” And I’m pretty excited to try out that app. Also…This shake! Walnut milk is incredible — have you tried making pecan milk? Divine, I tell you. Absolutely divine.
A vegan version of french silk pie would be tops.
a baklava smoothie!
My family uses walnuts to fill the phyllo, so I’d imagine walnut milk would work nicely in a baklava smoothie.
I always loved the pumpkin pie frosty at dairy queen and now that I have given up dairy and processed foods I really miss that taste.
I would love to try a carrot cake smoothie!
Rhubarb and strawberry tart… or black forest gateau…sweet and sour please!
mint chocolate chip brownies… yum ;)
A Key Lime pie smoothie sounds pretty good to me… tart and creamy at the same time.
I’m a big fan of rice pudding for dessert, that would be doable I think.
Peanut butter blondies would make a great smoothie!
Would love to see a tiramisu.
White chocolate chunk cookie dough omg.
Aaahh, it looks so pretty and yummy, love your photos Laura. I’ve also been making all kinds of nut milks for a while, but have never tried to make it with walnut. Now I’m definitely adding it to my to-do list, thanks for inspiration :)
i would like a refreshing key lime pie in drinkable form…a little tart and a little sweet.
I’d love tiramisu in drinkable form. Chocolate chip cookie would be good too!
Tiramisu please
Liquid peanut butter cheesecake of course!!!
chocolate chip cookies (in a vegan drinkable form!)
A dessert in smoothie form….carrot cake, for sure and certain :)
the day someone invents a truly amazing tiramisu smoothie will be one of the greatest days of my life
The dessert I would love to see in drinkable form = Butterscotch Blondies.
Definitely apple crumble!