Earthy nutty matcha, vibrantly fresh mint, caramely dates, and smooth creamy coconut combine into a morning mint matcha milkshake worthy of breakfast or dessert.
Matcha March isn't over yet just because St. Patrick's Day has come and gone - it may have been the initial impetus for the month-long theme, but it was really just an excuse. In reality, I forgot to wear green on St. Patrick's Day. Between me and the baby, our March 17th green game was zilch. Fortunately, strangers don't pinch grown adults.
I pinched Zo though - have you see those cheeks?
We're back with one last Matcha March recipe - a morning pick-me-up in the form of a mint matcha milkshake. Go ahead and call it a matcha smoothie (I know you want to), but trust me, this is so much creamier and dreamier than your average smoothie. It's rich, thick, and tastes way too sinful for breakfast, surely.
How to chill a smoothie without Ice
There's no ice, which tends to water down the flavor in smoothies and make them less creamy. Without the ice, and without adding actual ice cream (even though, let's be real, I want to eat ice cream for breakfast), I needed something to thicken and chill the milkshake - something that wouldn't overwhelm the matcha like bananas would. So I froze coconut milk in an ice cube tray, which kept the things thick and velvety, while chilling it down at the same time.
How to make a matcha smoothie
Earthy nutty matcha with vibrantly fresh mint and smooth creamy coconut combine into a milkshake worthy of breakfast or dessert. The handful of chia seeds and oatmeal thicken things up the longer it sits, keeping the milkshake from separating in the fridge. That's right, leftover milkshakes chilled in the fridge! Make-ahead magic.
While completely optional, the cocoa nibs on top make this taste like a mint chocolate chip milkshake, which is also totally magic.
Recipe
Ingredients
- 2¼ cups canned lite coconut milk, stirred, divided
- ½ cup water
- 12 dates, pitted
- ½ cup oats
- 20 fresh mint leaves
- 4 teaspoons high-quality matcha powder
- 2 tablespoon coconut oil
- 2 tablespoon chia seeds
- 1 teaspoon flax seeds
- ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 5.4 ounce can coconut cream, chilled for 24 hours (for whipped coconut cream)
- ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1-2 tablespoons cacao nibs
INSTRUCTIONS
- Do ahead: Pour 1¾ cups of the coconut milk (about 1 can) into an ice cube tray and let chill at least 4 hours or overnight, until solid.
- Pour boiling water over the dates and let sit for 5 minutes to loosen them up. Rinse with cool water and drain well.
- In a blender, combine the coconut milk cubes with the remaining ½ cup coconut milk, drained dates, and the rest of the ingredients. Blend until completely smooth. Divide between two cups (or store half in a sealed jar in the fridge for up to 48 hours).
- If making whipped coconut, transfer only the solidified cream off the top of the chilled coconut cream can into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Whisk on medium-high speed until it begins to thicken. Add the vanilla extract, and continue whipping until stiff peaks form. Spoon this over the top of the milkshake just before serving.
- Sprinkle with cacao nibs and serve with a thick straw.
movewithjanine -
Sarah I love this! Freezing coconut milk is brilliant and the color....I mean it's almost too pretty to drink. Amazing!
Traci | Vanilla And Bean -
A breakfast of champions, Sarah! Freezing coconut milk - FTW! I do this too with espresso in the summer. It makes all the different in rich, thick smoothies! Your photography workshop sounds incredible - a dream team at a beautiful location! So excited for you, Sarah! :D
Kiran @ KiranTarun.com -
I am loving all the matcha recipes here. Need this milkshake in my life, stat!
Em -
You know I love ALL OF THIS, but that frozen coconut milk tip is tops and so pretty in the blender!!
Rachael @ Rachael's Foodie Life -
Just wow!! These look and sounds incredible, and frezing coconut milk? GENIUS!!!
Denisse | Le Petit Eats -
I have so much matcha to use up because I accidentally bought some not knowing there was some already hanging out in my cupboard- thinking I need to make this yummy shake a regular breakfast to help me get through it all!
Allyson (Considering The Radish) -
Coconut milk and mint and matcha sounds like such a delicious combination. This sounds like it gives the heft of a smoothie while getting to drink a milkshake for breakfast.
Bethany @ Athletic Avocado -
These milkshakes blow my morning smoothies out of the water! Wow so thick and creamy and pretty! Love the mint-matcha combo :)
Karen @ The Food Charlatan -
dude! coconut ice cubes!! I'm coming over so you can make me this :)
Carla -
New job for you: make me breakfast milkshakes every morning. You're hired.
Aysegul Sanford -
Ooooh I love the idea of freezing coconut milk and using it as ice cubes later on. I might steel that idea. :))
These photos and this recipe - SO DREAMY my friend.
Hope all is well. Cheers!
Nanna -
Could you please include caloric content of your recipes? They sound great, but fattening...
Sarah Menanix -
Unfortunately I don't include nutritional information for my recipes because the specific ingredients people use can vary so much but also because that's not how I eat. In my life, I focus on balance and moderation, and calories don't give a complete picture of nutrition especially when plenty of healthy fats, fiber, and natural sugars are involved. If that something that matters to you then I have included a link to a nutritional calculator in my FAQ! Hope this helps!
amanda paa -
freezing coconut milk into ice cubes. genius.
janet -
Very good news for a person who can't eat bananas, this frozen coconut milk notion.