I remember making this date smoothie the day before I gave birth to Sidney. Tony and I were bored out of our freaking minds, and I wanted to make something with dates because I had heard that they were a great way to naturally induce labor and shorten labor time. Not sure if that’s an old wives’ tale because my labor was 36 hours, but I digress.
I whipped up this tahini date smoothie and immediately knew it had to go on the blog. It’s OUTRAGEOUSLY DELICIOUS, slightly nutty thanks to tahini, and reminded me of my brown butter snickerdoodle cookies that are infused with sweet vanilla and cinnamon flavor. I couldn’t get enough!
Wanna know the crazy part though? There’s a secret veggie hiding inside that you won’t even taste or see. I promise! This smoothie is nut-free, high in fiber, and packed with fruit and veggies — making it perfect for you OR the kiddos!
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Ingredients in this date smoothie recipe
While I’m a big fan of bananas in smoothies, this tahini date smoothie recipe is made without banana and is still perfectly sweet and delicious thanks to dates. It’s easy, creamy, and a great fiber-rich breakfast or afternoon snack to make. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Medjool dates: be sure to remove the pit or buy pitted Medjool dates. These will sweeten the smoothie!
- Milk: I prefer almond milk to keep the smoothie dairy-free and vegan, but light coconut milk would also be delicious.
- Frozen cauliflower: you read that right! The frozen cauliflower gives this date smoothie the perfect, thick texture, plus a boost of fiber to help you feel satisfied.. You will not be able to taste it — promise!
- Tahini: a wonderful nut-free option that adds a delicious creaminess to the smoothie. I love this brand!
- Flavor boosters: the combination of vanilla and cinnamon gives the smoothie that true snickerdoodle cookie flavor.
- Toppings: make a yummy smoothie bowl or just top your glass with a drizzle of tahini, sprinkle of cinnamon, and your fav granola (or try my best-ever homemade granola recipe!)
Simple ingredient swaps
As with any smoothie recipe, there are tons of ways to make this your own!
- Try a new seed or nut butter: feel free to swap the tahini for cashew butter or peanut butter! Any nut or seed butter will work well and add creaminess.
- Choose your milk: you can use any milk you’d like in this smoothie — dairy or non-dairy.
- Add extra cookie flavor: instead of vanilla extract, you could try adding a 1/4 teaspoon of almond extract to make the smoothie really taste like a cookie.
Optional date smoothie additions
Here are a few nutritional boosters you can try adding to this date smoothie recipe:
- Flaxseed meal: one of my favorite ingredients to add to smoothies for a little boost of fiber and minerals. It’s especially great for nursing mamas as flaxseed can help increase milk supply. Usually, a tablespoon is plenty! Here’s a brand I love.
- Chia seeds: add a tablespoon of chia seeds to your smoothie for a boost of healthy fats and fiber.
- Hemp seeds: feel free to throw in those hemp seeds lurking in your cupboard for a boost of healthy fats, omegas, and minerals.
- Oats: add about 1/3 cup of rolled oats to your smoothie for an additional thickness & heartiness. Do not use steel cut oats as they will not blend well.
- Organic spinach: if you’re looking to get more greens in your smoothie, try adding a few cups of spinach. It may turn the smoothie a slightly off-putting color, but you won’t be able to taste the spinach at all.
- Greek yogurt: add a boost of protein with a scoop of Greek yogurt (or your favorite dairy-free yogurt). You may have to reduce the almond milk to 3/4 cup in this smoothie when adding yogurt.
- Protein powder: another great way to add some protein is by blending in protein powder or collagen peptides. I recommend a plain or vanilla flavored protein powder in this recipe. Here is a great plant-based option.
- Cacao powder: add a delicious, chocolate-y flavor to the smoothie, along with a great source of antioxidants by blending in cacao powder. I recommend 1/2 tablespoon to start.
Tips for making this date smoothie recipe
Here are a few of my favorite tips for making this date smoothie creamy and delicious:
- Yes, add the cauliflower. Using frozen cauliflower instead of ice helps keep the smoothie cold and thick without watering it down or making it hard to blend.
- Add more liquid. Don’t be afraid to add more liquid if your smoothie is too thick or won’t fully blend. High-powered blenders tend to blend frozen ingredients much better, so if you have a regular or personal-size blender, you may need to add more milk.
- Start low, go high. Start the blender on low speed, then gradually increase the speed to high to help blend all ingredients. End with the blender on low speed.
Don’t forget to soften your dates
Dates are naturally very sticky, so make sure to soften them so that they blend easily. You’ll simply soak your pitted dates in 1 cup of warm water for at least 5 minutes before adding them to your blender.
Meal prep this healthy date smoothie
Yes, you can make this easy smoothie ahead of time to enjoy later! I have three amazing methods for prepping and storing smoothies right in your freezer. You’ll learn the ice cube tray method, the mason jar method, and the freezer pack method. Get all of my tips and tricks here!
More smoothie recipes you’ll love
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I know you guys are going to love this tahini date smoothie recipe! It makes the perfect breakfast or quick afternoon pick-me-up. Enjoy! xo.
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125 Ridiculously Good For You, Sometimes Indulgent, and Absolutely Never Boring Recipes for Every Meal of the Day
Snickerdoodle Tahini Date Smoothie
Creamy snickerdoodle tahini date smoothie made in just 10 minutes with no banana! This delicious, vegan date smoothie has Medjool dates, almond milk, cauliflower, tahini, vanilla and cinnamon for a wonderful flavor that tastes just like your favorite snickerdoodle cookie. Options to add extra protein and your favorite mix-ins.
Ingredients
- For the date smoothie:
- 3 pitted large Medjool dates (¼ cup packed pitted Medjool dates)
- 1 cup unsweetened almond milk (or sub light coconut milk), plus more to thin smoothie if necessary
- ¾ cup frozen cauliflower
- 1 tablespoon tahini
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- Optional smoothie add-ins:
- 1 tablespoon cacao powder
- 1 scoop your favorite protein powder
- 1 tablespoon flaxseed meal
- ¼ cup gluten free rolled oats
Instructions
-
First soak your pitted dates in 1 cup of very warm water for at least 5 minutes. This will help them soften up and perfect for blending. While the dates are soaking you can get all your other ingredients out, measured and ready.
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Next add all ingredients to a high powered blender: pitted dates, almond milk, cauliflower, tahini, vanilla extract and cinnamon. Feel free to add any optional add-ins to your smoothie if you’d like. Blend until smooth, adding more almond milk to thin, if necessary. Pour into a glass and enjoy! Serves 1. Feel free to double the recipe to serve 2.
Recipe Notes
Check out the full post for more tips, tricks & mix-in ideas!
Nutrition
Serving: 1smoothieCalories: 310calCarbohydrates: 54.8gProtein: 6.6gFat: 11.3gSaturated Fat: 1.2gFiber: 9.1gSugar: 40.3g
Recipe by: Monique Volz // Ambitious Kitchen | Photography by: Eat Love Eats
This post was originally published on March 12th, 2020, and republished on February 25th, 2026.
