Satisfy your dessert cravings with a rich, creamy vegan milkshake. This mocha-inspired shake blends dairy-free coffee ice cream, frozen banana, and raw cacao for a luscious, plant-based treat. Ready in just minutes, it’s a simple, guilt-free indulgence perfect for hot days, parties, or a special dessert.
This recipe was originally published on August 6, 2018 and updated with additional notes on July 26, 2024.
If you love coffee and ice cream, this mocha vegan milkshake delivers. With just five main ingredients you get a balanced combination of bold coffee flavor, natural sweetness from ripe frozen banana, and deep chocolate notes from raw cacao powder. Plant-based milk ties everything together into a velvety shake that satisfies a sweet tooth without dairy.
The presentation is part of the fun: press fresh banana slices against the inside of a chilled glass before pouring in the shake for a pretty, Instagram-friendly look. The recipe is easily adapted into classic vegan flavors like chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry—see the variations below for quick swaps.
Ingredients
1 cup coffee vegan ice cream: Use a quality dairy-free brand for a creamy base. Vanilla or chocolate vegan ice cream can be used instead—add 1–2 teaspoons instant espresso powder or a shot of espresso if switching.
1 cup unsweetened non-dairy milk: Choose soy, almond, oat, or another plant milk. Full-fat coconut milk yields an extra creamy texture.
1 cup frozen ripe banana: Ripe bananas frozen and then blended add natural sweetness and thickness. You can use store-bought frozen banana if preferred.
1 tbsp raw cacao powder (or cocoa powder): For rich chocolate undertones and a deeper flavor.
Sliced banana to serve: Fresh banana slices pressed inside the glass add a decorative, tasty touch. Substitute with strawberries or kiwi for color variations.
How to Make a Vegan Milkshake
- Blend ingredients: Combine the ice cream, non-dairy milk, frozen banana, and cacao in a high-speed blender. Blend until smooth, scraping down the sides as needed.
- Prepare the glass: Chill your serving glass, then press banana slices along the inside. Pour the blended shake into the glass.
- Garnish and serve: Top each glass with an extra scoop of vegan ice cream and a few banana slices. Serve immediately for the best texture.
Recipe Pro-Tips
- Use a high-speed blender: This ensures a silky, even texture with no lumps.
- Blend in stages: Start with frozen banana and non-dairy milk until smooth, then add ice cream and cacao for the best consistency.
- Chill the glass: Freeze glasses for 10–15 minutes beforehand to keep the shake colder longer and improve presentation.
- Adjust sweetness: Taste before serving and add maple syrup or agave if you prefer a sweeter shake.
- Boost coffee flavor: Choose an espresso-flavored vegan ice cream or add a shot of espresso or a teaspoon of instant espresso powder.
- Decorate with banana slices: Press slices inside the chilled glass for a polished, attractive look.
- Enjoy immediately: Serve right after blending to maintain the creamy texture and peak flavor.
Recipe Variations
Switch up the base to create classic and seasonal flavors:
- Vanilla: Use vegan vanilla ice cream with frozen banana and your preferred plant milk.
- Strawberry: Blend vegan vanilla ice cream with plant milk and frozen strawberries for a bright berry shake.
- Chocolate: Use vegan chocolate ice cream and add extra cacao or cocoa powder for an intensified chocolate taste.
- Mint: Mix vanilla ice cream, plant milk, mint extract, and frozen banana; add cocoa for a mint-chocolate twist.
- Peanut Butter: Add a spoonful of peanut or other nut butter to vanilla ice cream, non-dairy milk, and frozen banana for a rich, nutty shake.
- Blueberry: Blend blueberry ice cream or vanilla ice cream with frozen blueberries and plant milk for a fruity option.
- Peach: Use vegan peach ice cream with plant milk and half a frozen banana for a summery flavor.
Serving Suggestions
Enjoy this vegan milkshake as a refreshing mid-day treat or a dessert. Offer a variety of flavors at gatherings to create a colorful dessert table. For a lighter topping try coconut cream, or add vegan chocolate shavings, crushed nuts, cinnamon, or a drizzle of fruit syrup.
Frequently Asked Questions
For a thicker shake, add more frozen banana and reduce the non-dairy milk. To thin it, increase the amount of plant milk.
Yes—frozen mango, berries, or pineapple work well. Adjust sweetness and flavor as needed.
Top with coconut cream, vegan chocolate shavings, cinnamon, crushed nuts, or a drizzle of vegan caramel or fruit syrup.
More Vegan Dessert Recipes
- Avocado Pineapple Popsicles
- Citrus Chocolate Truffles
- Raw No-Bake Coconut Cupcakes
- Banana Brownies
- Vegan Apple Tart with Walnut Crust
Recipe Card
Magical Mocha Vegan Milkshake
Ingredients
- 1 cup coffee vegan ice cream (plus extra to serve)
- 1 cup unsweetened non-dairy milk (soy, almond, or oat)
- 1 cup frozen ripe banana
- 1 tbsp raw cacao powder or cocoa powder
- 1 sliced banana, to serve
Instructions
- Add the ice cream, non-dairy milk, frozen banana, and cacao to a blender. Blend until smooth and creamy.
- Press sliced banana onto the sides of a chilled glass. Pour the milkshake into the glass, top with an extra scoop of vegan ice cream and a few banana slices. Serve immediately.
Notes & Variations
Try vanilla, strawberry, chocolate, mint, peanut butter, blueberry, or peach variations by swapping the ice cream and adding the suggested mix-ins from the variations section above.