The Best Homemade Banana Milk (3 Minutes)

Need a fun and refreshing twist on regular milk? This homemade banana milk is quick to make and a great source of protein, calcium, and potassium. Great for toddlers, kids, and adults alike!

Medically reviewed and cowritten by Jamie Johnson, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), and Lauren Braaten, Pediatric Occupational Therapist (OT).

Easy Banana Milk

Regular milk, chocolate milk…sometimes you need to mix it up! Both figuratively and literally.

This banana milk will do just that. 🍌

It’s a fun spin on regular milk, similar to a fruit smoothie made with bananas, but lighter. And just as flavorful!

This banana milk uses just 4 ingredients (which I bet you already have in your kitchen right now!) and is naturally sweetened. Plus, it’s a great source of protein, calcium, potassium and vitamins C and D.

Feeding kids can be tricky! But don’t worry; we’ve got you covered! Here you can find 40 Family Dinner Ideas, over 100 Kid Snack Ideas, great Hidden-Veggie Recipes, 50 Cooking with Kids Recipes, and so much more! And for even more family-friendly recipes, check out my best-selling cookbook Little Foodies: Recipes for Babies and Toddlers with Taste.

Reasons to Love This Homemade Banana Milk

• So simple to make
• Good source of calcium, protein and vitamin D
• Naturally sweetened
• Perfect for a quick snack or as part of lunch or dinner
• Can be made ahead of time
• Great beginner recipe for kids to help in the kitchen

Ingredients Needed

• Milk: use whole milk or any plain unsweetened plant-based milk, such as soy, almond, coconut, etc.
• Bananas: use slightly ripe bananas for the best flavor.
• Maple Syrup: for natural sweetness, you can also use honey, agave nectar or pitted dates.
• Vanilla Extract: use pure vanilla extract for the best flavor. You can also use a pinch of cinnamon or cloves.

Health Benefits of Banana Milk: Milk on its own is a good source of protein, calcium, phosphorus, fats for brain development (if choosing a fuller fat version), and can be a good source of vitamin D if it has been added. Add some banana and you’re getting a good dose of potassium, fiber, and vitamin C.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Add Ingredients: to a blender, add the milk, bananas, maple syrup, and vanilla extract.
2. Blend: on medium-high speed, blend for 60-90 seconds or until the strawberry milk is completely smooth.
3. Enjoy: Pour into a glass and serve!

How to Store

Store banana milk in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week. Give it a good shake or stir to re-mix any settling that may have occurred before serving.

What Type of Milk to Use

The best milk for toddlers 1-2 years old is whole cow’s milk, assuming they do not have an allergy or intolerance. However, you can also use plant-based milk, such as coconut, almond, soy, hemp, or oat milk. Regardless of the plant-based milk, choose one that has no added sugar and has been fortified with calcium and vitamin D.

Fun Add-Ins

This Banana Milk is great as is! But feel free to try adding in any of these additional ingredients:

• drizzle of peanut butter
• tablespoon of cocoa powder
• handful of strawberries
• pinch of cinnamon
• a small scoop of protein powder
• pinch of cloves

Cooking with Kids

You can easily have your kids help you make this flavored milk.

Toddlers

• Toddlers can help measure and pour the ingredients into the blender.
• They can help put the lid on the blender and push start. Note: make sure to talk about not touching the blender blade while making something in the blender, as it can be sharp. 
• Have them pour their milk into their cup. 

Kids

• You can pretty much let older kids make this recipe by themselves. 
• They can pick out and measure all of the ingredients. Note: make sure to talk about not touching the blender blade while making something in the blender, as it can be sharp. 
• Have them pour the banana milk into their own cup as well as a second cup for you!