Date Shake (Palm Springs Style)

Before you start

The date shake is a roadside specialty of California's Coachella Valley, where date palms grow around Palm Springs and Indio. It is a vanilla milkshake sweetened and thickened with chopped dates, which give a caramel, brown-sugar flavor and a slightly rustic texture with tiny flecks of fruit. Some stands use date crystals (dried, chopped dates); at home, soft Medjool dates are the easiest choice.

The key step is soaking. Dates have tough skins, and even a strong blender leaves chewy bits if they go in dry. Soaking the pitted, chopped dates in the milk for about 20 minutes softens them and lets you blend them into a smooth paste before the ice cream goes in. That way the ice cream only needs a quick blend and the shake stays thick.

Ingredients

• 5-6 (about 100 g) Medjool dates — pitted and chopped
• 120 ml (½ cup) cold whole milk
• 3 scoops (about 300 g / 2 cups) vanilla ice cream
• Pinch salt
• Pinch ground cinnamon — optional

Method

1. Slit each date, remove the pit and check inside for any dry or discolored spots. Chop the flesh into small pieces.
2. Put the chopped dates in a small bowl with the milk and refrigerate for about 20 minutes, until the dates are soft enough to squash with a spoon.
3. Pour the dates and milk into the blender with the salt and cinnamon. Blend on high for 30 to 45 seconds until the dates form a mostly smooth, caramel-colored paste.
4. Add the ice cream, slightly softened if very hard. Blend on low to medium for 15 to 20 seconds, just until combined and thick.
5. Taste; a few tiny date flecks are normal. Pour into a chilled glass and serve with a wide straw.

Tips for success

• Medjool dates are large, soft and very sweet. Deglet Noor dates are firmer and drier; soak them for 30 minutes or longer.
• Blend the dates with the milk before adding ice cream so you do not have to over-blend the ice cream.
• A pinch of salt sharpens the caramel notes of the dates.

Substitutions

Medjool dates

Date paste or date syrup blends in instantly; use 3 tbsp paste or 2 tbsp syrup and skip the soak.

Vanilla ice cream

A frozen banana plus 3 tbsp Greek yogurt makes a lighter, ice-cream-free date shake.

Whole milk

Oat or almond milk works; use dairy-free ice cream for a fully dairy-free version.

Variations

Banana date shake

Add half a frozen banana with the ice cream.

Coffee date shake

Add 30 ml chilled espresso for a bittersweet shake. This adds caffeine.

Troubleshooting

Chewy bits of date skin

The dates were not soaked long enough or were dry. Soak until soft and blend the date paste fully before adding ice cream.

Shake is too thin

The date paste warmed and over-blended the ice cream. Chill the soaked mixture and blend briefly after adding ice cream.

Too sweet

Dates and ice cream are both sweet. Use 4 dates, add a pinch more salt, or use half vanilla yogurt.

Storage

Serve immediately. Unused dates keep in an airtight container in the fridge for several months. Do not leave the milk and date soak at room temperature for more than 2 hours.