Black Forest Gâteau meets ice-cold milk. This Chocolate Cherry Coconut Shake is thick, luxurious & decadent. But it’s also healthy. Summertime drinks don’t have to be laden with excess sugar, fat & calories to be cool.
Summer is approaching fast. That means long, sunny days and relinquishing my cosy boots in favour of skirts and finding my legs again. (Eeek). Oh, and it also means plenty of ice-cold drinks to keep me going on these hot & sunny summer days I’m dreaming about. Top of the bill this year is this rather cheeky, creamily delicious Chocolate Cherry Coconut Shake.
It’s an attractive medley. Picture a hefty slice of Black Forest Gâteau meeting a long tall glass of ice-cold milk. It’s a joyful union. That’s essentially what’s on offer. But, there’s a big bonus: this Chocolate Cherry Coconut Shake is healthy.
Here’s what is not involved in this Chocolate Cherry Coconut Shake
- Refined sugar
- Ice Cream
Instead I’ve used dried fruits to sweeten the drink and give maximum flavour without needing to add unhealthy refined sugars, syrups or chunks of chocolate. I’ve also replaced the ice cream with coconut milk since this gives a lusciously thick, creamy consistency naturally without adding unnecessary sugar or fat to the drink.
The result is a glassful of thick, rich, creamy, sweet, chocolatey, fruity bliss. Ice cold bliss . And you don’t even have to feel bad about drinking a glassful occasionally. Let’s save those calories for when a slice of Black Forest Gâteau or a scoop of chocolate ice cream is the only thing that will satisfy your sweet tooth.
If you’ve been reading along with me for a while, you’ll know that I have a bit of a thing for giving my kids a drink that they will see as a complete treat, which, in reality, is not all that unhealthy after all. You could call me sneaky, but it keeps them going mid-way through the week when they are hankering after something indulgent. They adore the date shakes that I’ve been churning out for them for the past 18 months. It is their favourite drink. That’s really why I developed this Chocolate Cherry Coconut Shake. It’s a neat little twist on the date shake.
(Also, I chocolate, cherries and Black Forest Gâteau – I can’t help it, I was born in the 70s.)
Aside from being sneaky and giving them a healthy drink as a treat, one of my goals as a parent is to teach my kids how and why to eat healthily most of the time. That’s a tough challenge in this world of there-at-every-turn sugar laden drinks and snacks. I’m a free speaker in my kitchen – it’s how I choose to educate them. My girls know when I’m presenting them with something healthy or something unhealthy. They also know a tasty drink when it lands in front of them. I can tell you, they get just as excited over my healthier drinks as they would over an ice-cream based shake, a fizzy drink or a hot chocolate. With drinks like this Chocolate Cherry Coconut Shake and the date shake featuring as some of their favourite drinks, I’m hoping I’m on the right track. #WINNING!
Take a look through my alcohol-free drinks collection for more tasty recipes.
Healthier Chocolate Cherry Coconut Shake
Ingredients
- 320 ml/ 1 â…“ cups Coconut milk
- 4 Pitted soft dates (I used Deglet Nour)
- 25 g/ 1 oz Dried cherries
- 2 teaspoon Chia seeds (optional)
- 1 tablespoon Cocoa powder
Optional Garnishes
- Fresh or frozen cherries
- Toasted coconut flakes
Instructions
- Put the first 5 ingredients into a blender with a few ice cubes. Blitz until smooth
- Serve immediately – over ice & decorated with cherries & toasted coconut if desired
Christine | Mid-Life Croissant
Deliciousssss! Love the dried cherries. Such a great idea. I’m a bit concerned about finding my legs this summer too. But I just started doing yoga which, so far, is only helping my attitude. But frankly that is what needs the most work!!
Jane Saunders
Thanks Christine. Oh, I’m liking your yoga commitment. I started sit-ups in January but it’s not helping my attitude (but the kids find it funny) – I think I need Pilates.
Candice | Whole Health Hacks
This looks amazing!! I am so excited that it’s cherry season and cannot wait to make this yummy chocolate cherry shake!
Jane Saunders
Thanks Candice. I can eat entire punnets of fresh cherries to myself 🙂 Seeing as this shake uses dried cherries you can enjoy it all year long 😉
Sarah
It’s about time summer gets here – though I’m happy to keep hiding my legs. Don’t want to blind anyone 😉
This shake sounds perfect! I love that’s there’s no added sugar too!
Jane Saunders
Thanks Sarah. Ha – I can light up the neighbourhood with the brilliant white of my legs too.