Skinny Chocolate Cherry Coconut Shake

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.

Don't miss my cherry and chocolate granola recipe too. It's also surprisingly healthy.

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 an indulgent 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.

More delicious fruity drinks

Take a look through my alcohol-free drinks collection for more tasty recipes. Here are a few of my favourites: