From Milkshakes to Cocktails, We're Blending Up Banana-Flavored Drinks

Bananas go with just about any dessert or breakfast. The perfect oatmeal topper and the base for a banana split, the fruit's flavor is distinct enough to really make a sweet dish sing. But lately bananas have made their way into a new market: drinks.

While banana-flavored drinks have been around for decades, they’re popping up in different, exciting ways now. Last summer, Olipop released a limited edition (and Minion-inspired) banana cream soda that made headlines, and the flavor (sans Minions) is now part of the brand’s lineup. In fact, according to Grub Street, banana was the flavor of the summer in 2023—in part due to the nostalgia the sweet, creamy flavor evokes. Plus, banana-flavored coffee is now a classic TikTok recipe, making the fruit more mainstream. Recently, it received the #1 spot in the produce category in Trader Joe's Customer Choice Awards.

If you’re ready to move on from banana bread and banana pudding and explore the many drinkable options that bananas have to offer, it’s not too late to get in on the trend. Whether they bring out childhood memories or just taste delicious, you’ll want to bring bananas into every recipe you blend—here's a rundown of drinks to try.

Inventive Ways to Try Banana

Perhaps surprisingly, there are so many ways to integrate bananas into your go-to drinks, from smoothies to cocktails—and many of them come with all the nutritional benefits of the fruit themselves. Smoothies are the most obvious (and easy) way to bring bananas into your everyday hydration routine, and the options for fruit combinations are plentiful.

These pineapple-spinach smoothies integrate the fruit in a subtle way, and these protein-packed smoothies really let the creamy texture thrive. They’re easy to throw in while ripe, or can be frozen for convenience later on.

On the even sweeter side, bananas boost flavor in milkshakes, providing an ice cream-like texture with more nutritional pros. This banana ice cream recipe can easily be transformed into a sippable treat, and add-on options include cinnamon, caramel, coffee, and more—ice cream is easily customizable, so have fun with blending flavor.

If you’re feeling like something stronger, you have a range of choices when it comes to banana-themed cocktails. From the “Dirty Banana” made with rum, Kahlúa, milk, cream, and banana, to those with banana-flavored liquor mixed in, the fruit’s flavor can elevate any cocktail you’d normally reach for.

Not in the mood to prepare something yourself? Loads of banana-flavored milks (dairy and non-dairy) are available in grocery stores across the country. Korean brands have stocked banana milk for quite some time, and brands like Almond Breeze and Soylent have since added the flavor to their lineups. You can even find Nesquik powder flavored with banana so that you can level up from your go-to brand of milk.

If you're using a banana-flavored milk or powder, just be sure to check the recipe is made with real banana if you want to reap more nutritional benefits. Although you won’t be getting the full profile of a whole banana, these choices are generally healthier overall.