Refreshing Banana Malt or Shake
Cold, creamy, and sweet, a banana malt or shake is delicious as a snack, dessert or beverage. Perfect for summer–or all year round!
I hadn’t eaten bananas in years. But on a recent trip to Hawaii, I had the best banana bread EVER. And this put bananas back on my radar.
For our next vacation, we did a western road trip and made a stop at Wall Drug in South Dakota. Here among souvenirs, rock shops and free ice water, they have an old-fashioned ice cream parlor. So we had a Chocolate Malt (my husband) and a Chocolate Ice Cream Soda (me). Yum.
With all this inspiration, of course I had to put it all together into a delicious banana malt. No malted milk powder? You can also do as a banana shake.
What is the difference between a malt and a shake?
Both malts and shakes are frozen ice cream beverages that come in a variety of flavors. And they differ on just one ingredient. A malt has the addition of malted milk powder which I feel adds a real depth of flavor. But if you don’t have malt handy, it’s still good as a shake.
Now people make malts and shakes in all kinds of different flavors from the crowd-favorite chocolate to more unique flavors like cherry. And even fun local flavors like huckleberry in South Dakota!
But banana malts have always been high on my list because the flavors compliment each other so well!
Making a malt at Wall Drug, SD
Why You’ll Love This!
Tasty. Full of rich flavor from the banana and malt, plus creamy goodness from the ice cream, this is a taste delight!
Refreshing. Cold and frosty, this is a perfect summer beverage! But I think it’s so good, I’d have it in winter too!
Easy. Just whir up the ingredients in a high speed blender and pour—how easy is that!
What You’ll Need
Ingredient Notes
- Banana. This provides the banana flavor and thickness. A frozen banana will make the thickest drink, but fresh works too.
- Vanilla ice cream. This adds flavor and creaminess, plus helps to thicken.
- Milk. This adds creaminess and helps the ingredients blend.
- Malt powder for a malt. Omit for a shake. This adds old-fashioned malted flavor.
- (Optional) Ice. To provide additional thickening if made with a banana that wasn’t frozen.
- (Optional) Toppings. Whipped cream , cherry, dried cinnamon for topping if desired.
Special Tools
- A high speed blender will help to puree the banana and blend the drink.
Step by Step Directions
Put all the ingredients in the blender, then blend until smooth.
If needed, you can add some extra milk to thin, or some ice to thicken more. Pour into a tall glass and serve immediately.
How to Serve
In my very active youth, I sometimes had a malt or shake as a beverage with a meal. It made for a tasty and fun lunch or dinner!
But now I’m more likely to have this as a special snack or dessert. It’s perfect on a warm summer day, but also delicious all year round.
I like to serve in a tall ice cream glass topped with whipped cream. But really any glass will do!
Some people put a cherry on top or maybe a sprinkle of cinnamon. And a straw or a tall spoon can also be fun and helpful.
Variations
I also have a very popular Chocolate Malt recipe on this website. And for another option, consider a Chocolate Ice Cream Soda for a slightly lighter, but equally delicious, frosty beverage!
There are also grown-up versions of ice cream drinks made with alcohol. The Banana Banshee brings in the tasty banana flavor like this malt or shake. And for more options I also make a chocolatey Brandy Alexander or Frozen Mudslide, or the ever popular mint-flavored Frozen Grasshopper.
Tips & FAQs
Should I use fresh or frozen banana?
For the most intense flavor and thickest shake, freeze your banana the night before.
But if you can’t wait, fresh will work too. It will be a little thinner, though not too thin since the banana itself adds volume. Or add in a few ice cubes to make it thicker and frostier.
Finally, if you’re working with a frozen banana it can be tough to peel. I cut mine into 1 inch pieces which I was able to peel easily. This also helps with the blending.
Banana Malt or Shake
Ingredients
- 1 banana ideally frozen for the thickest drink
- 1 cup vanilla ice cream
- ½ cup milk
- 2 Tablespoons malt powder for a malt, omit for shake
- Optional ice for additional thickening if made with a banana that wasn’t frozen.
- Optional toppings if desired--whipped cream, cherry, cinnamon powder
Instructions
- Put all the ingredients in the blender, then blend until smooth.
- If needed, you can add some extra milk to thin, or some ice to thicken more.
- Pour into a tall glass and serve immediately.
The blend of rich banana flavor with the creamy goodness of ice cream sounds absolutely divine. I love the idea of adding malt powder for that extra depth. Definitely a perfect summer treat
I would never have thought to combine banana and malt! That sounds really good…