Remember my Chocolate Milkshake? Many of you fell in love with that recipe. Today I’m sharing Chocolate Cherry Milkshake and I think you will love this version as much or more!
I picked up a big bag of cherries recently and Mr. GFE enjoyed them for a few days as part of a fresh fruit breakfast while camping. When my aunt visited the other day, there were still plenty of cherries left, so I decided to make Chocolate Cherry Milkshakes for us to go with our lunch. We really enjoyed them with our Turkey Salad Wraps (the turkey salad was made from my slow-cooked Special Zesty Turkey Breast).
![Chocolate Cherry Milkshake--like a Chocolate Cherry Frosty! Naturally gluten free and dairy free. [from GlutenFreeEasily.com]](https://glutenfreeeasily.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Raw-Chocolate-Cherry-Milkshake-Gluten-Free-Easily-600.jpg)
We both thought that original version was delicious, but the cherry flavor wasn’t pronounced enough for me. It seemed overpowered by the other ingredients, mainly the chocolate.
So I tried again and I think this latest version is the perfect balance of cherries and chocolate. It’s not only raw and gluten free (of course!), but it’s also grain free, vegan, nut free, and “more free”—and naturally so!
I’m including this recipe as part of Raw Foods Thursdays, a wonderful weekly event hosted by my good friend Heather of Gluten-Free Cat. (Sadly, this site is no longer active.) Heather is in the process of relocating to “The Big Apple,” so guest hosts have graciously stepped in for her the last few weeks.
Individuals’ reactions to dishes labeled “raw” can be much like their reactions to “gluten-free” foods … as in, eek, I’m not eating that! But there are many dishes and foods that we eat all the time that are naturally raw and we love them. So please don’t be afraid of the label!
Most of the raw recipes featured on Raw Food Thursdays include ingredients we already love; they are just prepared and/or combined in a different way. And at Raw Food Thursdays and on Heather’s blog in general, the raw food recipes will often blow you away.
How about the Living Pad Thai (shown above) that was featured a while back? Or Heather’s Raw Chocolate Cherry Pieshown below?
Raw Chocolate Cherry Pie from Gluten-Free Cat
And that leads me back to my Chocolate Cherry Milkshake, because it was Heather’s pie that was the inspiration for my milkshake! As soon as I saw her pie, I thought, now that would make a good milkshake!
![Chocolate Cherry Milkshake--like a Chocolate Cherry Frosty! Naturally gluten free, dairy free, and oh, so good! [from GlutenFreeEasily.com]](https://glutenfreeeasily.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Raw-Chocolate-Cherry-Milkshake-Super-Close-up-Gluten-Free-Easily-600.jpg)
Mine is quite a bit different as far as the ingredients included, but cold, chocolate cherry creaminess is still what it’s all about, just like with Heather’s pie. Here’s the recipe; enjoy!
Chocolate Cherry Milkshake Recipe
![Chocolate Cherry Milkshake--like a Chocolate Cherry Frosty! Naturally gluten free and dairy free. [from GlutenFreeEasily.com]](https://glutenfreeeasily.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Raw-Chocolate-Cherry-Shake-600.jpg)
Chocolate Cherry Milkshake
Cold and divine chocolate cherry creaminess!
Ingredients
- 1 1/3 cup full-fat coconut milk, preferably chilled (or almond milk; see notes)
- 1 cup cherries, washed, pitted, and packed (about 28 cherries)
- 1 tbsp plus 1 tsp almond butter
- 2 bananas, preferably frozen (about 2 cups)
- 1 to 2 tbsp raw cacao powder (or cocoa powder for a non-raw version), to taste
- 2 to 3 Medjool dates, pitted and preferably fresh and soft (see notes)
- Ice cubes, if needed (if you’re using frozen and/or chilled ingredients, you might not need any ice cubes)
Instructions
- Add ingredients in the basic order shown to a high-speed blender. (That’s what I use, but a regular blender might work just fine.) The real key is to add the liquid ingredients before adding other ingredients so your almond butter, cacao powder, etc. are not stuck on the blender blades and unmixed at the end.
- Blend in spurts from low speed to high speed for a few minutes total until you have well-blended shake consistency.
Notes
I used David Lebovitz’s method for cherry pitting; i.e., I used a large paper clip. Just insert into cherry and use as a lever to pop out the pit. If dates are not fresh and soft, soak in boiling water for 5 minutes first. Then drain and reserve the water for another use (e.g., a smoothie). This milkshake can also be made using almond milk versus coconut milk, but I think the coconut milk version allows the cherries to shine through more.
Inspired by Heather of Gluten-Free Cat
Originally published July 18, 2013; updated February 20, 2022.
Heather @Gluten-Free Cat says
Oh Shirley, I LOVE it! Putting coconut milk on the list to make this baby! You just can’t go wrong with chocolate and cherries, but to add the creaminess of coconut milk just has to be out of this world. Brilliant!
And thanks so much for sharing about Raw Foods Thursdays. My lovely hostesses have done such a beautiful job. I’ve enjoyed being a spectator this month!
And this one is a gfe retreat request. 🙂
Heather
Shirley says
Heather–You’re right … I think you really will love this one! 😉 Okay, we’ll have to stock up on cherries right before the retreat (only a month away!). I can imagine us all sipping a glass together. 😉
Raw Foods Thursdays is a really great event so I’m very happy to introduce folks to it. Yes, your step-in hostesses have done very well in your absence. 🙂 It’s nice to take a break when you have so much going on.
xo,
Shirley
Maggie says
Okay now I am definitely trying the chocolate and cherry combo. This sounds AMAZING! You’re such a good friend Shirley — so sweet of you to always share other people’s events! xo
Shirley says
Hey Maggie–Chocolate and cherries really are a match made in heaven! 🙂 Thanks for the kind words, dear. I’d gotten away from sharing events on gfe (due to other obligations), so I’m very pleased to be getting back into that of late. There’s truly so much good to share!
xo,
Shirley
Diane Eblin says
YUM!!!!!!! I love chocolate and I love cherries. Great idea for the heat wave across this country.
Shirley says
Diane–I know you do, because you were the one to introduce me to Elana’s amazing Double Chocolate Cherry Cookies. 😉 ANYthing cooling right now is what I want! 🙂
Shirley
Linda says
This sounds delicious! I love the chocolate, cherry, coconut combination. I think I would throw in some chia seeds for good measure. 🙂
Shirley says
Thanks, Linda! Adding chia seeds to this shake is a great idea. 🙂 I’ve been missing them since I developed an intolerance to them. Hoping it goes away in the near future!
Shirley
InTolerantChef says
I have a heap of Rainier cherries in the fridge at the moment waiting to be used up- how handy!
Shirley says
InTolerantChef–Serendipity! 🙂
Shirley
Cassidy @ Cassidy's Craveable Creations says
This looks so great! I just love anything that’s combines cherry and chocolate 🙂
Shirley says
Thanks, Cassidy! That combo has been making folks happy for eons, so it’s fun to add another recipe to the repertoire for it. 😉
Shirley
Ricki says
Wow, does this EVER sound good! (And I could even try with the medjools now!!). Thanks for linking up to Wellness Weekends, Shirley! A great recipe to add to the list. 🙂
Shirley says
I am so glad that your eating options are expanding some … especially when those expanded options include the amazing Medjools. 😉 Always love being able to link up to WW! Happy Sunday! 🙂
Shirley
Kate {Eat, Recycle, Repeat} says
This looks delicious! A Black Forest milkshake, sure to please 🙂
Shirley says
Now why didn’t I think of calling it that, Kate? Black Forest Milkshake sounds so much more decadent! 😉
Shirley
amber says
Hi Shirley,
Your ingredients in this milkshake are fantastic!!! Soooo craving this right now. I’m at the library going through my emails. Our internet is not working for some reason and I forget how much I depend on it. Good thing I only like a few blocks from the library!!
I might just run over to the Coop before I head home and see if there are any cherries left. This really looks just so darn good Shirley!!
Hope you’re well lovely lady.
xo,
–Amber
Amber says
Hi Shirley. Featuring this fabulous recipe this week on Raw Foods Thursdays! 🙂
Shirley says
Thanks for all the lovely words and for featuring this recipe when you hosted Raw Food Thursdays! 🙂 That is such a great event and you did a terrific job guest hosting, of course!
Boo on not having internet, but I sure feel honored that you took the time to leave this sweet comment when you did snag some online time at the library.
Hope you enjoy this treat when you get to make it, dear! Oh, and I’m on vacation right now, so I’m very well. 😉 Hope you and yours are doing great!
xo to you,
Shirley
Debi says
Chocolate and Cherries are a magical combination! I’ve been wanting chocolate and cherries all week. Can’t wait to be done with AIP so I can have chocolate again. 😀
Shirley Braden says
Debi–How did I not reply to this comment that you left almost 3 year ago??? Yikes!! If you haven’t tried this recipe yet, we should make them at the gfe retreat. 🙂
Shirley
swathi says
Delicious chocolate cheery milkshake, thanks for sharing with Hearth and soul blog hop, pinning and tweeting.
Shirley Braden says
Thanks so much, Swathi! I think I need to make this recipe again. Tis the season for yummy cherries!
Shirley
April J Harris says
Hi Shirley! I love this wonderful, wholesome Chocolate Cherry Milkshake. It sounds like summer in a glass. I’m featuring it at this week’s Hearth and Soul Hop Link Party, live on my blog now. Thank you for sharing with us. By the way, I love your tip for pitting cherries!
Shirley Braden says
Thanks again for the feature, April! I do love “summer in a glass” and try to get that via various favorite beverages. 😉 This recipe is the perfect one to take advantage of cherries for sure! We can all thank David Lebovitz for the nifty tip on pitting cherries. 🙂
Shirley