A peanut butter banana milkshake is the ultimate combination of two flavors that were simply meant to be together. This thick, creamy shake brings together the natural sweetness of ripe bananas with the rich, nutty goodness of peanut butter, all blended with ice cream and milk to create a dreamy, spoon-thick consistency. It’s the kind of milkshake that tastes like pure indulgence but also happens to provide protein, potassium, and energy from wholesome ingredients. Whether you’re looking for a satisfying afternoon snack, a post-workout treat, a fun dessert, or even a quick breakfast on busy mornings, this milkshake delivers on all fronts. Kids and adults alike go crazy for the classic peanut butter and banana pairing, and the best part is it comes together in just minutes with a blender and a few simple ingredients. It’s comfort food you can drink through a straw, and one sip will transport you straight to happiness.
Serving Quantity: Serves 2 people
Cooking Time: 5 minutes (no cooking required, just blending)
1. Ingredients
- Two ripe bananas, peeled and sliced
- One-third cup creamy peanut butter
- Two cups vanilla ice cream (about 4 scoops)
- One cup whole milk
- Two tablespoons honey or maple syrup (optional, for extra sweetness)
- Half teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
- One cup ice cubes (optional, for a thicker shake)
- Whipped cream for topping (optional)
- Chocolate syrup for drizzling (optional)
- Crushed peanuts for garnish (optional)
- Extra banana slices for garnish (optional)
2. Freeze the Bananas
For the thickest, most luxurious milkshake, use frozen bananas instead of fresh ones. If you have time, peel and slice your bananas, then place them in a single layer on a plate or baking sheet. Freeze for at least 2 hours or overnight until solid. Frozen bananas create an incredibly thick, almost soft-serve consistency without needing as much ice cream. If you’re making this milkshake right now and don’t have frozen bananas, fresh ones work perfectly fine, just add the optional ice cubes for thickness.
3. Gather Your Equipment
Get out your blender and make sure it’s clean and dry. You’ll also need two tall glasses for serving, a measuring cup, measuring spoons, and optionally a rubber spatula for scraping down the sides of the blender. If you want to serve your milkshakes fancy-style, chill your glasses in the freezer for 10 minutes before serving. Cold glasses keep the milkshake colder longer and prevent it from melting too quickly.
4. Add Liquid First
Pour the milk into your blender first. Adding the liquid ingredient first helps the blender blades move more freely and prevents the thicker ingredients from getting stuck at the bottom. This simple trick makes blending much smoother and helps you avoid having to stop and scrape down the sides multiple times. The milk creates a base that allows everything else to blend evenly.
5. Add the Main Ingredients
Add the banana slices to the blender, whether they’re frozen or fresh. Scoop in the peanut butter directly from the jar. Add the vanilla ice cream, dropping the scoops right on top of the other ingredients. If you’re using honey or maple syrup for extra sweetness, add it now. Add the vanilla extract and a small pinch of salt. The salt might seem odd in a sweet milkshake, but it enhances all the other flavors and makes the peanut butter taste even more pronounced.
6. Add Ice if Needed
If you used fresh bananas instead of frozen, add the cup of ice cubes now to thicken the milkshake. Even if you used frozen bananas, you can still add a few ice cubes if you want an extra-thick consistency. The ice won’t water down the shake because there’s enough ice cream and banana to maintain the rich flavor. More ice means a thicker shake, while less ice means a more drinkable, thinner consistency.
7. Blend on Low First
Put the lid securely on your blender. Start blending on the lowest speed for about 10 seconds. This breaks up the larger chunks and gets everything moving without overworking the motor. You’ll hear the ingredients start to break down and combine. Starting slow prevents chunks from flying up the sides of the blender where they won’t get incorporated. After 10 seconds on low, you can increase the speed.
8. Blend Until Smooth
Increase the blender speed to medium-high and blend for 30 to 45 seconds until the milkshake is completely smooth and creamy with no chunks of banana or streaks of peanut butter remaining. The mixture should be thick and uniform in color, a beautiful pale tan from the blended peanut butter and banana. Stop the blender occasionally to scrape down the sides with a rubber spatula if needed, then blend again. The consistency should be thick enough that it doesn’t pour quickly but moves slowly like soft-serve ice cream.
9. Check the Consistency
Turn off the blender and check the thickness by lifting the lid and looking at how the shake moves. If it’s too thick and the blender is struggling, add a splash more milk, about two tablespoons at a time, and blend again. If it’s too thin and pourable, add another scoop of ice cream or a few more ice cubes and blend until thicker. The perfect milkshake should be thick enough to require a spoon but just thin enough to drink through a wide straw.
10. Taste and Adjust
Dip a clean spoon into the milkshake and taste it. This is your chance to make it exactly how you like it. If you want it sweeter, add more honey or a touch of sugar and blend briefly. If you want more peanut butter flavor, add another tablespoon of peanut butter and blend. If you want it more banana-forward, add half of another banana and blend. If you like a hint of chocolate, add a tablespoon of cocoa powder or chocolate syrup and blend until incorporated.
11. Prepare the Glasses
If you want to make your presentation extra special, drizzle chocolate syrup around the inside of your chilled glasses before pouring the milkshake. Hold the glass at an angle and slowly rotate it while drizzling the syrup in a spiral pattern. The syrup will stick to the glass and create beautiful streaks. You can also rim the glasses by dipping the rim in honey and then in crushed peanuts for a fancy touch. These extra steps make the milkshake look bakery-worthy.
12. Pour and Top
Pour the thick milkshake into your prepared glasses, dividing it evenly between the two servings. You might need to use a spoon to help scoop it out of the blender if it’s very thick. Fill the glasses almost to the top, leaving about an inch of room for toppings. Top each milkshake with a generous dollop of whipped cream if using. Drizzle with extra chocolate syrup, sprinkle with crushed peanuts, and add a few banana slices on top for garnish. Stick a wide straw and a long spoon in each glass.
13. Serve Immediately
Milkshakes are best enjoyed immediately after making them while they’re at the perfect thick, creamy consistency. The longer they sit, the more they’ll melt and thin out. Serve with both a straw and a spoon so people can drink or eat it depending on the thickness. If you’re making these for kids, you might want to serve them in smaller glasses with just one scoop of ice cream per serving for a less overwhelming portion.
14. Nutrition Information Per Serving
- Calories: 625
- Total fat: 30 grams
- Saturated fat: 12 grams
- Cholesterol: 50 milligrams
- Sodium: 280 milligrams
- Total carbohydrates: 78 grams
- Dietary fiber: 5 grams
- Sugars: 58 grams
- Protein: 16 grams
15. Helpful Tips for Perfect Peanut Butter Banana Milkshake
- Use ripe bananas with brown spots for the sweetest flavor and creamiest texture in your milkshake.
- Freeze banana slices ahead of time for the thickest milkshake without needing extra ice that can water it down.
- Let frozen bananas sit at room temperature for 5 minutes before blending to make them easier on your blender motor.
- Use creamy peanut butter rather than natural or chunky varieties for the smoothest, most uniform texture.
- Add the liquid ingredients first in the blender to help everything blend more smoothly without getting stuck.
- Start blending on low speed and gradually increase to prevent ingredients from flying up the sides.
- Make it healthier by using frozen yogurt instead of ice cream and reducing the amount of added sweetener.
- Add a tablespoon of cocoa powder or chocolate protein powder for a chocolate peanut butter banana variation.
- Throw in a handful of spinach for added nutrition without affecting the taste, turning it into a green smoothie.
- Make milkshake popsicles by pouring leftover shake into molds and freezing for a fun frozen treat later.
