Avocado Milkshake

This Avocado Milkshake is a thick, creamy, and refreshing beverage popular in many parts of the world, especially Southeast Asia. It blends the rich, buttery flavor of ripe avocados with milk and a sweetener like condensed milk to create a uniquely smooth and satisfying treat. Despite its unusual main ingredient for a sweet drink, the result is a subtly sweet, vibrant green shake that is both nutritious and indulgent.
Avocado Milkshake

Preparation

Preparation time: 5 minutes

Preparation time
Difficulty

Drink Classification

The Avocado Milkshake is categorized as a non-alcoholic milkshake. It is celebrated for its creamy texture and sweet flavor, making it a popular dessert beverage or rich smoothie, distinct from typical fruit juices or sodas.

Serving

Serve this thick, non-alcoholic beverage ice-cold in a tall milkshake glass for the best experience. The serving size is generous, making for a very satisfying drink.
Serving size
Approximately 350-400 ml / 12-14 oz
Alcohol content
0% ABV
Alcohol strength
Serving temperature
Cold
Glass type
Milkshake Glass
Glass treatment
Chilled glass (optional)

Backstory

While not having a single origin story, the avocado milkshake became popular in Southeast Asia, particularly in countries like Vietnam (as 'sinh tố bơ') and Indonesia (as 'es alpukat'), where avocados are abundant. It represents a creative culinary adaptation, using the fruit's creamy texture in a sweet context. It is often enjoyed as a refreshing dessert or snack to beat the tropical heat.
Origin
Southeast Asia (e.g., Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines), with its popularity growing in the mid-20th century.

Avocado Milkshake

This beverage is commonly known as an Avocado Milkshake or simply an Avocado Shake. In some contexts, it may also be called an Avocado Smoothie due to its blended nature, although its creamy, rich texture is more characteristic of a milkshake.
Original name
Avocado Milkshake
Alternative names
  • Avocado Shake
  • Avocado Smoothie

Characteristics overview

This milkshake has a velvety smooth texture and a unique creamy, buttery flavor with a subtle sweetness, appearing as a vibrant pale green drink. It is a wonderfully refreshing treat, especially well-suited for summer.
Flavor
Creamy, buttery, subtly sweet, smooth, rich
Aroma
Fresh, mild, slightly grassy, sweet
Taste balance
Sweet, rich
Aftertaste
Clean, creamy, short
Fizziness
None
Color appearance
Pale green, opaque, smooth
Texture
Thick, creamy, velvety, smooth
Seasonality
Refreshing, summery

Flavor intensity & Experience

The flavor profile is dominated by a rich creaminess and adjustable sweetness, with no alcohol or carbonation. The natural buttery taste of the avocado is the star, creating a mild but satisfying intensity.
Sweetness
Saltiness
Sourness
Bitterness
Spiciness
Fruitiness
Creaminess
Carbonation

Ingredients

The essential ingredients are a ripe avocado, milk, a sweetener like condensed milk, and ice. Chocolate syrup is a popular optional addition for garnish and extra flavor.
  • Ripe Avocado1 large
    Ensure the avocado is soft to the touch but not mushy or brown inside for the best flavor and texture.
  • Whole Milk240 ml / 8 oz
    Can be substituted with plant-based milk like almond, coconut, or oat milk for a dairy-free version.
  • Sweetened Condensed Milk60 ml / 2 oz
    Adjust to taste. Can be substituted with sugar, honey, maple syrup, or agave nectar.
  • Ice Cubes1 cup
    Use more for a thicker, frostier shake or less for a thinner consistency.
  • Chocolate Syrup1 tablespoon / 15 ml / 0.5 oz(optional)
    A traditional drizzle in some regions that complements the avocado flavor well.

Ice type

  • Cubed

Mixing equipments

A powerful blender is the only essential piece of equipment needed to achieve the signature smooth and creamy consistency of this milkshake. A knife and spoon are needed for preparing the avocado.
  • Blender
  • Knife and Spoon

Instructions

This recipe is incredibly simple: combine a ripe avocado, milk, sweetener, and ice in a blender and blend until perfectly smooth. Pour into a glass, optionally drizzled with chocolate syrup, and serve right away.
1. Prepare the avocado by cutting it in half, removing the pit, and scooping the flesh into your blender.
2. Add the milk, sweetened condensed milk, and ice cubes to the blender with the avocado.
3. Optionally, prepare your serving glass by drizzling chocolate syrup along the inside walls.
4. Blend on high speed for 30-60 seconds, or until the mixture is completely smooth and creamy with no remaining chunks.
5. Pour the blended milkshake into your prepared glass.
6. Garnish with an extra drizzle of chocolate syrup if desired and serve immediately with a wide straw.

Garnishing

A classic way to garnish is with a drizzle of chocolate syrup inside the glass or on top, which adds a complementary flavor. A simple, thin slice of avocado on the rim also makes for an elegant presentation.
  • Chocolate Syrup Drizzle
  • Thin Avocado Slice

Dietary Information

This milkshake is naturally alcohol-free, caffeine-free, egg-free, and gluten-free, making it suitable for many. However, the standard recipe contains dairy, but it can be easily adapted for vegan and dairy-free diets.
✕ Contains alcohol
✓ Caffeine-free
✕ Dairy-free
✓ Egg-free
✓ Soy-free
✓ Nut-free
✓ Gluten-free
✕ Vegan-friendly
✓ Vegetarian-friendly

Nutrition information

This is a calorie-dense beverage with a high content of carbohydrates and sugars, primarily from the condensed milk. However, it also provides healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals from the avocado.
Calories
Approximately 450-550 kcal / 1880-2300 kJ
Calories level
Carbohydrates
Approximately 50-60 grams
Carbohydrate level
Sugar
Approximately 40-50 grams
Sugar level

Occasions

This milkshake is perfect as a cool dessert on a warm day, a nutritious afternoon snack, or a unique treat to surprise guests with its delightful flavor and texture.
  • Dessert
  • Afternoon Snack
  • Summer Treat
  • Refreshing Drink

Pairing suggestions

The Avocado Milkshake is substantial enough to be enjoyed on its own as a fulfilling dessert or snack. Its creamy, cooling nature also makes it an excellent accompaniment to balance the heat of spicy Asian or Latin American cuisine.
  • Spicy foods
  • Light pastries
  • As a standalone dessert

The Creamy Green Dream: Avocado Milkshake

The Avocado Milkshake is a uniquely delicious and creamy beverage that transforms the buttery fruit into a sweet, refreshing treat. Popular in Southeast Asia, it's incredibly simple to make by blending avocado with milk, a sweetener, and ice. The result is a vibrant green, velvety smooth shake that's perfect as a cooling dessert or a nutritious, filling snack, challenging preconceptions about how avocados can be enjoyed.

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