Vegan chocolate shake

Vegan chocolate shake

(This recipe is not kid tested, as my kids don’t love chocolate. However, it IS amateur gourmet chef husband tested, and he said, (before tasting) “I don’t usually like you weird vegan things, or chocolate shakes, especially with cinnamon, but I’ll try it.” (immediately after tasting) “Okay, I’d drink an entire glass of this. You can make this for me any time!” Ha! Success!)

7-10 dates (depending on how sweet you like it)
1/2 can pure coconut milk
3-4 Tablespoons pure cocoa powder (depending on how strong you like it)
1-3 teaspoons vanilla
1 teaspoon cinnamon (optional, for a Mexican hot chocolate flair)
2 shots espresso, chilled (optional, for a mocha flair, but reduce the coconut milk by 1/2)
18-25 pieces of ice

1. In a blender, puree the dates, coconut milk, vanilla, (and cinnamon and espresso, if you add them). Puree until smooth and creamy and the consistency of runny pudding. This is your shake base. Be careful not to let your ingredients heat up in the process. If you find that your puree has become warm, refrigerate for 10 minutes.
2. Add ice, 10 pieces at a time, to your shake base. Ice cubes vary in size, so add ice until your shake is the consistency you want. With my ice, it takes 20 pieces.