Name: Chocolate Milkshake without Ice Cream
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 1 h 20 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 3 cups cauliflower florets, fresh or frozen; 1½- 2 cups water or milk of choice (I use coconut milk); ¼ cup collagen powder (optional); ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder; ½ teaspoon cinnamon; ½ teaspoon sea salt; 2 teaspoon vanilla extract; 2 tablespoon maple syrup

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A milkshake without ice cream? Yes! This creamy chocolate milkshake is secretly very healthy, but still full of satisfying chocolatey goodness.

little child drinking milkshake from a straw — *This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. See my full disclosure here*.

There's a place here in Alberta called "Peter's Drive-In" that we'd often stop at during road trips. They have burgers, fries, hotdogs and tasty thick milkshakes!

They have 30 flavors and you can choose up to 3 to make your own custom flavor combination. For me, I always stuck with classic chocolate.

Sometimes I crave a delicious milkshake and that sort of comfort food even though I'm committed to healthy eating now, so I really enjoy making nutritious versions.

This chocolate shake is packed with nutrients, but still is creamy and full of chocolate flavor. That's the kind of cold, delicious beverage I want, especially on a hot summer day.

Plus, it's an easy recipe to make! Steaming and freezing the cauliflower ahead of time makes it easier and faster as well.

I'm not opposed to dairy, but most of my family members can't handle it well, plus we can only get pasteurized milk in Canada. I wanted to make a creamy milkshake that had no ice cream, heavy cream or whole milk, but also had added nutritional value.

Enter frozen cauliflower!

Come on, it's a great way to sneak some more veggies into your whole family.

I also have a healthy strawberry milkshake made without ice cream you can check out as well!

Some more of my favorite healthy dessert ideas are brownies, maple no-bake cookies and key lime pie.

chocolate milkshake in a glass with whipping cream and chocolate shavings, with a red and white straw

Why You'll Love this Recipe

It has a secret vegetable that you and your kids won't notice!
It's made with wholesome ingredients you can feel good about eating.
The recipe is easy to adapt and substitute different ingredients if needed.
A lot less sugar than other chocolate milkshake recipes. No chocolate sauce used!
No chocolate ice cream, vanilla ice cream, no dairy or eggs of any kind. And no frozen banana! (Nice cream never worked out well for me...)

Chocolate Milkshake Ingredients

Made with wholesome, simple ingredients!

Cauliflower - High in many vitamins and minerals, as well as fiber and antioxidants. Because of this, it can help fight inflammation, improve digestion and reduce the risk of developing cancer, heart disease, diabetes and more! It adds many nutrients to this sweet treat that's usually lacking nutrients.

Coconut milk - Coconut milk is a rich, creamy substitute for dairy, but it's very enjoyable even if you can drink cow's milk! Coconut milk is high in fats and many vitamins and minerals, including copper, manganese, selenium, iron and folate. It may improve heart health, reduce inflammation and fight viruses!

Look for high quality coconut milk with minimal additives and without BPA (a chemical that can lead to cancer and reproductive issues) in the can lining. This is a good option. Hint: If it costs $0.88 for a can, it's probably not the best brand to buy...

Collagen - I use grass-fed collagen, but you could use your favorite protein powder or just leave it out. Adding protein to the shake will help prevent a blood sugar spike. Blood sugar spikes can result in fatigue, headaches, and regular blood sugar spikes can cause long term health issues.

Cocoa - Rich in polyphenols, antioxidants that are also found in some fruits and vegetables! These polyphenols may reduce blood pressure, reduce inflammation generally, improve heart health and blood flow to the brain.

Maple syrup - Maple syrup is natural and also contains a small number of vitamins and minerals. I always use the least amount of a natural sweetener possible to create a delicious end result! Of course, with a milkshake you can easily add a little more if it's not sweet enough for you.

Other - Cinnamon, salt and vanilla extract for flavor. The healthiest options are ceylon cinnamon (most cinnamon is cassia), sea salt or Himalayan salt and real pure vanilla extract.

chocolate milkshake with whipped cream and chocolate shavings on top

Substitution Options

Collagen - Use any neutral, vanilla or chocolate flavored protein powder or just leave it out.

Coconut milk - Use any dairy or non-dairy milk, or even just filtered water.

Maple syrup - Use any liquid sweetener, I recommend honey or date syrup.

Optional Add-ins

Peppermint extract - Add ¼ teaspoon peppermint extract for a chocolate mint milkshake.

Orange zest - If you enjoy chocolate orange flavor, add 1-2 teaspoon orange zest.

Whipped cream - Top with whipped cream or whipped coconut cream!

Chocolate shavings - Chop up a chocolate bar or some chocolate chips and sprinkle on top of whipped cream for a fancy look.

Chocolate sauce or caramel sauce - Add a drizzle of chocolate syrup or caramel caramel over the whipped cream to dress it up!

Tips for Making a Chocolate Milkshake

Steam and freeze the cauliflower ahead of time, so you can blend up your milkshake quickly whenever you feel like it.
Use a strong, high-power blender for a smooth end result.
For best results, use fattier milk. Full-fat coconut milk or cow's milk will result in a very creamy texture. You can use others like oat milk or almond milk, but the homemade chocolate milkshake won't be as rich and creamy.
Make sure your cauliflower is fully frozen before adding it to the blender.
If the milkshake isn't as thick as you'd like, you can blend in some ice cubes.

glass of chocolate milkshake with a striped red and white straw

Tools You May Need

Blender (this one is usually affordable and works really well!)

Pot or steamer

How to Make a Chocolate Milkshake without Ice Cream

Ingredients:

3 cups cauliflower florets, fresh or frozen
1½- 2 cups water or milk of choice (I use coconut milk)
¼ cup collagen powder (optional)
¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
½ teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon sea salt
2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoon maple syrup

Instructions:

Steam cauliflower in a vegetable steamer or in a pot with an inch of water in the bottom. If using the pot, cover it with a lid, and cook over medium heat until a fork can easily pierce through the cauliflower. If the florets were frozen, this will take about 15 minutes.

Spread the cooked florets on a baking sheet or plate and place in the freezer until they are frozen completely. This will take 60-90 minutes.

Blend all ingredients together in a high-speed blender until smooth.

various ingredients in a blender before blending

Taste and adjust sweetness if necessary. Best served immediately.

Makes about 4 cups.

How to Store Chocolate Milkshakes

Store in an airtight container or jar in the fridge for up to 3 days. It will remain somewhat thick, but won't be as thick as when it's first blended with frozen cauliflower.

Did you try this recipe? If so, I would really appreciate a 5-star rating and your comments below! Thanks!

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