Avocado Shake

Avocado shake is a creamy, refreshing, and delightful drink that you can easily whip up in 5 minutes using only 4 ingredients! Take a break from the savory avo toast and guacamole, and enjoy your avocadoes ripe and sweet with this easy avocado shake recipe.

Avocadoes are more commonly used in salads, burritos, or as dipping sauce in the form of guacamole. But in many parts of Asia such as Vietnam, Indonesia, and the Philippines, avocadoes are loved in the delightful form of a cold creamy drink!

They are abundant and cheap during summer. You’ll see avocado shakes sold in stalls in the streets, at restaurants, and even in households enjoyed as drinks or desserts. The good news is that you can easily make this treat at home. 

Why you’ll love this recipe

I like making my own avocado shake at home rather than buying outside. This way I can ensure that there are no artificial preservatives whatsoever as some store-bought shakes might contain powders or food colorings. Plus I can customize it and control the amount of sugar to my liking.

The health benefits that come with avocados are a bang for the buck. It’s low in carbohydrates, rich in fiber, and also rich in omega-3 which is good for the heart. It’s so good for you! 

As for the texture, I tell you, this avocado shake turns out thick and creamy, just the way I like it! A good quality blender is essential. You want to get one that’s sharp and powerful enough to blend everything together as quickly as possible before the ice melts.

If in any case, the shake is too thick, simply add more milk and then blend. If it’s too thin, I add more avocado and ice and blend until I reach my desired consistency.

Lastly, you can make your avocado shake more fun by adding mix-ins and toppings! Be sure to check that out in the preparation tips section below.

Avocado Shake Ingredients & Substitutions

Avocado: Use ones that are fully ripe. At this stage, they are the creamiest and the bitter taste has already gone off. You would know an avocado is ripe if it gives in a little gentle pressure. It’ll feel a bit soft but not too mushy. The color is most likely dark, although different varieties come in different colors so it’s better to rely on feel. You can also check the stem — green stamps usually indicate ripe avocadoes while brown or darker ones indicate that they are overripe. Would frozen avocadoes work? Absolutely! Feel free to use frozen avocadoes as a substitute especially if fresh ones aren’t in season. 

Condensed milk: Used as the main sweetener and adds creaminess. Can be substituted with simple syrup or any sweetener of your choice.

Milk: For creaminess! Whole milk, oat milk, soy milk, and almond milk would all be great options. Feel free to use the milk that you like.

Ice cubes: Can also use tube ice or crushed ice.

How to Prepare Avocado Shake

Step1: Combine ingredients in a blender

In a blender, combine avocado, sweetened condensed milk, milk, and ice.

Step 2: Blend

Blend on high until smooth.

Step 3: Adjust, serve, and enjoy!

For a thicker shake, add less milk. For a looser shake, add more milk.

Preparation Tips for Avocado Shake

Here are some helpful tips for making the best avocado shake ever at home.

• When buying avocadoes, you should pick depending on when you plan to use them. If you plan to use them up in 3 to 4 days, choose ones that are firmer and unripe. If you would use them on the same day, then pick the ones that are a bit soft but not mushy. Also, be sure to avoid those that have blemishes, dents, or any sign of bruising.
• Keep the shake creamy by having the right ratio of avocado to ice to milk, which is what I already sorted out for you in this recipe. However, different factors like the weather, temperature in the room, and the power of the blender may affect the texture of the shake. If it turns out too runny, simply add some more avocado and ice. If it’s too thick and you would prefer a more drinkable consistency, add more milk.
• Keep the shake in its consistency for longer by placing them in insulated tumblers. If serving them immediately, it would be good to serve them in chilled drinking glasses.
• Got a lot of extra avocados that are already ripe? Freeze them! To do this, just peel, deseed, dice them, then place them in huge zip-loc bags and freeze. This way, you can prolong their freshness and shelf life. You avoid waste by stopping them from turning overripe. 
• Add other ingredients to your avocado shake to make it more delicious! For instance, you can add a banana to make it thicker and creamier, peanut butter for extra protein, and nutrient boosters like probiotics and spirulina to amp up the health benefits. Some like to add a touch of lemon or lime juice to cut through the creaminess.
• For toppings, I think crushed almonds, chocolate syrup, and some more diced fresh avocadoes would work! 

Frequently Asked Questions

What fruit mixes well with avocado?

Tropical fruits like orange, pineapple, and mango will add a touch of bright sweetness to your avocado shake. Adding bananas would make it richer and creamier! Strawberries would work well too, although I prefer it as a topping.

How long can I keep an avocado milkshake?

This avocado milkshake is best consumed right away. However, if you plan to make it ahead, place it in an insulated tumbler. It should stay cold for a couple of hours. 

Can I drink an avocado smoothie every day?

Absolutely! It is a good addition to any diet, as long as you’re good to consume the dairy ingredients. This avocado shake would also be a great breakfast option. It’ll provide energy while also giving digestion-helping fiber to your stomach.

How to blend avocado without a blender?

Got no blender? There are a few workarounds that you can do: first is to use a food processor. Place everything inside then process until smooth, as you would if you used a blender. The second way is to use a fork or masher to mash the avocado. Also, use crushed ice instead of ice cubes. Just combine everything together and enjoy! It won’t be as smooth but it’ll be delicious.

Why is my avocado shake bitter?

If your avocado shake is bitter, it might be because you used unripe avocado. Unripe avocados are a slight bit tougher than ripe ones. It is also bitter. You can try to mellow down the bitterness by adding a bit of citrus.

How to cut an avocado for a smoothie?

The size and slices won’t really matter if you’re turning the avocados into a shake so feel free to cut them any way you like.

Looking for more easy and delicious fresh fruit drink recipes to try?

Mango Pineapple Spinach Smoothie — If you’re a sucker for smoothies like me, you have to try this super refreshing and delicious mango pineapple spinach smoothie! For this recipe, I used mango, frozen pineapple, spinach, bananas, and a super-ripe peach that I found in my fridge but, you can essentially use any type of fruit you desire! Smoothies are great for fridge clean-out days and they are easily customizable too. 

Fresh Korean Banana Milk — Korean banana milk or ‘banana-uyu‘ (바나나맛 우유) is a popular Korean banana-flavored milk beverage that is sweet and creamy. It’s usually sold in the iconic yellow-colored carton or small plastic-shaped bottle at convenience stores in Korea.

More Recipes with Avocado to Try

Hawaiian Salmon Poke — This Hawaiian-inspired salmon poke recipe is made with sushi-grade salmon marinated in a delicious savory sauce. It’s an easy and delicious recipe that I crave time and time again. Avocado slices make each bite richer and creamier!

Spicy Tuna Salad with Crispy Rice — If you’ve ever craved the viral spicy tuna crispy rice but don’t want the sushi-grade or restaurant price tag that it comes with, this dupe is for you! In this recipe, the avocado slices serve as a bed for the tuna salad to help prevent the crispy rice from turning soggy.

Kimchi Egg & Spam Onigarazu — Imagine a sandwich but instead of bread, roasted seaweed is filled with rice and various fillings. The kimchi, egg, Spam, and cheese are all tied together by the creamy avocado.