This banana bread latte is a creamy 5-minute coffee made with real banana, a Medjool date, cinnamon, vanilla and espresso. You can make it hot or iced, and unlike many of the versions I kept seeing online, there is no banana syrup or added sugar required.
A Quick Look At This Recipe
✅ Recipe Name: Banana Bread Latte (Naturally Sweetened with Dates)
🕒 Ready In: About 5 minutes
👪 Serves: 1 drink
🍽 Nutrition: About 166 calories, 7.1 grams protein, 2.9 grams fiber and 35.6 grams carbohydrates without the optional cold foam
🥣 Main Ingredients: Banana, Medjool date, milk, cinnamon and espresso
📖 Dietary Info: Vegetarian and no added sugar as written with unsweetened milk
⭐ Why You'll Love It: It gives you the cozy banana bread flavor without needing to cook a separate syrup, and you can make it hot or iced.
Banana bread lattes have been trending online and as someone who LOVES banana bread (especially my cottage cheese banana bread), I knew I had to make my own version.
However, as a dietitian I am very aware of how quickly sugar can add up in drinks, especially when you combine flavored syrup with sweetened milk and cold foam. I wanted to get that same banana bread flavor using the fruit itself instead.
If you love banana recipes try my banana cottage cheese muffins or my scrambled oats next!
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Banana Bread Latte Recipe Nutrition Highlights
- What I like about this version is that it uses a ripe banana and a Medjool date for sweetness instead of adding a separate sugar syrup.
- Using dairy milk, the latte provides about 7 grams of protein, but you can use a different type of milk if you prefer.
- You also get just under 3 grams of fiber from the banana and date. That is not a huge amount, but it is more than you would get from a standard flavored syrup.
- One important point: no added sugar does not mean sugar-free. This drink still contains around 30 grams of naturally occurring sugar from the fruit and milk. That is not something you need to fear, but it is useful context, especially if you are comparing it with an unsweetened coffee.
Nutrition information was calculated using Cronometer, a nutrition tracking tool that uses the USDA FoodData Central database and verified brand data for accuracy. Estimates are based on the exact ingredients and amounts listed, so your numbers may vary slightly depending on the brands and measurements you use. Food is much more than just numbers though, so use these as a guide rather than a rule.
Key Ingredients & Substitutions
The complete ingredient list with measurements can be found in the recipe card below.
- Banana: Use a ripe banana with plenty of brown spots. A ripe banana blends more smoothly and gives you a stronger banana flavor and more sweetness. A frozen banana will also work.
- Medjool date: One soft Medjool date gives the latte a caramel-like sweetness that works really well with banana and espresso. If your date is firm, soak it in hot water for 5 to 10 minutes before blending.
- Milk: I used skim dairy milk for the nutrition calculation, but you can use your preferred milk. If you use a plant milk, choose an unsweetened version if you want to keep the recipe free from added sugar. Oat milk will make the drink slightly creamier, while almond milk will give a lighter result. Soy milk is the best plant based alternative if you are stll hoping to get in some protein.
- Espresso: One shot is enough to balance the sweetness without overpowering the banana flavor. If you prefer a stronger coffee taste, you can add a second shot.
- Cinnamon and vanilla: These are what move the flavor from "banana coffee" toward banana bread.
- Optional cinnamon cold foam: The cold foam makes this feel more like a coffee-shop drink. It also changes the nutrition quite a bit, so I’ve included nutrition information for both versions. You could also simply froth regular milk if you prefer something lighter.
Equipment
You will need a blender to get the banana and date completely smooth. I love my Beast Blender for making drinks. A milk frother is helpful if you are making the optional cold foam, but it is not essential.
How To Make This Banana Bread Latte
Below are the simple steps for how to make this recipe with visuals I hope are
- Add the ripe banana, Medjool date, milk, vanilla, cinnamon and salt to a blender. Blend until completely smooth.
- For an iced banana bread latte, fill a glass with ice and pour in the banana-date milk mixture.
- Pour the espresso over the top. Stir before drinking if you prefer everything fully combined.
- For a hot latte, gently warm the blended banana milk in a small saucepan over low heat until hot but not boiling. Pour it into a mug and add the espresso.
- If you are making the optional cinnamon cold foam, froth the cream, milk, vanilla and cinnamon until thick but still spoonable, then add it on top.
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Expert Tips for Making This Recipe
Use a very ripe banana. If the banana is still firm and barely yellow, the flavor will be much less noticeable.
Blend for a little longer than you think you need to. Dates can leave tiny pieces behind if the blender stops too soon.
Soak a firm date first. Five to 10 minutes in hot water is usually enough to soften it.
Start with one espresso shot. You can always add another if you want a stronger coffee flavor.
For the hot version, warm the banana milk gently rather than boiling it.
What to Pair This Recipe With
This works well as a mid-morning coffee on its own, but if you are having it as part of breakfast I would pair it with something more substantial.
Try it alongside my High Protein Oatmeal or one of my Oat Breakfast Bars. For an easy make-ahead option, my High Protein Overnight Oats would also work really well with it.
Storage
This latte is best enjoyed fresh. I have never met anyone who preps lattes, but if you do, please let me know in the comments 😂.
Banana Bread Latte Recipe FAQs
No. It has no added sugar as written with unsweetened milk, but the banana, Medjool date and milk all contain naturally occurring sugars. The main latte contains about 30 grams of total sugar using skim dairy milk.
Yes. I have not tested every coffee substitute, but a small amount of strongly brewed coffee should work. Keep the volume fairly concentrated so the latte does not become watery.
The main latte without cold foam is about 166 calories, 7.1 grams protein, 2.9 grams fiber and 0.3 grams fat. With the full optional cold foam, it is about 274 calories, 8.5 grams protein, 2.9 grams fiber and 11.1 grams fat.
Naturally occurring sugar and added sugar are still both forms of sugar, and your body ultimately breaks them down into similar building blocks. The difference is the food they come packaged in. The banana and Medjool date in this latte also provide fiber, potassium and other nutrients, while a flavored syrup mostly adds sweetness
📖 Recipe
Banana Bread Latte (Naturally Sweetened with Dates)
Equipment
- Blender I love my Beast Blender for drinks
Ingredients
- 30 grams ripe banana ¼ medium banana
- 1 large Medjool date, pitted
- 180 milliliters milk of choice ¾ cup
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Small pinch salt
- 30 milliliters espresso 1 shot
- Ice as needed for iced version
Optional cinnamon cold foam
- 2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
- 1 tablespoon milk
- ⅛ teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Add the banana, Medjool date, milk, vanilla, cinnamon and salt to a blender. Blend until completely smooth.30 grams ripe banana, 1 large Medjool date, , 180 milliliters milk of choice , ½ teaspoon vanilla extract, ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon, Small pinch salt
- For an iced latte, fill a glass with ice and pour in the banana-date milk mixture. Slowly pour the espresso over the top.Ice, 30 milliliters espresso
- For a hot latte, pour the blended banana milk into a small saucepan and warm gently over low heat until hot but not boiling. Pour into a mug and add the espresso.
- If using the optional cold foam, froth the heavy cream, milk, vanilla and cinnamon until thick but still spoonable. Spoon over the latte and finish with an extra pinch of cinnamon if you like.2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream, 1 tablespoon milk, ⅛ teaspoon vanilla extract, Pinch ground cinnamon
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Video
Maria's Notes
- Use a very ripe banana for the best flavor.
- Blend thoroughly so the date is completely smooth.
- Soak a firm date before blending.
- Warm the hot version gently rather than boiling it.
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