Caramel Apple Milkshake
This post is sponsored by Vitamix. All opinions expressed are my own.
The leaves are starting to turn crimson, falling to the ground and hiding the pavement. The pumpkins, leeks, persimmons, and figs have waited patiently for harvest season, and now it has arrived so they’re on their way to your plates and The Hungry Herbivores kitchen. Today, the fruit responsible for thousands of traditional fall recipes takes the centre stage: Apples! Although they’re available all year round (like most things nowadays), apples have a chance to shine when the weather gets colder and the pie dishes are reintroduced into the kitchen. Who doesn’t love a juicy apple crumble to follow their vegan roast dinner? Or maybe a caramel apple milkshake?
This recipe has been inspired by fall’s favourite festival: Halloween. Sweets, pumpkins, and caramel apples, right?! Satisfy your holiday cravings with this caramel apple milkshake—believe it or not, it really is guilt-free. With no dairy, natural sweetness, and plant-based ingredients, you can shamelessly slurp up the milkshake, chew down on a donut, and lick off the caramel. You don’t have to miss out on indulgent food just because of a “diet” or because you don’t want to binge on sugar-coated sweets.
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“Freakshakes” have become extremely popular over the last few months, which is hardly surprising when they look so darn delicious. I came across Cupcakes and Shhht last week and found myself drooling over their cakes and amazing vegan freakshakes. However, if you’re not around London anytime soon, make it yourself with my recipe below!
Since my Vitamix Professional Series 750 arrived at my doorstep, I’ve been dying to try it out. I had so much fun testing out the product. I have been looking into changing over to Vitamix for a while now, since it’s notoriously the best high-speed blender brand out there. Luckily enough, Vitamix reached out to me to work with them, and I’m very excited to bring you some unique recipes using my new Vitamix over the coming months.
Truthfully, I haven’t used a blender so powerful in my life. That’s saying something, since I’ve worked in the food industry since I was 16. The high speeds of the blender make a real difference on the consistency and the quality of your end result. The ingredients I used for the date caramel in this recipe turned into a thick creamy consistency with no bits! I also utilized the Smoothie setting to create the perfect caramel apple milkshake. Each element to the freakshake was made in my Vitamix. That means, minimal washing up!
If you’re a big fan of this season’s flavors like me, you’re going to love this recipe plus my other recent recipes like: Almond Butter & Pumpkin Spice Granola!
There are plenty of strong flavours in this recipe that complement each other harmoniously. The naturally sweet apple sauce (which I made myself by simply boiling two peeled apples and blending) and rich almond butter are my favourite ingredients in this recipe. They are both distinctive and blend together beautifully with nutmeg, cinnamon, and ginger undertones.
This recipe is supposed to be a little bit ugly, a little bit messy, but very yummy. Have some fun with this indulgent recipe, pile up your fall flavoured ingredients, and get blending!
- ½ cup pecans
- ¼ cup almonds
- ½ cup dried apple rings
- ½ cup dates* soaked & drained
- Pinch of Himalayan pink salt
- 1 cup dates*, soaked & drained
- ½ cup filtered water
- 2½ tbsp almond butter
- 1 tbsp coconut oil
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp Himalayan pink salt
- 2 frozen bananas
- ¾ cup unsweetened apple sauce
- 1 cup almond milk
- 3 tbsp caramel (see recipe below)
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp each of Himalayan pink salt, ground nutmeg, cinnamon & ginger
- ½ cup coconut whipped cream, optional
- First, lightly grease three holes of a donut pan with a neutral tasting oil, like rapeseed/canola.
- Add pecans and almonds to a blender or food processor, pulse until a fine grain.
- Next, add in the apple rings, dates, and salt. Pulse again until the mixture comes together in a sticky dough.
- Evenly divide out the dough into three and press into the donut pan. Place in the freezer for 30 minutes.
- Meanwhile, place all of the ingredients for your caramel into a blender and run on high speed for 1-2 minutes, or until smooth.
- Transfer to a bowl and set aside.
- Place all of the ingredients for your milkshake, including three tablespoons of the caramel you just made, into a blender.
- Blend for a few minutes until smooth. (I used the Vitamix Smoothie setting.)
- Drizzle the caramel on the inside and outside of three glasses.
- Pour the milkshake into the glasses.
- Remove the donuts from the freezer and carefully pop them out of the holes—I find it easiest to use a teaspoon to loosen.
- Dip each donut into the caramel and use to decorate your milkshake, along with dried apple rings and coconut whipped cream.
Great blog, Rosie! So glad you are doing it. Can’t wait to try the shake.☺️
Thanks Wendy!! Let me know how it goes. I’m dying for another one right now x
This sounds delicious! Too good to have just at Halloween. Can’t wait to give this a go.
Defintely an all year round thing! Let me know how it goes!