Healthy Homemade Banana Milk (Easy Korean Recipe)

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This homemade Korean banana milk recipe is made with natural ingredients like maple syrup, whole milk and pure vanilla extract. The simple ingredients in this easy recipe make a delicious drink that can be enjoyed any time of day!

Banana-flavored milk is a popular sweet drink sold in Asian grocery stores. They aren’t exactly a healthy beverage – but you can make your own homemade banana milk and skip the artificial flavors and copious amounts of added sugar! Instead, you can enjoy a healthy homemade version with fresh bananas, whole milk (preferably raw!), maple syrup, vanilla extract, and salt. 

I am always on the look out for new ways to enjoy raw milk (see the benefits of raw milk here). I also love finding ways to use bananas, since they are an easy to digest carb that are also cheap and delicious.

My husband started mashing bananas in milk for a snack, which gave me the idea to find a more delicious way of enjoying banana milk. I found out about this popular Korean drink and decided to make a homemade banana milk recipe!

Delicious and Creamy Beverage

Instead of using processed sugar like many other banana milk recipes, this recipe uses a bit of maple syrup for a touch of sweetness. The whole milk and real bananas gives this drink a creamy texture, and the maple syrup and salt enhance the sweet banana flavor. 

Packed with Electrolytes

This banana milk is a great way to get in some natural electrolytes, with potassium and magnesium from the banana and maple syrup, and sodium chloride in the added salt. It’s a great pick-me-up in the afternoon when your energy level is starting to dwindle, after a work-out, or after spending time outside on a hot day. 

Variations of This Recipe 

This easy banana milk can be enjoyed as dessert or a snack!

If you would rather enjoy it extra cold, you can throw some ice cubes into your high-powered blender, or use a frozen banana instead, to make a delicious banana smoothie or banana milkshake. This will make a very thick beverage, you may even need a spoon!

To make a creamy ice cream, simply pour your banana milk into an ice cream maker.

Add in some cocoa powder for a chocolate version! 

Why I Don’t Drink Plant-Based Milk

Store bought non-dairy milk varieties like almond milk, oat milk, soy milk, cashew milk or other nut and grain milks are not generally good our bodies. They are usually loaded with binders that are harmful to the gut, and are made of nuts and grains that have harmful anti-nutrients. If you can, I suggest drinking raw pasture raised cow or goat milk from a trusted farmer. Many people who don’t normally tolerate dairy well can easily digest unpasteurized milk! Check out this post to learn more about the benefits of raw milk, and where to find raw milk in your area. 

If still can’t tolerate dairy, I would suggest making your own coconut milk. Coconuts are a type of fruit, and you can use the flesh to make a “milk” by blending it with water. This way you can avoid all the binders, flavorings, preservatives, and many other ingredients in store-bought coconut milk. 

Can You Use Overripe Bananas?

For the best result, the bananas used in this recipe should be ripe, ideally with a few black spots. This will ensure that the banana milk will be sweet with a pleasant banana flavor. If the bananas are very overripe and mushy, you might be better of making a banana bread with them, as baking them might taste better than enjoying them fresh in a milk drink. 

Can You Store Fresh Banana Milk?

I recommend drinking this beverage immediately after blending. The solids will separate from the liquids rather quickly, and the bananas will oxidize, having a negative affect on the delicious taste. Have you ever put bananas is the refrigerator? They turn black very quickly and the taste changes. So I would wait until you are ready to drink this beverage to blend it up. Fortunately, it’s very quick to make!

How to Make Healthy Homemade Korean Banana Milk

Step 1

​To a high-powered blender, add bananas, milk, maple syrup, and salt. 

Step 2

Blend on high speed until smooth and creamy

Step 3

Pour into your favorite cup and enjoy!

This is my favorite way to enjoy Korean banana milk, but there are other ways to enjoy this recipe as well:

For Ice Cream:

Follow steps 1 and 2, and then pour into an ice cream maker. Churn until thick and creamy! 

For a Cold Banana Smoothie:

Instead of fresh bananas, use frozen bananas. This will make a very thick drink, you may even need a spoon!

 Alternatively, Add a few ice cubes before blending. It will be slightly less sweet, so you could add just a little more maple syrup if you want. 

For Chocolate Flavored Banana Milk:

Add 2 tablespoons or more cocoa powder to the blender before blending. 

*This post does not contain medical advice