This ‘Don’t Knock It Until You Try It’ Recipe Has a Surprise Ingredient

Milkshakes evoke memories of late night diners and sunny days at the beach. When you’re 12, there’s seemingly no cap for how much sweets one can consume, and a milkshake is one of the best ways to get a sugar rush.

But to say a milkshake is always a strict combination of ice cream, milk, and common mix-ins like Oreos or Reese’s is to miss what else a milkshake could be. We have one recipe, submitted by Allrecipes member Polly Rinas Janos, that diverts from the classic formula.

It’s called Don’t Knock it Until You Try it Zucchini Chocolate Banana Nut Milkshake. Yes, the milkshake incorporates zucchini, but don’t let that scare you away. Plenty of skeptical reviewers found this combination of ingredients better than a normal chocolate banana shake—and they might be on to something.

Why We Love This Zucchini Chocolate Banana Milkshake

There are a couple reasons why you really shouldn’t “knock this milkshake until you try it.” You only need six ingredients—and I bet most are already in your kitchen: ripe bananas, zucchini, half-and-half, white granulated sugar, chopped peanuts, and cocoa powder.

If zucchini in a milkshake gives you pause, it did for me, too—and for plenty of reviewers who ended up finding this drink a smashing success. The milkshake tastes similar to a banana split. Great for a hot day in summer or for a pick me up when a full meal doesn’t seem right, this shake allows you to enjoy something sweet without needing a nap after. 

Plus, there’s really only one step if you choose to use a blender, incorporating all the ingredients at once until smooth and creamy. You can garnish the milkshake with more peanuts, if desired, and a special topping like whipped cream and chocolate flakes. 

Community Praise

• “This is the first time I am reviewing a recipe because I wanted to wait until I encountered something truly fabulous!” says reviewer Jennifer Geibel. “This recipe was fantastic!”
• “Thank you for a WONDERFUL idea to add grated frozen zucchini to a milkshake! My super picky 13-year old had no idea he was drinking a zucchini milkshake,” says reviewer Chef Wyle E. Coyote.
• “Okay, I’ll have to admit that I was skeptical, and that I decided to try this just to pull one over on my kids. But, I have to admit, this was REALLY good,” says Allrecipes member omnimomma. “It tastes like a banana split milkshake, but it gave me a chance to increase the veggie servings that they eat. I’ll definitely do this again since I can’t seem to keep ice cream in the house!”

How to Substitute Ingredients

1. Use peanut butter instead of peanuts. This will give the milkshake a thicker, creamier texture than peanuts, and a more pronounced peanut butter flavor. If that is your thing, give it a try!
2. Try an alternative sugar. Several reviewers use two or three tablespoons of honey instead of white sugar. Other alternatives include maple syrup, agave, or granulated options like monk fruit sweetener or coconut sugar.
3. Switch the milk. While this recipe calls for half and half, which helps build a thick, milkshake consistency, some choose to use whole milk or almond milk. One reviewer even used evaporated milk.
4. No cocoa powder? No problem. Substitute this ingredient for a chocolate syrup.

Get the recipe: Don’t Knock it Until You Try it Zucchini Chocolate Banana Nut Milkshake