Cold, creamy and sweet, this banana flavored milk inspired by the Korean brand, Binggrae is such a delicious treat. With just five ingredients, you can be sipping it in just a few minutes!
If you’ve ever been in a Korean grocery store like H-mart, you’ve probably seen banana milk sold in bottles or tetra packs by the brand, Binggrae. It’s a relatively expensive treat considering what it is, which is: milk, water, sugar, dextrin, banana juice concentrate, artificial flavors and gums.
But it’s sort of stupidly delicious considering the input. Think of the texture of the strawberry milk you might’ve drank as a kid, but with the flavor of a banana milkshake. It’s rich and silky in taste but light in texture.
The funny part is, there’s nothing overtly Korean about Korean banana milk, which became popular over 40 years ago, other than the brand who made it popular. This makes it an easy recreation at home and you’ll probably be surprised by how quickly you can make something so delicious in your blender.
For the banana haters, you’ll want to sit this one out, but for everyone else who will happily bake up a loaf of cinnamon sugar banana bread with some forgotten bananas in the fruit bowl, you’ll enjoy this.
Why This Treat’s Worth Making
- It’s insanely simple – even more so than a smoothie.
- Dessert in a glass!
- Easily made dairy-free.
- Add some protein for a more satisfying treat.
The Simple Ingredients
Unlike smoothies, which typically have a long list of ingredients, banana milk is just five and that counts water as an ingredient. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Banana – As the main ingredient, it’s important to get this one right. You want a ripe banana (just starting to brown with a few freckles) but not to the point where it’s in the banana bread baking territory, just like when making air fryer bananas for dessert. Don’t use a banana with any green on it as the texture of the drink will be affected. Frozen banana is fine to use.
- Milk – This drink is traditionally made with dairy milk and I suggest using 2% for the best texture and taste, but you can also easily make this dairy-free and use a plant-based milk. I personally enjoy banana milk with coconut milk when I’m making it dairy free and with A2 2% milk when I want dairy.
- Water – This helps thin out the consistency of the drink so it’s not overly thick.
- Sweetener – Depending on how ripe your banana is, you may want some sweetener. I like honey in this drink but maple syrup can also be used. I start with just a touch and adjust as needed once the drink is blended.
- Pure vanilla extract – This adds a bit of warmth to the flavor of the drink. Make sure to use pure, not imitation vanilla for this recipe.
How to Make Korean Banana Milk
Banana milk is something you’re going to want to drink fresh, it doesn’t keep well. Thankfully, it’s as easy as adding the ingredients to a blender and blending for a few seconds so it can be made in just a couple of minutes.
- Add all the ingredients to a blender.
- Process on high until smooth and creamy.
- Pour into a bottle or glass.
- Enjoy immediately. The mint garnish is a refreshing, although non-traditional touch.
My Pro Tips
For The Best Tasting Milk
- Make sure both the milk and water are cold. Banana is not typically a flavor people enjoy warm and this drink tastes best when it’s chilled.
- Avoid storing the drink after making it. The banana can turn brown after a couple of hours which is not appetizing to look at.
- Avoid freezing banana milk.
- Depending on your tastes, you may not need any sweetener at all. If you’re someone like me, who prefers the taste of bananas with a tinge of green, you may be just fine with the banana itself as the only source of natural sweetness.
- A pinch of salt can help balance the sweetness if needed.
- An underripe banana will result in a grainy textured milk – not ideal.
- As an added step, you can strain the blended milk through a fine mesh sieve for an ultra smooth drink.
Enjoy Your Banana Milk With This
Banana milk is a treat on its own, but if you want some suggestions on what to pair it with for a more filling snack, I’ve got plenty:
Korean Banana Milk
Ingredients
- 1 ripe banana
- 1/2 cup 2% milk, chilled
- 1/2 cup water, chilled
- 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Place the banana, milk, water, honey and vanilla extract into a blender. Blend on high speed for 1 minute until smooth.
- Pour into a glass or milk bottle and let rest for 2 minutes. Enjoy immediately.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Gina Matsoukas is an AP syndicated writer. She is the founder, photographer and recipe developer of Running to the Kitchen — a food website focused on providing healthy, wholesome recipes using fresh and seasonal ingredients. Her work has been featured in numerous media outlets both digital and print, including MSN, Huffington post, Buzzfeed, Women’s Health and Food Network.
