Easy to make banana licuado with cinnamon! Perfectly sweet and creamy with only 4 ingredients!

What is a licuado?

Depending where you’re from you may call this drink licuado which means smoothie, or batido which means milkshake.

This delicious banana drink is somewhere between a milkshake and a smoothie!

It’s like a milkshake without ice cream, but much milkier than a smoothie.

Known as licuado in Mexico, these blended fruit drinks get their creaminess from milk.

In Latin America, the Caribbean and Spain they’re usually called batido.

But don’t confuse them with aguas frescas, which are fruit drinks that are water-based.

Types of licuados

These fruity beverages can be made with any fruit such as papaya, mango or mamey, but banana is probably the most popular.

To me it tastes like a banana horchata (a rice-based drink) thanks to the cinnamon.

Try my recipe for Strawberry Horchata if you’ve never had flavored horchata before!

These are very easy to whip up and customize to your taste.

Licuado de plátano is one of our favorite desserts since we usually have the ingredients on hand.

My husband used to make this as a snack for himself when he was a kid, that’s how easy it is.

I’ve listed my recipe plus substitutes and ingredients you can add below.

Ingredients

Banana – the riper the banana, the less sweetener you will need to use.

Milk – I prefer dairy milk, but you can use any non-dairy alternative you would enjoy drinking.

Sugar – this is completely to taste and depends how ripe your banana is. You can also substitute honey, maple syrup or your favorite sweetener.

Cinnamon – to me this ingredient is essential. It takes it from delicious to amazing! But even without it’s still delicious.

Optional ingredients:

Ice – this will thicken and chill the licuado. Personally, I like to serve my batido over ice instead of blending it in.

Oats – adds fiber and thickens it more like a smoothie. Use between 1/4-1/2 cup.

Yogurt – adds protein. Use about 1/2 cup.

Vanilla – another flavoring agent that can be used with the cinnamon. Use up to 1 teaspoon.

How to make licuado

Add all of the ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth.

Pour over ice, if desired, and top with a sprinkle of cinnamon.

I usually find fun straws at the dollar store or craft stores like Hobby Lobby.

This recipe is for one serving and you can easily multiply it for the amount you need.

If you have leftovers or want to make it ahead of time, keep in the refrigerator until ready to drink and stir before serving.

Enjoy!