A banana milkshake is about as quick as homemade drinks get — a blender, a couple of ripe bananas, and some milk are really all you need. It makes a refreshing snack or light dessert, especially on a hot day.

For the best flavor, use bananas that are well ripened, with some dark spotting on the peel — they’re sweeter and blend into a smoother purée than firm, greener bananas. Slicing and freezing the bananas ahead of time gives the shake a thicker, colder texture without diluting the flavor the way a lot of ice cubes would.

Ice cream isn’t essential, but it makes the shake richer and more dessert-like; leave it out for a lighter drink closer to a smoothie. Any milk works here, and for a lighter version, part of the milk can be swapped for a plant-based option like almond or oat milk.

It’s best to serve the shake right after blending — banana starts to oxidize over time, and the shake will thicken, darken, and lose some of its fresh flavor the longer it sits.